Elena Papakosta, Environmental Compliance Manager, from Dell Inc. is one of our featured speakers in the technical/product/service stream of our delegate-led sessions on the Circular Economy on May 7. Elena will be featured along with David Van Seters (Sustainable Ventures) speaking on the collaborative economy, Mary-Em Waddington (BC Technology for Learning) speaking on regional-based refurbishing business model, and Brian Zeiler-Kligman (Canada's National Brewers) speaking on its reuse model.
Elena will be talking about Dell Inc.'s innovations in its business model towards circularity. Dell Inc. was recently recognized as a Circular Economy Pioneer at the 2015 Circular Economy Awards.
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![]() Extended Producer Responsibility has changed BC’s approach to recycling at almost every point in the system. But is it the best approach? Or can we do better? Don't miss your chance to be a part of the conversation and register today for #RCBC2015. In the opening session on May 6, keynote speaker Marc Adams, Managing Director, of the Inter-Regional Packaging Commission of Belgium will talk about about the role of competition. He’ll discuss a system made more effective through competition at the operational level as monopoly organizations are only acceptable when there is full transparency of their activities. With its EPR framework, Belgium has a functional competition approach operationally, while the advantages provided by monopolies at an organisational level are maintained. The key is a system structured for balance, independence and neutrality that incents efficiencies in a market place made functional through calls for tenders and free access, not only to information, but to the market itself. Marc Adams will identify the components that make the recycling market and the system work well for Belgium. ![]() Usman Valiante is Senior Policy Analyst with Corporate Policy Group LLP, with more than 20 years experience in public policy issues involving a complex mix of economics, environmental science, law, business strategy and politics. In what is sure to raise the spectre of contention, Usman will follow Marc Adams with the perspective that full producer responsibility is more than just financial responsibility. He argues that producer self-determinacy, and the discretion to design reverse supply chains for recovering, reusing and recycling printed-paper and packaging. In the context of EPR and highlighting innovation as its essence, Usman will describe the decisions that producers make (or are able to make) under shared responsibility and compares them to decisions they make (or have a much better chance of making) under a principled application of EPR. In what is not a critique of producer packaging choices, or existing municipal recycling efficiency, Usman analyses the relationship between producer packaging choices and the current approach to recycling in Ontario versus that in British Columbia. His conclusion makes the case that revisiting the fundamentals of EPR may provide for better environmental and financial outcomes. ![]() From CBC Radio, Ideas with Paul Kennedy: From AirBnB and Uber to tool libraries and swapping fairs, we're now selling, bartering, and sharing things with each other on an unprecedented scale, thanks to new technologies. Anne Wright-Howard examines how this new economic model challenges 20th century notions of ownership, commerce, government regulation, wealth and personal identity. Listen to the Episode ![]() From the Greenest City News (City of Vancouver): The Vancouver Economic Commission (VEC) has been working with businesses in the design, manufacturing, construction, demolition and recycling sectors to uncover opportunities for spurring a shift to a more circular economy in Vancouver. A “circular economy” is economic activity geared toward keeping materials in circulation and out of the landfill — you may be familiar with it through other terms like “upcycle” or even plain-ol’ “reuse”. So what is new in Vancouver’s circular economy?
How can you get involved? If you want to be involved in the advancement of Vancouver’s circular economy, add yourself to the VEC partners database or follow the Flats Facts blog for monthly updates. If you are inspired by this circular economy story, or have another bright green idea, consider applying for a Vancouver Foundation Greenest City Neighbourhood Small Grant of up to $1,000. This fund supports Vancouver residents to carry out neighbourhood-based projects that contribute to a greener city. This year, the Greenest City Neighbourhood Small Grant opens for submissions on Feb 23 with a deadline of Mar 31. Take a look back at 20 years of RCBC Conferences.
![]() Year after year, delegates say that one of the most valuable aspects of the RCBC Conference is the networking opportunities. This year, we are launching the RCBC Delegates' Lounge in the Trade Show and the Macdonald Foyer -- conversation areas to meet and connect with other delegates. The Trade Show featuring 20+ exhibitors is a key networking portion of the conference. The Welcome & Gala Receptions will be held in the Trade Show along with all the refreshment breaks in between the sessions. The delegate-led sessions on EPR & the Circular Economy will also provide an excellent opportunity to connect with area experts and delegates from different sectors. In our continued effort to reduce paper for our event, conference program information will be electronic this year. We will be launching an RCBC Conference Event app that will allow you to connect with each other through your favorite social networks. Don't forget to tag us with #RCBC2015. See you all in Whistler! We are pleased to announce program highlights for #RCBC 2015.
