Learning objectives | The objective of this activity is to increase participants’ understanding and awareness of the circular economy concepts while encouraging self-reflection on their own circular economy practices through the 5 R’s of Waste Minimisation. In particular, the aim of this activity is to compliment slides 1-9 of the WP2 presentation for Module 1.2 which covers an introduction to the circular economy, the circular flow model, as well as waste reduction or elimination. |
Content / Methodology/Evaluation | Procedure: - The facilitator begins the session by providing an overview of what the circular economy is and how to foster a circular thinking mindset by using the presentation. The facilitator provides examples and case studies of successful circular economy initiatives, and invites participants to share their own experiences with the circular economy.
- The facilitator introduces the activity by asking participants why they understand by waste reduction. The facilitator splits participants into groups 3-4, provides each group with a piece of flipchart paper and a marker, and asks each group to write down the 5 R’s waste hierarchy:
- Reduce
- Reuse
- Recycle
- Refuse
- Repurpose
- The facilitator asks participants to brainstorm and write down different household products and where they fit into the waste hierarchy. For example, plastic bottles can go in recycling or reuse.
To make this task easier, facilitators can create a list of 20-30 items that can be found in the household to ensure that the groups have the same number of items categorised. - The facilitator asks each group to present their hierarchy and explain why they chose to categorise the items as they did.
- The facilitator then leads the group in a short thought exercise by asking all participants to stand. The facilitator asks participants to arrange themselves in a line based on how many of the 5 R’s they think they do in their own homes daily.
- Once the participants have lined up, the facilitator gets participants to share why they chose to position themselves where they did.
Methodology: - By inviting participants to share their own experiences with the circular economy, the facilitator encourages active participation and fosters a collaborative learning environment.
- Incorporating experiential learning into the activity allows for participants to gain a comprehensive understanding of a circular economy thinking mindset and inspires them to apply these principles in their own contexts.
- By getting participants to stand up and arrange themselves in a line, it builds not only their communication and critical thinking skills, but also their self-reflection skills.
- Participants are prompted to brainstorm and categorise household items based on the waste hierarchy. This encourages critical thinking and problem-solving skills as participants consider the best fit for each item.
The activity involves a comparative analysis of participants' habits in relation to the 5 R's. This encourages participants to consider different perspectives and approaches. Evaluation: The facilitator can complete an evaluation of this activity through the following questions: - How did participating in the waste hierarchy activity influence your perception of everyday household items and their potential for circular practices?
- Reflect on the group discussion about categorising items in the waste hierarchy. Were there any surprising insights or perspectives shared that challenged your initial assumptions?
- During the thought exercise, where did you position yourself in the line based on your application of the 5 R's? Why did you choose that position, and what does it reveal about your current sustainability habits?
- Consider the presentations from other groups. Were there any categorisations or insights that you found particularly inspiring or thought-provoking? How might you apply these learnings to your own lifestyle or professional practices?
Looking ahead, what specific actions or changes can you commit to incorporating into your daily life to further embrace a circular thinking mindset? How do you envision these changes contributing to a more sustainable future? |
Comments | The aim of this activity is to increase participants understanding of how the circular economy models work and builds upon the knowledge imparted during the WP2 presentation. Jensen, H. (2022, January 27). 5 circular economy business models that offer a competitive advantage. World Economic Forum. Retrieved October 31, 2023, from https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2022/01/5-circular-economy-business-models-competitive-advantage. |