Google launches accelerator to support transition to circular economy

 Google said the new accelerator program is for startups and nonprofits that use technology to solve circularity challenges, including reuse, refill, recycling, composting, fashion, food, safe and circular.  Includes materials and the built environment.

 Google said Tuesday it is launching its first accelerator for startups and nonprofits in Asia Pacific and North America to help create the circular economy.

 A circular economy is a model of production and consumption that involves sharing, leasing, reusing, repairing, refurbishing and recycling existing materials and products wherever possible.  It aims to address global challenges such as climate change, biodiversity loss, waste and pollution by emphasizing design-based implementation of the model's three core principles - waste and pollution elimination, product and material circulation, and nature regeneration.  to deal with.

 Google said the new accelerator program is for startups and nonprofits that use technology to solve circularity challenges, including reuse, refill, recycling, composting, fashion, food, safe and circular.  Includes materials and the built environment.

 It opened applications for the 10-week program on Tuesday.  Applications can be submitted by November 14, and the program will begin in February 2023.

 Here's a guide to help you plan for sustainable development.

 In 2022, global demand for resources is expected to exceed 1.75 times what Earth's ecosystems can reproduce in a year, the technology giant said.

 Most of the resources we extract and use are ultimately wasted, creating more than two billion tons of solid waste each year, he added.

 "While this linear economic model has produced much progress for humanity in a short period of time, it has also created environmental damage, injustice and inequality - particularly for low-income and resource-poor communities in industrialized areas.  Closer. Pollution is more widespread," Thye Yeow Bok, head of Google's Southeast Asia startup ecosystem, said in a blog.

 He said that Asia Pacific is a good starting point for inventing and creating circular economy solutions as it is the most vulnerable region of the world to the impacts of climate change.

 90% of riverine plastic in the ocean comes from just ten rivers, eight of which are in the Asia-Pacific.  And by 2040, Asia is expected to account for 40 percent of world consumption, the company said.

 The concept of a circular economy is gaining popularity as it will help reduce raw material emissions and consumption, open up new market opportunities, increase consumption sustainability and improve resource efficiency.  In the process, it is seen as a facilitator of long-term growth as well as combating global warming.

 To create a circular economy that is safer, more sustainable and more equitable for everyone, we need to reframe our relationship with physical resources and how we create, process, use and recycle them," Bock said.  said in his blog post.

 Against this backdrop, he said Asia Pacific has a thriving startup and innovation ecosystem, which represents opportunities to create original and helpful products in the circular economy space.

 "Impact investing has also grown in recent years, which is an indication that investors in the region recognize the need to support sustainability solutions," Bock said.

 The accelerator offers ten weeks of virtual programming, including mentoring and technical support from Google engineers and external experts through a mix of one-to-one and one-to-many learning sessions.  Participants will also be assigned a dedicated Success Manager specific to their organization for even more support.