How a new kind of business structure will save the economy and reverse climate change

It is no surprise by now that the coronavirus outbreak will likely have lasting impacts on the way we navigate through life and in society.

We will have to adapt to a new, restructured way of living, to ensure outbreaks of a similar kind do not happen again.

To kickstart the economy and save businesses at the brink of devastation, it is necessary we re-evaluate the way businesses are run - this would not only help us to recover from COVID-19 but could also put an end to climate change.

Research by the circular economy organisation Zero Waste Scotland has suggested that continuing with the working-from-home approach after lockdown would cut its carbon footprint by 75 per cent because most emissions are caused by staff travel.

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The organisation is urging businesses within the public and private sector to use what they have had to learn during the UK's lockdown in order to help them find the best way to rebuild after the pandemic.

Their findings have also suggested that the circular approach - an alternative economy in which resources are kept in a loop of use for as long as possible in order to extract the maximum value from them - was the key to emerging out of the pandemic even stronger than before the coronavirus outbreak.

Utilising this type of economic approach would create more green jobs and allow companies to overcome both the coronavirus and climate change crisis together.

Since the outbreak began and humans started to isolate themselves from the outside world, we have witnessed the wonders that reduced levels of travel and industrial action have had on the natural world.

To name a few transformations, harmful carbon emissions have reduced drastically, the ozone is finally healing itself and flora and fauna of all kinds are flourishing in a world less dominated by the presence of humans.

Carrying forward this environmental opportunity the outbreak has given us, the implementation of a circular approach in the UK would help the environment to continue to recover and grow in harmony with the economy, not in conflict.

The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted just how much we could all do differently. We now have a unique time to assess the impact of these sudden widespread changes on the economy and the environment, both now and into the future.

With the climate emergency undeniably one of the most pressing challenges we face, perhaps it is time we take some initiative. If we were to take on board the scary but proactive idea that positive change can happen if we restructure our business and economies, we could achieve a healthier, safer and more sustainable future for us all to enjoy.