Our view
- While we broadly support the draft Circular Economy Strategy there is an overarching drive within government for exponential growth of the economy as set out in the 10X Economic Vision and Draft Green Growth Strategy.
- Without economic reform, the drive for exponential growth will outpace efficiency gains made through circularity, driving ever more extraction, waste and pollution. Instead, the economy should be structured to balance growth with environmental integrity. Well-being should be prioritised over GDP as the primary measure of success, as GDP does not account for non-market transactions such as environmental degradation and inequality. It therefore fails to indicate if growth is sustainable or not.
- Northern Ireland should work towards an economy driven by human and ecological well-being, rather than economic growth. Success should be measured by how stable GDP is instead of the rate of growth.
- The Circular Economy Strategy should be strengthened through a Circular Economy Bill with mandatory targets and regulations that ban wasteful practices and incentivise the reuse and recycling of materials.
