Business-oriented Solutions for Resource Recovery and Reuse at Scale in Developing Countries

A discussion hosted by Prof David MacKay and Luca Di Mario. Luca Di Mario. Luca is based at the Centre for Sustainable Development in Cambridge with his PhD focused on resource recovery and reuse (RRR) for low-income countries and from the perspective of business models.

Abstract: Recovering and reuse of nutrients, water and energy from human and organic waste can help to close the resources loops and tackle three major challenges facing the developing world today, namely: food security, adequate sanitation and environmental degradation in the face of growing populations, resource scarcity, and climate change. In particular, the development of business models can play a key role in scaling-up RRR , as it can fill the current knowledge gap on financial and economical viability, and therefore, enable private or public-private players to come in as strategic partners. This has to be coupled with a deep understanding of the human and environmental benefits and risks of RRR businesses, as it is crucial to inform the different stakeholders and develop mitigation strategies to prevent future problems and ensure sustainable development. Luca will introduce the RRR topic, the importance of adopting a business-oriented approach to ensure RRR sustainability over the long term and will mention where his PhD research, carried out across Hanoi, Lima, Bangalore and Kampala, fits. A discussion on sustainable development and the importance of multi-disciplinary research will follow.