From Circular Economy to Spherical Economy: Here’s What’s Changing

We chased it, and we didn’t even always reach it: it seemed like a mirage, thecircular economyas a model of production and consumption based on sustainability, has been the guide of recent years. We have chased principles such as sharing, reusing, repairing and recycling: «And it was an important step, necessary, but unfortunately no longer sufficient», explains Oscar Di Montigny, the president of the Grateful Foundation ETSwho has now developed the concept of Spherical economy: «Thanks to the circular economy we have understood the need to recover, requalify, regenerate and reduce, but we continue to introduce solutions into the system that are already accompanied by problems attached. We find the solution for plastic using electronic systems and then we have the problem of disposing of electronics, we talk about the development of the aerospace industry, but we are already haunted by the waste we leave in space. Unfortunately», continues Oscar Di Montigny, «sustainability is slow, pursued with old parameters and methods. We need more oriented thinking and the spherical economy, compared to the circular one, adds a dimension: that of a new humanism, which knows how to put the individual at the center, not in an anthropocentric way, but as an element of humanity, as a piece of our planet. We talk about centrality in terms of awareness and responsibility for the impact that man produces».

We talk a lot about “value creation,” but, in practice, what can we do to create more value?
«First of all, we should reflect on what “value” is today. In the spherical economy, value is only that which produces an advantage for everyone, for all humanity, for the entire Planet. Value is that which gives an advantage to the single individual, to society, to organizations, to peace».

But really, when talking about economics, could we get away from the logic of “capital” to indicate wealth? What should/could be the first step to revolutionize capitalism?
«It is about evolving capitalism, ensuring that capital is finally understood as a means and no longer as an end, as an instrument to produce collective prosperity rather than individual wealth».

Could you give us some “homework” to approach this new spherical economy?
«Every time we perform an action we should ask ourselves: what is the effect that this produces on individuals, what is the effect on the community, what is the interrelation between me and others? And between others and the Planet? What advantage does it produce in terms of profit? How will this action of mine generate prosperity? How will it contribute to creating a situation of peace? The 7 Ps guide us: person, people, partnership, prosperity, profit, planet and peace. If we satisfy all of them, then what we are doing is an excellent action».

What is an economic investment in line with this new vision?
“There are the first water credits, environmental credits, highly advanced forms of technology, which produce an effect in terms of sustainability, aiming to give back to humanity one of the fundamental rights, access to water. The project is promoted by the Swiss company Hypercube. Here, this, for example, is a new investment, consistent with the Spherical Economy. True success is generating prosperity, shared well-being. And I’m not saying that capital should be demonized, but it should certainly be oriented.”