Wednesday May 6 - Afternoon Plenary: Keynote Speaker on Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Marc Adams, Managing Director of the Interregional Packaging Commission (IRPC), Belgium. Plenary: RCBC Workshop - Proactive Consultation on EPR According to the Canadian Council of Ministers of Environment Canada-Wide Action Plan, textile-related products should be the focus for new EPR programs after 2017, including carpets, clothing and mattresses. For RCBC 2015, delegates have the opportunity to be proactive and create a set of recommendations to inform those industries before their stewardship plan development process even starts. Working in small groups, delegates’ experience with existing EPR programs in BC will provide insight and suggestions to ensure these future programs have the information to get off to a great start. RCBC will consolidate the information, hold it in trust, and provide it to those agencies once formed. Speakers to inform the workshop include Fabio Scaldaferri, Pacific Mattress Recycling, Amelia Ufford from Canadian Textile Recovery Effort (CTRE) and David Lawes from BC Used Oil management Association (BCUOMA). Thursday May 7 - Morning Session Concurrent Sessions on Creating the Circular Economy Stream One: Circular Economy Overview, Biological/Organics Stream
Plenary: Adapting to Circularity Models Based on the information presented in a session just prior, delegates on Thursday morning will work in small groups designated to develop ideas in one or more of the following areas: New business models, adapt existing models, supportive public policy changes, complimentary systems changes, and web based platforms - that work towards the transition of a circular economy. Delegates will be assisted by a team of facilitators and have access to the speakers of the previous sessions who will be in the room as an information resource to workshop participants. Thursday, May 7 - Afternoon Sessions Dragons’ Den The groups that develop the best ideas in the previous session will get a chance to pitch their ideas to a panel of Dragons who will acknowledge one group as the RCBC 2015 Dragons’ Den Champion. (prizes and all) Plenary: Innovations on the Collection Side Learn about a variety of new and interesting systems and technical developments on the collection and processing side of waste and recycling. Presentations to be announced. Plenary: Illegal dumping Learn about the challenges to combat illegal dumping and take the first steps towards developing a province-wide strategy. Presentations to be announced. FRIDAY, May 8 – (under further development) Session One: Circular Economy Panelist – Delegate Discussion A facilitated interactive Q&A Dialogue Session Two: Moira Gookstetter, RCBC - Developing Collaborative Networks. And more to be announced..... Visit the Program Page for more details Dr. Lisa Papania (SFU) reveal the hidden costs of cheap products and explain how circular economy thinking makes good business sense. This presentation was originally shown at the National Zero Waste Council Circular Economy Webinar last June 2014. Lisa also presented at #RCBC2014 on Developing Sustainable Entrepreneurs at SFU’s Beedie School of Business during the Creating Leaders of Tomorrow session.
About the Speaker Lisa Papania has a PhD in innovation from Simon Fraser University's Beedie School of Business, and an MBA from Wits Business School in South Africa. She teaches students by engaging students in developing innovative solutions that focus on reducing and diverting waste and uplifting local communities. ![]() Introducing a social responsibility-business model, The Plastic Bank was the recipient of the 2014 RCBC Environmental Award for Innovation recognizing an individual or company that achieves an outstanding technical accomplishment in design or development of a product or process that improves its sustainability or advances zero waste practices. The Plastic Bank is turning plastic waste into a currency that can be exchanged to help lift people out of poverty and transition them into a self-sustaining life of entrepreneurship. The Plastic Bank is setting up re-purposing / exchange centers for plastic waste in areas that have a high concentration of poverty and plastic pollution. The Plastic Bank’s mandate is to provide a ladder of opportunity for the world's poor to ascend from poverty by providing access to education, credit opportunities and 3D printing services. Currently The Plastic Bank is being piloted in Bogota and Lima. Also, The Plastic Bank with the help of Encorp Pacific, Merlin Plastics, Lush Cosmetics, The Canadian Plastics Industry Association, VanCity and several community groups launched The Plastics For Change program on the West Coast of North America. The Plastic For Change program was piloted to assess how plastic from shoreline clean-upscould be utilized to help prevent future plastics from entering the ocean. The goal of the program is to give community groups and NGO’s an opportunity to put their shoreline plastics to good use. Companies may use the recycled plastic debris in their product line if they agree to sponsor the development of re-purposing centers for plastic waste in high poverty regions through The Plastic Bank. The Plastic Bank was also featured in the 2014 Metro Vancouver Zero Waste Conference Session on New Business Models of the Circular Economy. Watch the session here.
At #RCBC2012, we featured a local, made-in-BC, sharing economy model. Chris Diplock presented "Vancouver’s Cooperative Tool Lending Library: A Model for Collective Resources."
Chris outlined the vision to create a community resource that will reduce the costs of improving and greening the places in which we live, work, and play. Launched in 2011, the Vancouver Tool Library (VTL) is a free-to-use cooperative tool lending library that carries a wide variety of tools for home repair, gardening, and bicycle maintenance. About the Speaker Chris Diplock is construction project hobbyist with an educational background in business finance and project management. He has worked on the board of both a large non-profit and a workers’ cooperative and he has recently completed a Certificate in Community Economic Development at Simon Fraser University. He served as president of the VTL during the time of this presentation. For more information, visit their website: http://vancouvertoollibrary.com/ |
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