Educate for energy- and resource-efficient industrial practices

 
Educating actors across supply chains is fundamental for the transition to energy and resource efficiency. It helps unearth solutions, such as using waste from one industry as input in another. The United Kingdom’s Internal Synergies programme promotes such industrial symbiosis. Between 2005 and 2013, the United Kingdom’s National Industrial Symbiosis Programme was rolled out across the country and reduced CO2 by 42 million tonnes, diverted 47 million tonnes of industrial waste from landfill, created over 10 000 jobs, and saved 60 million tonnes of virgin material, including 73 million tonnes of industrial water. The United Kingdom is now spreading its expertise, reaching 30 countries so far.

The European Union runs a European Resource Efficiency Knowledge Centre that offers a free self-assessment tool for small- and medium-sized firms working in 12 industries. SMEs answer questions on their consumption of energy, materials, water and waste, and the platform creates a personalised report with a set of actions for firms to be more efficient in these areas.

Other countries provide a consultancy. For example, France has a programme called Winning on All Counts led by an environmental and energy agency, the ADEME, for SMEs in industry to improve their resource efficiency, particularly targeting those with high energy and material consumption, with limited time and knowledge to undertake efficiency improvements. To fill this gap, the ADEME offers a coaching service to any SME willing to sign up.

EXPLORE FURTHER

Initiative: Re-circle - resource efficiency and circular economy (2019)

Report: Tackling Environmental Problems with the Help of Behavioural Insights, OECD (2017)