The Role of Higher Education Institutions in the Implementation of Circular Economy in Latin America

Abstract

Circular economy (CE) describes a sustainable alternative approach to the current linear economy system. It is a growing topic among scholars, practitioners, and decisionmakers; it encompasses several concepts related to sustainability and requires the synergy of multiple actors for success, including higher education institutions (HEIs) as one of the most relevant ones. Current CE is based mostly on experiences in Global North developed countries, where the concept has gained great attention and has already influenced policies and strategies. However, CE in Latin American countries (LA countries) have not yet received such attention. Thus, some “unique problems” may remain unattended, and efforts to attain a CE are more likely to fail. Likewise, the study shows how the role of HEIs in CE in LA countries has not yet been fully explored, as the literature on this topic is scarce. This paper aims to address the main research question: what is the role of HEIs in the transition to a CE in Latin American countries? For this, a two-fold methodology was performed: (i) a systematic review which allows understanding of the trends of CE research in LA and the extent of the HEIs involvement; and (ii) a narrative review, which provides insights into the state of the art of CE research (gaps, drivers, and barriers) in LA countries and how this relates to HEIs. This approach drew implications for the role of HEIs in the implementation of CE in LA countries. HEIs are key actors in this transition, contributing in several ways to the CE by collaborating with industry, assisting policy makers, building human and intellectual capital, supporting community engagement projects, influencing campus culture, linking with international CE networks, and promoting an inclusive CE discourse. This research contributes to the CE body of knowledge from a Latin-American Global South perspective by discussing the factors that aim to define the role of HEIs in the CE transition in LA countries.

Food Loss and Food Waste for Green Cosmetics and Medical Devices for a Cleaner Planet

“…Therefore, the industry needs to increase its knowledge and technical know-how ameliorating the producing methodologies and utilizing the biomolecules' content of the releasing by-products adopting the circular economy approach [116]. Thus changing the way of producing, consuming and living, it will be possible to deliver a zero-plastic pollution and waste, reducing carbon emissions and helping to boost and drive a circular bio-economy capable to safeguard the environment and combat the climate change [117][118][119][120][121][122][123]. Circular bio-economy, in fact, based on nature-based goods, recycling materials and investments in green initiatives by the power of bioscience and biotechnology, might represent a solution to address the resources scarcity and help to tackle the air and marine pollution [118][119][120][121][122].…”

“…Thus changing the way of producing, consuming and living, it will be possible to deliver a zero-plastic pollution and waste, reducing carbon emissions and helping to boost and drive a circular bio-economy capable to safeguard the environment and combat the climate change [117][118][119][120][121][122][123]. Circular bio-economy, in fact, based on nature-based goods, recycling materials and investments in green initiatives by the power of bioscience and biotechnology, might represent a solution to address the resources scarcity and help to tackle the air and marine pollution [118][119][120][121][122]. Thus consumers education together with industry research and innovation represent the key to transitioning from a plastic-based economy to a bio-based ones, by changing the production of feedstock and non recyclable petrol-based materials in favor of degradable fossil-free goods, medical devices and cosmetics [124][125][126][127].…”

“…Unfortunately today only 9% of all plastic waste ever produced has been recycled, about 12% incinerated and 79% ended up in landfills [18][19][20][21]139]. Therefore, adopting a virtuous industrial comportment, it will possible not only to use the actual food waste safeguarding the environment, but also to increase the global food production, necessary to eliminate the actual worldwide hunger and poverty [122][123][124]. Recycling food industrial waste should not be an option rather an obligation that call for serious attention to finally achieve a circular economy [116,139].…”

Sustainable Development in Education from Students’ Perspective—Implementation of Sustainable Development in Curricula

“…More than half of the respondents indicated that they wanted more information on this matter during their studies. Universities, as part of a global academic community with shared values, should engage with the global challenges of today [49,50]. These institutions play a key role in shaping the worldview and knowledge of the younger generation [51,52].…”

Partnership for International Development: Finland–Argentina Conference on Circular Economy and Bioeconomy with Emphasis on Food Sovereignty and Sustainability

“…A higher share of economic activities is related to repairing, reusing, or sorting waste, and thus, advantages for the transition to a circular economy may already exist. Circular economy needs to be integrated with collaborative, bottom-up, and innovative dynamics since it has a great potential for contributing to local and inclusive development efforts [81]. The COVID-19 pandemic in Argentina and other Latin American countries revealed significant shortcomings in the linear economy; the vulnerability of global value chains, the depletion of natural resources, and the exacerbation of social inequalities.…”