Emra Arjun at Suez Water Technologies argues that linear value chains hit planetary limits. Digital tools like big data and asset management let companies shift to circular models where resources get reused and recycled instead of discarded.
Hi, I'm Angela Godwin with Waterworld magazine, coming to you from the opening reception here at the BlueTech Forum in Vancouver, Canada. Joining me this evening is my guest, Emra Arjun. He is the director of Digital solutions for Suez Water Technologies. Emra, thank you so much for joining us. Great to be here. Now, you know a lot of people in the industry, they talk about the need to shift perspective from value chain to value cycle. Would you agree with that and tell me what it means?
Absolutely. The value chain is not as sustainable for our economy because we started to find the boundaries of our planet. So we need to change perspective from linear to a circular approach where we can try start to reuse and recycle our resources.
Now, how is a digital transformation going to enable that circular economy to happen?
Absolutely. I think you choose the perfect word. Enable. That is the key word because if you look at how the digital can bring value, we need to talk about the business models in the circular economy business model. We have to reuse, we have to the service and we have to recycle the resources. And digital really brings the oldest big data via the analytics and the asset performance management to enable those business models.
Yeah, that makes a lot of sense. Now, this BlueTech forum, this is the third year in the row, I believe that Suez has been a major sponsor. What's the value, do you think, in this particular event in terms of the topics and themes that are being discussed?
We love being here for a couple of reasons. One is it really brings the different parties to the game. We have access to the great technology. We have a pulse on the business and innovation as well.
Well, Emra, we really appreciate you joining us tonight and all of your insights and wish you all the best of luck. Thank you very much. For Waterworld magazine, I'm Angela Godwin.
