How current economic barriers and so-called a continent ‘developing itself’ could turn into major opportunities and benefits for a Circular-Africa?

If there is one continent that sees what is considered insurmountable barriers in the current linear economy, offering opportunities towards a more collaborative and environmentally friendly economy, namely circular, it is Africa.

A linear economy is based on the extraction of raw materials, transformed in a production line of goods destined to be possessed by consumers and then thrown away. Here, the two ends of a linear economy, namely, the extraction and accumulation of waste, are very present there while…

Los preceptos de la economía circular cuestionan los fundamentos del pensamiento ecosostenible. Ahora más que nunca toca pensar en todos los escenarios posibles.

Artículo publicado en El País, escrito por M.E. Torres, 31 de marzo de 2020

Reciclar es una estrategia del pasado. No es eficiente y no es suficiente. Lo afirma con rotundidad el experto en transición ecológica Alexandre Lemille, un decidido impulsor de la economía circular “como única estrategia de producción y crecimiento económico verdaderamente sostenible”. …

Nous en savons assez pour concevoir un système circulaire-équitable qui préserve l’humanité.

par Alexandre Lemille

Première publication dans le magazine Renewable Matter #27 (Mai/Juin 2019)

In English here.

Nous avons la possibilité de changer le cours de notre Histoire commune avec la quantité d’informations que nous avons recueillies jusqu’à présent. En apprenant des scientifiques et des experts, nous pourrions proposer une nouvelle gouvernance et mettre en œuvre des actions positives de façon collaborative afin de s’adapter plus rapidement.

Connaître les origines spécifiques d’un effondrement potentiel est le meilleur moyen de l’éviter.

Les humains comme prédateurs, la Nature comme proie

“Les Limites de la Croissance” (D.H. Meadows, D. L. Meadows, J. Ransders,1972) est…

When the circular economy, via zero waste, helps families to get out of vicious circles towards ever more fulfilment.

Article first published on January 19th 2020 in The Beam Magazine #10 on “Local Heroes of Energy Transition”

A Cornucopia

“The fridge was always full before! Now it is always empty!” exclaims Mrs Deleporte, a nurse in Roubaix, mother and active member of the Zero Waste Program of the city of Roubaix. It is on these terms that she tries to talk to me about abundance. It was not easy to understand at first, but when Mrs Nieuwjaer, a woman active in the service economy and representative of the Zero Waste Program, made the same remark to me, the sudden click was…

Elsevier Resource, Conservation & Recycling publication (sample)

Authors: Patrick Schröder, AlexandreLemille & PeterDesmond

Abstract

This paper aims to re-conceptualise and advance the existing frameworks and practical applications of the circular economy (CE) towards a broader approach to development in general and, more particularly, to combine it with the approach for Human Development (HD). The CE is an alternative to the current “take, make, waste” extractive industrial model and offers a practical solution to address global and local environmental challenges, such as resource depletion, marine plastic pollution, and for staying within planetary system boundaries. Although the CE and related concepts such as cradle to cradle provide a most promising…

Building resilient societies on empathy to preserve humanity.

This article by Alexandre Lemille and Aude K. Chesnais was featured in The Beam #10 — Local Heroes of the Energy Transition.

We are all aware of the drastic changes our societies will have to achieve within the current decade to address our species’ greatest challenge, yet we fail to act even though our intentions are genuine. Our economic system is not designed to gear up for future adaptations, given our cultural norms and the short-termism mantra that we may consume endlessly on a finite planet. …

Ending the concept of ‘Circular Economy 2.0’

The ‘Circular Economy 2.0’ was a call launched in early 2016 in The Huffington Post USA where I was asking to embed negative social externalities within the circular economy so to guaranty our next model will also be giving a chance for anyone to thrive.

The view was that yes, there is not enough resources, much wastage and pollution for a soon-to-be 10 billion people on the planet. But yes too, we have a huge inequality problem that will slow down the implementation of such a great design.

“Circularity without equality is like trees without its roots. It won’t survive…

Poorly Designed Communities

Every morning on my way to school, I used to pass underneath a bridge where this message was written in white paint: “Free Nelson Mandela”. One day, I asked my mom: “Who is this Mandela? How many people had he killed to be put in prison?”

She replied: “Well Alex, not everybody in prison is a criminal. Nelson Mandela is trying to protect his people from an unjust political regime”.