El Corte Inglés Commits To Promote Circular Economy

Tom Giddings, general manager of Alupro, discusses the waste and resources sector’s ‘hot topics’ and explores both the hurdles and opportunities that could be in store for 2022.  Over the past 18-months, the world has experienced a series of economic challenges that would previously have been considered almost unimaginable. And yet, during what has been a hugely challenging period, the waste management supply chain has shown fantastic resilience.  In 2020, for example, while a significant volume of aluminium packaging was placed on the market, the sector exceeded targets and reached its best ever recycling rate.

A report published on 26 August by an independent group of experts warns that reaching net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 is now “too little too late”, and will not achieve the long-term temperature goals identified in the Paris Agreement to limit global warming to 1.5°C by the end of the century. Drawing upon findings recently published by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s (IPCC) Sixth Assessment Report (AR6), the report from the Climate Crisis Advisory Group (CCAG) argues that current global emissions targets are inadequate and that net negative – rather than net zero – strategies are required.
The report, titled ‘The Final Warning Bell’ suggests that even if countries achieve net zero by mid-century, this will not tackle greenhouse gases already in the atmosphere, with CO2 equivalent concentrations potentially continuing to climb as high as 540ppm (parts per million). This means there is little to no room for manoeuvre, with only a 50% chance of holding the 1.5°C line.