Maximizing the value in Canada’s value chains
Businesses and industries are embracing a multi-trillion dollar opportunity to eliminate waste, improve productivity, enhance competitiveness, and maximize value. It’s called a ‘circular economy’.
Paul Shorthouse
Managing Director
Circular Economy Leadership Canada (CELC) creates the knowledge, networks, and opportunities that accelerate circular innovation across Canada’s economy.
As the costs of our products increase–from food to clothing, housing to cars–waste is a luxury no one can afford. It’s clear that inefficient supply chains are more vulnerable to disruption–carrying greater environmental and social liabilities, as well as business risk. Every sector is grappling with the unsustainable costs of “business as usual.” Rising populations and competition for resources make revamping Canada’s industries and supply chains all the more urgent.
What’s needed is a new model that rethinks production processes, supply chains, material resource use, and consumption patterns. Rising to this challenge is one of the most critical opportunities of our time.
The good news is, businesses and industries are already starting to embrace a new approach called the ‘circular economy.’ It presents a multi-trillion dollar global opportunity to eliminate waste, improve productivity, enhance competitiveness and maximize value. CELC unites leaders across Canada’s diverse sectors to collaborate, innovate, and advance real-world circular solutions. We work to advance critical enablers for circularity across all sectors, as well as undertake deep dive projects in strategic sectors–from critical metals and minerals, to agrifood, to construction and real estate.
Leveraging the research and policy expertise of the Smart Prosperity Institute, our goal is to help retain the highest value from Canada’s resources through designing out waste and supporting innovative business models focused on optimal material use, re-use, repair, refurbishment, recycling, and regeneration.
Together, we’re creating more resilient and prosperous businesses and communities across Canada.
Contact Paul Shorthouse, Managing Director, for more information: info@circulareconomyleaders.ca
Businesses and industries are embracing a multi-trillion dollar opportunity to eliminate waste, improve productivity, enhance competitiveness, and maximize value. It’s called a ‘circular economy’.
Paul Shorthouse
Managing Director
The whole is greater than the individual parts. That’s what inspires me about the power of Generate Canada… the synergies that come from connecting across our various solution spaces.
Paul is one of Canada’s leading experts in the emerging circular economy, providing solutions and engaging leaders who are working at the intersection of business innovation, public policy, economic development, and sustainability. For over a decade, this work has placed him at the forefront of the important transition that is underway towards a greener, more prosperous, low-carbon economy.
Paul took on the role of Managing Director of Circular Economy Leadership Canada (CELC) in 2021. In this role, he is working to create the knowledge, networks, and opportunities that accelerate circular innovation across Canada’s economy. Tapping into a network of Partner organizations across the country, CELC provides thought leadership, technical expertise, and collaborative platforms for accelerating systems change and the transition to a low carbon, circular economy in Canada.
Paul is also a Senior Director with the Canada Plastics Pact and the Canadian Alliance for Net-Zero Agrifood (CANZA), as well as Board Chair for the Synergy Foundation and Project Zero (a circular economy accelerator program based in British Columbia). Prior to this, Paul served as Senior Director at the Delphi Group, Managing Director of Vancouver-based GLOBE Advisors, and was the Conference Director for the GLOBE Series (from 2009-2016), considered one of the largest sustainability events in Canada. He is also a member of the CSA Group’s Operations Management & Sustainability Strategic Steering Committee and on the Program Advisory Committee for BCIT’s School of Business.
Geoff is an Assistant Professor of Environment and Development in the School of International Development and Global Studies, and Director of Research for the Institute of the Environment and the Smart Prosperity Institute, at the University of Ottawa. Geoff’s research expertise includes areas of environmental, natural resource and development economics, with specific projects focused on a range of issues related to climate change impacts on natural resource use, the impacts of carbon markets on sustainable forest management in Canada, and the use of financial instruments to improve climate risk management for agricultural producers in developing countries. He also has extensive experience working with academics, funders and partner agencies across Canada and internationally, to both develop and communicate policy-oriented research on the environment and economy, as well as advise and implement climate risk management projects for at risk populations. Geoff holds a Ph.D. in Sustainable Development (with a focus on economics and climate science) from Columbia University.
With a network of Partner organizations across the country, CELC advances thought leadership, technical expertise, and collaborative platforms for accelerating systems change and the transition to a low carbon, circular economy in Canada.
The circular economy promises to unlock massive opportunities — and solutions to some of our most pressing challenges. How can Canada’s finance sector open the door?
A staggering 30% of Canada’s total GHG emissions result from the operation of buildings, as well as the manufacturing, transportation, installation, maintenance, and disposal of building materials. Research by the CSA Group in collaboration with CELC shows how circular strategies focused on extending the life of existing buildings through renovation over new construction can make an impact.
Read MoreThe transition to a low-carbon economy will result in increased primary demand for metals like aluminum, copper, lithium, silver, nickel, lead, and zinc – some of which are in short supply. At the same time, the negative impacts of mining activities have come under increasing scrutiny. Can circular economy strategies help address supply and demand by enhancing resource recovery while minimizing environmental impacts? Evolving research shows it’s possible.
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