A roadmap for the circular economy was initiated in late 2017 by Brune Poirson and Nicolas Hulot, to respond via 50 measures, to some of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Today, our economic functioning is still based on: extracting materials, manufacturing products, throwing them away. But as most of our resources are non-renewable, we can no longer continue to operate in a linear fashion. For several years, companies from all sectors and communities have been moving towards circular economic models to limit the depletion of resources as much as possible. What are the stakes of the circular economy and how can we learn about it? We tell you about it!
What is the circular economy?
Applicable to all sectors of activity, the circular economy is based on several principles that aim to rethink the life cycle of products, from their supply to their end of life to limit waste and waste as much as possible. To better understand what it consists of, here are the 7 pillars on which it is based:
1. Sustainable procurement
through responsible purchasing.
2. Ecodesign of products
which aims to reduce the negative impacts of products and services throughout their life cycle.
3. Industrial ecology
which consists in creating ecosystems on the territories to mutualize resources: the waste of some is a resource for others.
4. The economy of functionality
which allows to benefit from uses rather than possession (airbnb, blabacar...).
5. Responsible consumption
by offering solutions to consumers.
6. The extension of the duration of use
to fight against programmed obsolescence in particular.
7. The end of the product's life
through recycling, sorting or reuse of materials and waste.
Relocating production, creating employment opportunities, especially for the most fragile, giving access to digital data to citizens... are also projects that go in the direction of the circular economy.
Objectives set by the circular economy roadmap
Among the goals of the roadmap, we have:
- Reduce resource consumption relative to GDP by 30% by 2030 compared to 2010.
- Reduce the amount of non-hazardous waste going to landfills by 50% by 2025 compared to 2010.
- Aim for 100% recycled plastics by 2025.
- Reduce emissions by an additional 8 million tons of CO2 each year through plastics recycling.
- Create up to 300,000 additional jobs, including in new professions.
In terms of employment, the transition from a linear to a circular economy will generate:
- Transfers of employment from resource-consuming activities to those that save resources.
- The creation of new jobs in the fields of collection, repair, reuse, and the reutilization of products.
- The creation of jobs for people who are far from it: disabled workers, people in professional reintegration...
Training is an important lever for learning these new trades and initiating professional transitions towards a circular operation !
7 training courses in the circular economy
The circular economy of materials
PRINEC
With the Ms Materials and Processes in the Circular Economy, you train for 1 year . in the design of second life materials. The training is professional, with 6 months of internship in a company. It is possible to follow the training on one of the two campuses of the Mines-Télécom engineering school, in Alès or in Albi.
How to finance the training?
A special rate is offered for young graduates and job seekers.
👉Learn more about the programs here
The circular economy in fashion
Ethiwork
Trains fashion and luxury professionals on the themes of CSR, circularity, the implementation of impactful business models, governance, responsible communication and the creation of new imaginaries. Ethiwork's training sessions can be conducted in person in Paris or online. They last 1 to 2 days and there are several modules depending on the theme!
How to finance the training ?
The training is eligible to the OPCO
👉 Learn more about the programs here
Circular economy in procurement
SWOTT
100% online, SWOTT training courses train you in the circular economy in sustainable procurement. Several modules exist to develop skills in this area, from 3 days to 6 months.
How to finance the training ?
The trainings are eligible to CPF, Pôle emploi, OPCO and even up to 24 times without fees.
👉 Learn more about the programs here
The circular economy in sustainable food
The Source
For 3 months in Paris or Bordeaux, La Source trains you in sustainable and committed cooking, to obtain your CAP as a kitchen assistant. It allows you to learn the basics of cooking with a major part of the training focused on practice, in internship.
How to finance the training ?
The training is eligible for the CPF, Akto and Pôle Emploi.
👉 Learn more about the programs here
IPAD
The MS Innovations and Policies for Sustainable Food trains you for a little more than a year in the tools to implement more sustainable food systems, from an economic, social and environmental point of view.
How to finance the training ?
Scholarships for foreign students and a Social Action fund for students who have difficulty financing their training are made available by the school and are accessible upon application.
👉 Learn more about the programs here
The circular economy in product design and construction
MakeICI
In workshops in Paris, Nantes, Marseille or Lille, MakeICI offers several trainings around craft and circular economy, such as: learning to value building waste, eco-designing cultural events, repairing bikes, designing furniture...
How to finance the training ?
The training courses are eligible for the CPF
👉 Learn more about the programs here
Examples of jobs in the circular economy
The circular economy, like CSR, is applicable in all sectors of activity and in a diversity of professions. To help you find your way around, here are a few job titles, putting the circular economy at the heart of their practices:
- Waste processing manager
- Cycle mechanic
- Waste recovery technician
- Reuse project manager
- Salesperson in a second hand store, thrift shop, resourcerie
- Waste collection development officer
- Project manager in eco-design
- Animator on the subject of reuse
- Awareness-raising officer for waste sorting and prevention
- Manager of a recycling center
- Household appliance repairer
- In charge of studies in circular economy
- Packaging engineer
- Sorting and recovery agent
- Production manager in circular economy
To take action
👉 Here are all our job offers in the sector of the circular economy.
Pour aller plus loin
👉 Eco-design to reduce the environmental impact of the cultural sector
👉 Training on CSR issues in the fashion and luxury sector
👉 Should you retrain to find an impact job ?
👉 The skills assessment to take stock of your professional life