Today, February 4, 2021, Philips CEO Frans van Houten will provide the introduction to and participate in a milestone public webinar organized by the Platform for Accelerating the Circular Economy (PACE) to launch the PACE Circular Economy Action Agendas – a set of five expert reports that represent a rallying call to accelerate the transition to a circular economy and create a better future for people and nature.

The Circular Economy Action Agendas provide a global overview of good practices and gaps in the value chains associated with capital equipment, electronics, textiles, food, and plastics, and include 10 calls to action in each area for scaling efforts in 2021 and removing critical barriers to accelerate the circular economy, which is seen as a key tool in helping to realize a resilient and prosperous post COVID-19 era.

“Transitioning to a circular economy requires all of us to team up and commit to doing things fundamentally differently. The PACE Action Agenda will help guide and drive circular ways of working across the board, changing how we create value without devastating environmental impact. I call on all leaders in public and private sectors to join PACE and commit to adopt climate actions and prioritize circularity.” said Frans van Houten, CEO Royal Philips.

As Chair of PACE, Frans will emphasize the need for collaboration as the only way to realize change on a global scale and that the circular economy presents new opportunities to create inclusive societies that are not reliant on finite natural resources, as well as creating new opportunities for business growth. He will also highlight how Philips is already responding to these challenges and opportunities through initiatives such as its current trade-in program for large medical equipment, and its efforts to make sure all its products are energy efficient, use minimal materials, and are responsibly recyclable. He will also emphasize the need for industry-wide standards and metrics for value retention and takeback, clear communication of value drivers for reuse and refurbishment, and the removal of regulatory barriers, such as cross-boundary restrictions on the movements of used parts.

In his concluding remarks, Frans will highlight the PACE Circular Economy Action Agenda as an urgent call for action and an important step forward in scaling up the circular economy, and make a plea for others to join PACE and commit to taking tangible action together.

To register for the webinar, which will take place on February 4, 2021, from 15.00 to 16.30 CET, click here.

The PACE Circular Economy Action Agendas can be found here.