Samsung Recognized for Sustainability Initiatives by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Circular economy (CE) and digitalisation are the two megatrends that are shaping the 21st century, influencing the way economy, society and the environment develop and interact. For a long time, these two trends have been seen as divergent or even conflicting. On the one hand, our world is becoming more and more digital. Digitalisation saturates and changes almost every aspect of our lives. And on the other side, it is becoming ever more apparent that the way we live and do business is having a negative impact on our planet. It is obvious that we cannot continue as we have so far; we need more sustainable development in all areas of life. This whitepaper explores the ways in which digital technologies could become key enablers of the circular economy, bringing important benefits to companies, consumers, and the environment. While this potential remains largely untapped, possible ways to bridge the gap between theory and practice are also discussed, particularly when it comes to developing innovative solutions, supportive policies and framework conditions.
Read the full article at: digitalswitzerland.com

UK-based Diem, a startup that aims to combine traditional banking with a service that allows users to sell their unwanted items to the company, has secured $5.5 million in capital via a seed round that was led by Fasanara Capital. Diem provides a user account, a Visa debit card, and financial management tools. However the Fintech firm says it’s differentiating itself from other service providers with its “cash out” feature that lets clients acquire instant credit for unwanted items. Clients may use the Diem app to get an estimate or valuation for their unwanted items such as books, clothing, electronics in “nanoseconds.” If clients decide to sell some goods, then Diem will purchase them directly and will provide instant credit (deposited quickly to their accounts).