The idea of this series of meetings, from 15 to 17 July at the Vicenza Fairarises from a question: how much are relationships worth in every area of our life? After having lived through these two years of pandemic, with a radical change in the management of relationships with people and with the spaces that surround us, we have understood that being together, exchanging ideas, interacting is more fundamental than ever. And so it kicks off Report 2030, an event dedicated to relationships, in any form. Philosophers, writers, singers, entrepreneurs, scientists and economists talk about it: “The first step, however, is to relate to ourselves and the world we inhabit”, he explains. Nicola Cerantolaengineer, expert in processes circular economy, also a guest at the Vicenza Summit. “Unfortunately, we have established a relationship with the planet that is often short-term, a disposable relationship. We eat where there is to eat and then, when we have finished everything, we move, regardless of everything. We must change mentality, understand that, in order to live better, we can, and must, improve our relationship with the environment ».
The relationship with nature therefore becomes central. “I thought that the pandemic period would help us to stop, to become more aware. Instead we are perpetually busy running after who knows what, always distracted by social media, always with the phone in hand “, continues Nicola Cerantola, who anticipates here the points of his speech at the event,” It is undeniable that the environmental problem is a problem global, but we must also begin to address it on a personal scale. The pandemic has taught us that we are all connected and that the behavior of each individual is important. The change, therefore, must first of all be mental, I would say spiritual ».
But, beyond personal behavior, wouldn’t there be a need for more general, more political and institutional coordination?
«The missions for sustainable development, the World Economic Forum and the Green Deal are very important, they certainly indicate a direction and serve as a frame. But I believe that it is necessary to go further, to take a further step, to have each of us more imagination to find ever more creative solutions ».
For instance?
“That’s what we do with Ecologing, our consulting and training company: we meet companies to understand where to intervene, where to find solutions that can eliminate waste, optimizing supply chains. We work on the change of mentality, trying to shift the point of view. As they say today, ours is a work of awareness, of awareness, of awareness. Thinking back to the production cycles of some companies: we have come to give birth to new business lines, which are based precisely on the lack of waste, recycling, recovering, putting back into circulation. But it is amazing how often many entrepreneurs and managers have no idea where they can start. Here, we accompany them step by step in this process of circular transformation ».
But what would be the first piece of advice you would give to a company that wants to be more attentive to waste and environmental impact?
«You must not be in a hurry: often the benefits, even economic ones, need 5-10 years for them to be seen. What seems profitable today cannot be taken for granted that it will continue to be profitable tomorrow. There is a Spanish company that we are following, which produces biscuits: now they are in difficulty because the cost of energy to bake their products has risen dramatically. Well, if they had adopted renewable energies years ago, today they would see the advantages. Sometimes it is not realized that with some investment, virtuous mechanisms would be triggered even in the long term. There is a Spanish proverb that says: the best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago, the second is now. As if to say: the best thing would have been to think about it before, but if you really haven’t done it, better now than ever ».
And, in your opinion, where are we?
«It is undeniable that today there are new technologies capable of opening up new scenarios, but we must change our relationship, precisely, with what we produce and with what we use: if I save raw materials, I avoid some bulldozers from clearing the Amazon. It is now clear: when we put the label “waste” on something, we have lost ».
If you were asked what your job is, what would you answer?
«I would say a circular explorer, or perhaps better: a circular provocateur».
Source: Vanity Fair
