♻️ Sri Lanka Shifts to Circular Economy to Turn Waste into Economic Value

• Core Objective: Transitioning from the traditional linear "take-make-dispose" model to a circular economy focused on eliminating waste, keeping materials in use, and regenerating natural systems. • Key Sector Opportunities: - Sustainable manufacturing: Redesigning production to cut waste, increase recycling, and leverage industrial symbiosis. - Plastic recycling: Expanding recycling infrastructure, biodegradable alternatives, and reusable packaging to combat plastic pollution. - Construction & infrastructure: Reusing recovered concrete, steel, timber, glass, and asphalt for cost and resource savings. - Agriculture & food systems: Converting crop residues and food waste into compost, animal feed, bioenergy, or organic fertilizers. • Economic & Operational Benefits: - Lowers operating costs and waste disposal expenses. - Generates employment and creates new revenue streams from recovered materials. - Strengthens supply chain security, carbon reduction, and business resilience. • Key Drivers & Innovation: - Technology adoption (AI, IoT, blockchain) for material tracking and supply chain transparency. - Circular business models like Product-as-a-Service, repair/refurbishment, and sharing platforms. - Sustainable finance (green loans, ESG funds) and supportive policies like Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) and green procurement.