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Is Latin America and the Caribbean Really Just 1% Circular?: A New Report Highlights the Hidden Role of Informal Workers in the Circular Economy
Latin America and the Caribbean is 1% circular — far below the global average of 7.2% — according to a recent Circle Economy Foundation report. That means just 1% of all the materials flowing through the region’s economy get a second life through repair, recycling or other means. But Ana Birliga Sutherland and Esther Goodwin Brown at Circle Economy Foundation explain that this number doesn't reflect the contributions of informal workers. They discuss the key role these workers play in the circular economy, and the need for more data and other efforts to support them.
- Categories
- Environment, WASH
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Sustainable Packaging Startup Fibmold Secures $10 Million Funding From Omnivore, Accel
The startup claims to manufacture the packaging items from natural fibers, including bamboo, bagasse, husk, wheat straw, or even waste paper depending on the end-use.
- Categories
- Investing, Technology
- Region
- Asia Pacific
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Yaga Raises $2.3 Million to Grow Pre-loved Fashion Market in Africa
Women across Africa and Asia will soon be spoilt for choice when it comes to second-hand clothing after Yaga, a women-founded e-commerce start-up, raised €2.2 million ($2.3 million) to grow its platform.
- Categories
- Technology
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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Successful Pilot Shows Localised Repair as Viable Solution to 91% Of Non-functioning Solar Lights Across Zambia
In their pilot programme, SolarAid tested decentralised local repair models, which they discovered built trust in the rural communities and further benefited local business and speed of repair.
- Categories
- Energy, Technology
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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Analysis: How Can We Address the E-Waste Challenge and Promote a Sustainable Off-Grid Solar Industry?
At GOGLA we have been working with industry leaders for several years to address product quality and e-waste challenges.
- Categories
- Energy, Technology, Telecommunications, WASH
- Region
- Global
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Analysis: How the ‘Circular Economy’ Went from Environmentalist Dream to Marketing Buzzword
Can plastics be circular? At a recent conference, companies' answer was a resounding yes.
- Categories
- Environment
- Region
- Global
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Beyond Recycling: Is ‘Deplastification’ the Next Step for Businesses?
A new report has warned that many businesses are utilising “avoidance strategies” that fail to reduce plastic usage.
- Categories
- Environment, WASH
- Region
- Global
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Plastic Upcycling Startup Kubik Closes $3.34 Million Seed to Scale Production in Ethiopia
The amount of plastic waste produced globally is on track to triple to over 1,000 million tons by 2060.
- Categories
- Technology, WASH
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
- Tags
- circular economy, housing, scale, startups, waste
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