The 10 Key Messages at the first World Circular Economy Forum for realizing Circular Economy

The Americas Sustainable Development Foundation (ASDF) is happy to have participated at the inaugural World Circular Economy Forum 2017 in Helsinki, Finland. This first global forum specifically focused on Circular Economy brought together more than 1,500 business leaders, public officials, academia, community leaders, experts, and practitioners to celebrate the first gathering among peers from all corners of the globe.

ASDF Director, [1] Kevin de Cuba and ASDF Head of Communications, Aymon Keith de Cuba, circulated among the participants to establish new strategic partnerships and share the advancements and work done under the Circular Economy Platform of the Americas, an initiative powered by ASDF.

"Participating at WCEF2017 is important to understand the different perspectives and motivations for engaging in a Circular Economy movement. Our region is rich in natural resources where majority of our economies drive on the extractive industries and agriculture. In our view the Circular Economy offers a unique opportunity for the countries in our American Continent to leapfrog to innovative productive activities to generate new products and services in line with the Circular Economy principles creating a new economic model that replaces the unsustainable global take-make-waste model" explained ASDF Director and Chair of the Circular Economy Platform of the Americas, Kevin de Cuba.

WCEF 2017 culminated with key messages presented as a guideline for realizing a global Circular Economy, and are as follows:

Factor in the Circular Economy to our global economic model and mainstream thinking.
Achieve the UN's Sustainable Development Goals with the help of the Circular Economy.
Drive the transition towards a Circular Economy, particularly in business and cities.
Use regulation and economic instruments such as national road maps and public procurement for advancing the Circular Economy.
Generate economic growth and jobs while saving natural resources and reducing pollution with the Circular Economy.
Invest in new technologies, new business models, digitization and innovation for a Circular Economy.
Combat climate change with the Circular Economy to achieve carbon-neutral and resilient societies.
Stop thinking about waste; instead make it a valuable resource.
Consume services and produce more durable, repairable, reusable and recyclable products.
Share your own Circular ideas, knowledge and experience with others.

With these key conclusions and messages, ASDF and partners are reaffirmed that the launch of the first and only Platform of the Americas focused on Circular Economy since 2016 is timely and necessary. The Circular Economy Platform of the Americas is ready to continue to lead, guide and facilitate the transition toward a Circular Economy in the Americas and is happy to announce the launch of the inaugural Circular Economy Forum of the Americas (CEFA 2017)!

CEFA2017 will be hosted in the beautiful city of Medellin, Colombia from the 17th to the 19th of October 2017 and gathers senior government representatives, business leaders, entrepreneurs, researchers and educators from the American Continent to learn and exchange Circular Economy knowledge and expertise with international counterparts and start the dialogue and process of contextualizing the Circular Economy principles, solutions and approaches to the realities, needs and opportunities in the region.

To learn more about the Circular Economy Platform of the Americas, please visit www.cep-americas.com

[1] Kevin de Cuba is the Co-Founder and Executive Director of the Americas Sustainable Development Foundation (ASDF). Over the past 9 years, he has specialized in the topics of Cradle-to-Cradle® and Circular Economy and has been a pioneer in creating awareness, capacity building and triggering action in Latin America and the Caribbean regarding these topics. Mr. de Cuba has a bachelor degree in Environmental Technology Engineering, with specialization in Waste Management, obtained from the Technical University of VanHall-Larenstein (VHL) and has an MSc. Degree in Sustainable Development, with specialization in Energy and Materials, from the Copernicus Institute at the University of Utrecht, the Netherlands.

[1] The Americas Sustainable Development Foundation (ASDF) is an independent advisory foundation focused on linking people, ideas, and action to achieve sustainable development across the American continent. See for more information: www.sustainableamericas.com