TED: How to make sure materials get reused -- again and again | Garry Cooper

The video discusses the benefits of transitioning from a linear to a circular economy, using Chicago as a backdrop. It highlights the environmental and economic challenges of urban areas, emphasizing the potential of circular economies to reduce waste and emissions. The speaker shares a personal journey from a small-scale initiative to founding a company that promotes reuse. A case study on furniture reuse in New York illustrates practical applications. The video outlines steps to scale circular economies in cities, emphasizing digital infrastructure, operational capacity, and policy incentives. The potential economic and environmental benefits of circular cities are also explored.

What are some of the key attractions of Chicago mentioned in the introduction?

• Great food and architecture

• Beaches and mountains

• Deserts and wildlife

• Rainforests and rivers

What is the main problem with the linear economy as discussed in the introduction?

• It increases biodiversity

• It promotes sustainable development

• It reduces greenhouse gas emissions

• It leads to waste and missed economic opportunities

How did the speaker start their journey towards a circular economy?

• By founding a recycling company

• By using a push cart to share unused lab equipment

• By investing in renewable energy

• By organizing community clean-up events

What is the role of the speaker's company in promoting a circular economy?

• It provides financial loans for startups

• It builds new infrastructure

• It manufactures new products

• It helps organizations identify and reuse resources

In the case study, what happened to the 2000 office chairs from the investment bank?

• They were reused by local organizations

• They were exported overseas

• They were incinerated

• They were sent to a landfill

What is one of the key benefits of transitioning cities to circular economies?

• Increased global land mass

• Higher greenhouse gas emissions

• Decreased population density

• Creation of local jobs

What is a necessary step for cities to transition to a circular economy?

• Expanding urban sprawl

• Increasing fossil fuel usage

• Developing digital infrastructure

• Building more skyscrapers

Which city made it illegal to throw out textiles, as mentioned in the final section?

• San Francisco

• Chicago

• New York

• Massachusetts

What is the potential impact of building 1000 circular cities by 2040?

• Increase in linear economies

• Decrease in urban population

• Reduction in global greenhouse gas emissions by over 60%

• Increase in global emissions

What is a key factor in making a net zero future possible according to the final section?

• Reducing digital connectivity

• Competing with other cities

• Sharing resources locally

• Increasing industrial production