Taking the circular economy mainstream

In this episode of Tech cetera, we're joined by Carlo Chen-Delantar, Head of ESG & Circular Economy at Gobi Partners and Tanah Sullivan, Head of Sustainability at GoTo Group, to discuss the transition towards a circular economy and how connectivity is being used to not only address climate change but do so in a way that ensures future economic growth and job opportunities in the region.

How connectivity drives change: from climate crisis to the circular economy

5G has a key role to play in the circular economy movement. We discuss how it enables us to create more sustainable products and services.

Climate change has gone from an important issue to become the issue of the times. Unless carbon emissions are significantly reduced, the world will soon reach a tipping point. The need for action has given rise to the circular economy, a model that allows us to cope with the challenges of climate change.

In episode two of Tech cetera’s second season, we dive into how technology and connectivity are being used in the transition towards a circular economy. The host for our podcast series,  Sarah Goss discusses this topic with our two guests:

• Carlo Chen-Delantar, Head of ESG at Gobi Partners
• Tanah Sullivan, Head of Sustainability at GoTo Group

The need for an interconnected approach:

Tanah and Carlo understand the urgency of climate change. Although they come from different backgrounds, they share a common goal of promoting sustainable practices.

Tanah previously worked as a member of the World Economic Forum (WEF). This role exposed her to the concerns of global decision-makers and inspired her to take her learnings back home to Indonesia and apply them at a grassroots level.

Now, as the Group Head of Sustainability for GoTo’s group of companies, her role oversees the integration of Environmental, Social and Corporate Governance (ESG) best practices into the operations of the group.

Carlo , who today heads ESG at Gobi Partners , grew up in the Philippines, where he closely witnessed the impacts of climate change. In 2013 the country was hit by Typhoon Haiyan, one of the most powerful cyclones ever recorded. Seeing first-hand the destruction that climate-induced events bring, this experience inspired him to dedicate himself to a line of work committed to finding solutions.

Carlo leads sustainability efforts at Gobi partners. His focus is on building sustainable communities through environmental conservation, renewable energy, and community development.

Although Tanah and Carlo each have unique experiences, both believe in the benefits of a "circular economy”. This is one in which waste is minimised and we can generate greater value from products and services.

Unraveling complex systems:

Taking a sustainable approach to business means more than just ticking boxes on an ESG checklist. It involves making big changes to the way a company operates, which can be complex and overwhelming. This is something both GoTo Group and Gobi Partners understand very well.

Tanah explained that every step taken towards sustainability has either replaced or reduced an operational expense at the company. However, Tanah believes that it is not just about companies making changes internally. They must also educate customers and give them the power to make sustainable choices.

For GoTo Group, this meant offering their one million users of Gojek (the company’s ride-sharing subsidiary) the choice of paying extra to offset the carbon emissions of their rides. Now seeing users pay up to 10% more per order shows that people are willing to make a difference when given the chance, especially when it comes to climate action.

When it comes to sustainable technology, there are many factors to consider. This includes the hardware and software used. Creating software is mostly intangible and therefore being more sustainable is fairly simple. Where Carlo sees the conversations happening is on the hardware side.

Most of the discussion around sustainable technology has been around reducing the amount of waste that goes to landfill. However, Carlo suggests the focus should be on reducing the amount of waste when it gets to the consumer. He believes the conversation should be around industrial cooperation. This is about finding ways to ensure that waste from every step of the supply chain is used by another industry or company.

More industrial cooperation and reducing supply chain wastage is something Ericsson firmly believes in. Ericsson has set goals to cut waste by 50% by 2030 Ericsson’s climate targets are in line with the science-based environmental target supporting a 1.5°C ambition, moving towards Net Zero across the value chain by 2040. The Company’s circular economy

approach encapsulates everything from design, manufacturing and the use phase through reuse, product take-back and end of life.

How technology companies can lead from the front:

In today's world, technology companies are leading the way towards sustainability. GoTo Group and Gobi Partners have set an excellent example of how businesses and purpose can merge with the right investments. By integrating sustainable practices into their operations, they are striving to create an economy that reduces waste and maximises value.

New technology like 5G will have an important role in the circular economy. This innovation will allow us to make more sustainable products and services by creating more efficient methods of production. By using 5G devices, we can reduce our carbon footprint while also delivering new and innovative solutions to everyday problems.

Using its skills and resources to find new ways to reduce supply chain wastage, Ericsson’s aim is to show the industry how it can become more sustainable. Through its commitment to sustainability, it is taking another step towards the circular economy.