Reading Time: 3 minutesOnly 9% of plastic waste is recycled in OECD countries. Transitioning to a circular economy could yield significant environmental and economic benefits, but bold policy action is needed to drive this change.
Janez Potočnik - (UN)
Co-Chair of UN Environment International Resource Panel, Dr Janez Potočnik was Minister Councillor at the Slovenian Prime Minister’s Cabinet and Minister for European Affairs. In his capacity as European Commissioner for Environment (2010), he provided a fundamental contribution to the establishment of the Circular Economy agenda. From April 2016 he has also been a Partner of Systemiq. He is member of the Advisory Board of the European Commission Circular Economy in Cities and Regions Initiative (CCRI). For his dedication to the circular eocnomy he recieved noumerous awards, inlcuded the United Nations' 2013 Champions of the Earth Award for the Efforts to Promote Resource Efficiency and Reduce Food Waste in European Union; the Fortune Award for Circular Economy Leadership; the Hans-Carl-Von-Carlowitz-Award for courageous, open minded, and international work for the idea of the circular economy in Europe. Dr Janez Potočnik holds a Ph.D. in Economics.