The change cannot happen overnight. SDGs provide a broad framework and inherent conflict between the targets is recognised in the current paradigm of the economic model that measures consumption. The goal of Quality of Life vs. Standard of Livings is an important reflection we all need to have. Bill mentioned how Bhutan is looking at the Gross Happiness Index as a measure of development. Human Development Index is an important element that needs to be seen along with Footprint. It is a complex problem and we need to start making some sacrifices in the short term to steer this as an ethical principle. Current Pandemic has shown how fragile is everything and changes that were unthinkable some months back have happened. We need to start ...

Good point! Many circular economy solutions may involve higher upfront costs even though the total life cost is nearly always much lower. When LED bulbs first came out, they were very expensive compared to incandescent even though LED costs are some 90% less over 10 years. The solution to lower LED costs was to recognize that utilities benefit via "negawatts" (not having to build new generation & transmission capacity), so the utilities could subsidize the initial costs, making it comparable to incandescent. This general approach is valid for Circular Economy: find the parties who will realize economic benefits over the long term so the implementation can be financed in the short term.

Focussing on skills that promotes critical thinking is important and it can help to overcome both Circular Economy and STEM challenges. The process of scientific enquiry is required and the educational process should strengthen the same. STEM is integral to Circular Economy as we need good understanding of materials, designs, inspiration from natural systems etc. to Advance Circular Economy.

The Circular Economy is a great way to learn about ecosystems and employ design and systems thinking, which can really strengthen STEM instruction by showing the inter-relationships across STEM subjects and with non-STEM subjects (e.g., social sciences, philosophy), making STEM topics even more relevant and exciting (e.g., applications for everyday life, showing the importance of STEM innovation), and helping create independent, critical thinkers.

Choose products and services that are in compliance with principles of Circular Economy or help advance it. Make sustainability criteria in making production and consumption decisions. We need to make sustainability a Societal Norm that help in the transition.

In many cases, the multinationals can be much more profitable by implementing circular economy approaches! This is the case particularly when the somewhat recent trend of "productizing" a service can be reversed by selling the service created by a given good. Cloud computing is a great example of the shift to selling hardware and software to selling computing services. Companies, both multinational and national, which rely on the extractive approach of the linear economy are the ones initially threatened by the more profitable/less costly circular approaches and will need to adapt/transition (e.g., mining landfills instead of primary material mines).

The pandemic is certainly one of the greatest challenges the world has faced and will continue to have systemic and unexpected impacts that affect every aspect of life, including how we implement circular economy solutions. In the near term, the approach of cross-user reuse will be more challenging, requiring innovative decontamination technologies and business models (e.g., sterilizing masks for reuse). The huge economic impacts may actually be an opportunity to rethink how we live and the significant cost savings created by a circular economy model (along with the environmental positive impacts which can also impact human health, including disease) can make these approaches even more attractive and perhaps necessary. There is the observation that "science advances one funeral at a time" reflecting how hard it is to change mental models and group behavior; perhaps this dramatic economic impact will help the world advance to a more sustainable (and in many cases, circular) way to provide meaningful quality of life to all inhabitants of our planet.

Nature is only perfect example. Rest are adopting many principles associated with the circular economy. We are somewhere between recycling and circular economy. Some examples are here https://www.ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/our-story/our-network/members