Introduction to SDGs/CE

Briefly about SDGs and Circularity

Since the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) agenda was launched in September 2015, teachers and educators around the world have taken ownership of the ambitions of the SDGs and begun to integrate them into their learning practices.

The SDGs define sustainability as having three components: social, economic and environmental. These components are interrelated, one leading to the other, and must be addressed simultaneously. Through a holistic approach, this module proposes to think beyond their locality and country on issues that affect us all - extreme poverty, inequality, climate change, etc. By understanding the challenges of the SDGs, learners can develop a global vision of sustainable development and feel collectively concerned.  Achieving climate change goals, for example, requires more than just policies at the international, regional or national level; it also requires changes in our lifestyles, thought processes and behaviors.

Watch the below video about the global goals of  SDGs.



Watch the introduction video about CE below and reflect on the definition of circularity:

To find out more about Circular Economy concepts for sustainability, you can also consult the case of “Szentábrahámi” Herb Garden, which is the first biocertified herb and spice garden in Transylvania (RO), where more than 60 varieties of medicinal plants are grown based on traditional organic methods.

In addition to all the above, to find out more about circular thinking and sustainable development, check out a short film about PURE OCEANS, a circular company, established by a Danish couple who is devoted to contributing to the sustainable development through cleaning beaches by collecting washed out plastic and recycle them to produce phone cases and sunglasses. 

While talking about circularity, it is important to consider all its aspects and try to apply it to all possible businesses, as this is how effectiveness and maximizing the benefits can be achieved.

As it can be observed, Circular Economy goes beyond the scope and strict focus of the actions of waste management and recycling, aiming at a broader action, from the redesign of processes, products and new business models to the optimization of resource utilization ("circulating" most of the products, components and materials in technical and/or biological cycles). Circular economy aims to develop new economically viable and environmentally efficient products and services based on perpetual cycles or reconversion, from the beginning to the end of the value chain. It deals with minimizing resource extraction, maximizing reuse, increasing efficiency, and developing new business models.