循环经济知识港 Vol. 1

什么是循环经济？

What is the Circular Economy?

在第一期的课程中，大家会接触到循环经济的起源与背景、概念和三个最基本的原则，以及从线性经济向循环经济的转型中能为社会带来怎样的收益。

In this first online course, learn about the backdrop to the circular economy, the three principles that are the foundation of the circular economy concept and some of the benefits of shifting away from the current linear economy.

起源

WHERE WE HAVE COME FROM

如何生产制造的革新彻底改变了社会。1684 Thomas Savery的蒸汽机发明是我们经历的一大转折点——它改变了一切。这项发明开启了工业革命，从而彻底转变了我们生产制造的方式。原材料和能源似乎是无穷无尽的，劳动力资源也是触手可得。这导致了在历史上第一次，我们开始大规模化生产。

A transformation in our ability to make things changed society. We’ve been at a turning point before. In 1684 Thomas Savery invented the steam engine and it changed everything. This invention kick-started the industrial revolution, which transformed our ability to make things. Raw materials and energy were seemingly infinite, and labour was readily available. For the first time in history, goods were mass produced.

工业革命 | Backdrop 1: Walter Stahel – The Industrial Revolution

现状

HOW IT LOOKS LIKE TODAY

Backdrop 2: Martin Stuchtey – How Things Look Today

我们将资源转化成了大量丰富的产品。自从工业革命伊始，科技持续飞速发展。科技创新意味着人人都可以担负的起来自世界各地的物美价廉的商品，同时人们的生活质量也到达了一个前所未有的高度。

We turn resources into an extraordinary number of products. Since the industrial revolution, the rapid pace of technological progress has continued. The resulting innovations mean that many now have access to products from all over the world at affordable prices. These products have brought many of us levels of material comfort unimaginable to previous generations.

我们生产制造的方式已经受到各种制约

OUR WAY OF DOING THINGS IS REACHING ITS LIMITS

人类每天都在产生巨大数量的塑料垃圾，我们生产制造的方式已经受到各种制约。
Great amount of plastic waste is created everyday. Our way of doing things is reaching its limits.

每一秒钟，一箱卡车的废旧衣服都被填满或者焚烧
Every second, the equivalent of one garbage truck of textiles is landfilled or burned

基于预测的消费水平增长，在一如既往的情景下，到2050年海洋中的塑料垃圾会总重会超过鱼类。

Given projected growth in consumption, in a business-as-usual scenario oceans are expected to contain more plastics than fish by 2050.

现在的经济系统已经不能再实现商业，人类以及环境的和谐

The current system is no longer working for businesses, people or the environment.

我们从自然界中开采原材料，制造产品，使用一段时间。当我们不在需要这些产品的时候，就弃之而去。“获取——制造——废弃”——这是我们当下所处在的线性经济模式。

We take resources from the ground to make products, which we use, and, when we no longer want them, throw them away. Take-make-waste. We call this a linear economy.

我们正在摧毁赖以生存的家园

WE ARE DISRUPTING THE SYSTEM

是时候改变传统线性经济了

THE LINEAR ECONOMY HAS TO CHANGE

我们必须要转变“获取——制造——废弃”线性系统中的每个元素，从如何管理资源，到如何生产制造，以及在产品被丢弃后，如何修复其中的原材料等等。只有这样我们才能在有限自然资源边界内建立一个欣欣向荣的经济。

We must transform all the elements of the take-make-waste system: how we manage resources, how we make and use products, and what we do with the materials afterwards. Only then can we create a thriving economy that can benefit everyone within the limits of our planet.

循环经济的概念 | The concept of circular economy

循环经济系统中，三个原则分别是：修复自然系统，从设计之初避免浪费和污染，延长材料和商品的使用。

THE CIRCULAR ECONOMY’S THREE BASIC PRINCIPLES. They are: design out waste and pollution, keep products and materials in use, and regenerate natural systems.

循环经济系统的收益

THE BENEFITS OF A NEW SYSTEM

循环经济系统的收益是巨大的。除了以上的数据，到2040年，循环经济能为中国的企业和家庭省下70万亿人民币。

THE BENEFITS OF A NEW SYSTEM ARE HUGE. In addition to the above, there will be CNY70 trillion savings for Chinese businesses and households by 2040.