Post the pandemic another crisis is looming on the horizon – climate change. One means to mitigate against climate change is to employ the principle of circular economy. This workshop is an introduction to the principles of circular economy and to provide practical tools to practice it.

Monday 12.00-14.30 16 August 2021

Although the Covid-19 Pandemic has had a devastating effect on the crafts sector, more crucially, there is another crisis that is looming on the horizon – climate change. This crisis is predicted to be deadlier than the Covid-19 pandemic as it is more intense, irreversible and fatal. Hence, to avert potential future climate crisis, it is imperative that humankind responds by immediately halting the aggravation that has led the world on this path and reverse this trend before it is much too late. One means of action is for the crafts sector to adopt circular economy principles.

This is important because of craft’s role in the global manufacturing sector. For example, in 2015, the international trade in arts and crafts totalled $35billion in 2015. In some places crafts are produced intensively, often on an industrial scale; whole communities are dedicated to a practice where resources are consumed in exceedingly large quantities and the value chain in production is far reaching.

One means for the crafts sector to mitigate against climate change is to employ the principle of circular economy. And to effect circular economy meaningfully, productively and efficiently, systems need to change. Craft towns and cities are particularly suited to execute because of its special advantage - its defined geographical confines together with policy changes can establish a circular system of production and consumption.

This workshop aims to:

- introduce participants to the principles of circular economy and

- to provide practical tools to implement and practice circular economy.

As a result, organisations can not only sustain the practice and economy of crafts but also contribute the longevity of Planet Earth.

Workshop speakers

- Sarah O’Carroll, Ellen MacArthur Foundation

Sustainability and the Circular Economy