Investing for Impact

How the circular economy can tackle the climate crisis in emerging markets

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Episode notes

Our production and consumption of goods is one of the biggest contributors to the climate crisis. It generates nearly half of all greenhouse gas emissions. We’re using 60 per cent more resources than the planet can provide. And 90 per cent of biodiversity loss is due to the extraction and processing of natural resources.

However, there is an opportunity to address this challenge by transitioning to a circular economy, which keeps products and materials in use, eliminating waste and reducing pollution. Developing and emerging countries – which have large informal sectors and already practice circular activities, in areas such as electronic waste – are in a strong position to take advantage of this kind of economy.

Join us for a conversation with Lindsay Stradley, co-founder of Sanergy – a pioneering circular economy business providing safe sanitation services in Africa’s low-income urban areas. The company was shortlisted as a finalist for the inaugural Earthshot Prize, in the category ‘Build a waste-free world’.

In this episode, we discuss the potential of the circular economy in developing and emerging markets. We also explore the challenges facing businesses like Sanergy in securing investment, and the role of development finance institutions and impact investors in enabling the growth of the circular economy in these markets.

Lindsay is joined on the panel by BII's Ellen Brookes, and the event is hosted by Lynsay Taffe.

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