This week we discussed the topic of ‘what knowledge is needed to drive the circular economy transition’. The circular economy covers many different areas, so it is important to think in terms of what is known, what can be done, what we want to do, and what must be done, and the study by Zweirs et al. (2020) categorises this knowledge into three types: systemic knowledge, target knowledge, and transformational knowledge. This categorisation is practical and helps us to understand more clearly the role of each type of knowledge in circular economy transformation.

System knowledge is about existing economic systems, such as how resources flow and how waste is managed. This knowledge lets us know what needs to be improved. In this week’s learning, we have been exposed to a number of data sources, such as UK government data and the UK Data Service, which are platforms that help us to better understand the current situation. Target knowledge is more about what we want to achieve in the future, such as reducing carbon emissions or improving the utilisation of resources. You can find a lot of information related to targets by looking at policy documents or academic reports. Transformational knowledge is more specific and is about how to achieve these goals, for example through technological means, policy measures or new business models. This week’s learning also touches on the importance of collecting and organising this knowledge with data tools and search strategies.

Finding suitable sources of knowledge is a key component. Tips mentioned this week, such as developing a clear search plan, using keywords with Boolean operators, and reasonably assessing the suitability of data, are practical. The importance of using existing data rather than re-generating it was also emphasised, which not only saves time but also avoids wasting resources.

In my next KIPP project, I intend to use these methods practically. For example, by analysing the data to understand the current state of a particular economic system, and then go on to devise some goals and methods to see if I can drive some small-scale change. More importantly, this process will allow me to learn to apply my theoretical knowledge in practice, while providing experience for similar projects.

Through this week’s study, I feel that circular economy transformation really needs many types of knowledge to work together. The process of figuring out the current situation, setting a goal and then figuring out how to achieve it step by step is complicated but meaningful. I hope that through subsequent learning and practice, I can gain a deeper understanding of this knowledge and also make a small contribution to the actual circular economy development.