As you might know already, we are currently using natural resources faster than the Earth can replenish them. What this means is that we extract raw materials from nature, transform them into products, sold, used by us and then we discard them as waste. This is what we call Linear Economy or take-make-waste system.

Some of these materials could be reused to create new products, however, the % of materials that we recapture and recycle is very little, so we end up throwing away these valuable materials and going back to the Earth to extract new ones. The more we waste the more we destroy our ecosystems by going back to nature to extract raw materials.

In fact, there is a huge concern within the EU and other countries  regarding the reliability of certain raw materials that are crucial to our industry. Did you know that just a smartphone  is made of 50 different kinds of metals? These metals are vital for the function and also help to reduce the weight and the size. Imagine if we run out of the supply of one or two of those raw materials that are vital for your smartphone functionality, the prices  would increase, and it would go from being a basic item that we take for granted to a luxury one.

The more we waste, the more materials we  have to extract from nature. This take-make-waste model is not sustainable in the long or even in the short term.

Circular Economy As A Solution.

This take-make-waste model, cannot sustain the production and consumption in the world right now. So we need to change it, and the good news is that we can change it! It would be as “easy” as redesigning our economy system and creating a more circular economy where the waste is reduced or even eliminated. The idea is that products should be designed for longevity rather than being disposable.

I know, it does not sound easy at all, but the goal of this Circular Economy system is to create closed loops where materials can be reused over and over again with little or no waste. 

There is a misconception that sustainability means no progress or economic growth but with this new economy, we blend evolution, progress and sustainability. So the products are collected at the end of their life and reused before they become waste. This could be done by repairing, re-manufacturing, and redeploying these materials and services back out into the market.

By The Circularity Gap Report  “A global circular economy will allow us to fulfill  people’s needs with only 70% of the materials we now extract and use—moving human activity back within the safe limits of the planet.”

Let’s be honest, incorporating a Circular Economy will not be simple as we do need to change our way of production as well as our way of thinking. We cannot forget that everything interacts together, we depend on each other and we need to work together as one to be able to achieve this.

If businesses collaborate across sectors, we are able to develop solutions that allow them to use resources more efficiently and provide better value for customers while minimizing environmental impacts so we will  dramatically reduce raw material needs. We will create a more efficient system where companies save money on materials and processes which would allow us to start to resell goods over and over again. This will be a win for nature and for us.

Circular economy is about waste reduction and ensuring production processes are regenerative while organisations are able to optimise their operations  as well as contributing positively towards a sustainable future.

Impacts and benefits of the Circular Economy.

Circular Economy gives opportunities to transform our economy while we keep growing, and it will challenge us to think differently and it is helping to create a future that works better than the one we have today. Isn’t this exciting? This new business models will have a positive impact on our:

1. Environment: By enabling organisations to reuse and recycle resources, it can help limit emissions from manufacturing and transportation while also reducing waste sent to landfills.
2. Economic: By increasing resource efficiency, companies can save money on materials that would otherwise need to be replaced regularly. This will allow them to offer better value products at lower prices while still maintaining their desired profit margins.
3. Society: This system promotes increased collaboration between different sectors of industry which not only helps create jobs but also improves access to essential goods and services for those who might not have had access yet due to affordability issues or geographical location constraints.
4. Encouraging more responsible use of natural resources enables us all to leave behind a healthier planet for future generations

Circular Economy principles:

The main core idea of Circular Economy is to think that “Energy and Resources are Gold” so there is no such thing as waste.

The next 3 principles are linked to design, where products need to be redesigned to last (good quality materials are used) and be easy to disassemble so their materials can be reused or the products can easily be transformed or upgraded.

1. Reduce: By reducing or eliminating the  waste, we would contribute to decrease pollution.

   • Did you know…. in Europe, 14 million metric tons of plastic packaging is wasted every year, and Ireland produces the most plastic packaging waste per person, at roughly 65 kilograms a year. And Spain is in the top 10 countries of the EU. You can see more data here.

1. Reuse & Recycling: Reusing materials or recycling are essential in creating a closed loop where materials can be used again without needing further new extraction from natural sources.

   • Did you know…the recycling rate in Europe is just 30%, with Germany having the highest recycling rate at 67%. So what happens with the other 70% of materials that are not recycled? Where do they go? I think there is a lot to improve on this material, from changing our mindset and bringing our rubbish back home with us wherever we go (beach, parks, mountains) to avoiding as much as we can plastic containers or wraps.

1. Regenerate: In the current Linear Economy, every year we cross the planet’s safe environmental limits. Creating a more circular economy could reverse this as we would reduce global material extraction and use by one-third. This will help the natural process to recover and thrive.

   • Did you know…by Earth Overshoot Day, currently we are using nature 1.8 times faster than our planet’s biocapacity can regenerate, so we are using the resources of almost 2 Earths.

In this video from Ellen MacArthur, she explains really well the basics of the circular economy.

To wrap up a bit everything, the circular economy model offers numerous advantages for businesses, consumers and the environment alike. By transitioning away from linear models of resource utilisation, organisations are able to optimise their operations while contributing positively towards a sustainable future. Individuals can also play an important role in this process by taking small steps such as bringing reusable bags when shopping, avoiding single-use items whenever possible and donating unwanted items to charity shops or freecycle initiatives so they can be used again instead of ending up as waste. Finally, communities should strive to increase access points for repair services as well as set up recycling programs which allow people’s old electronics and other goods to be safely disposed off without ending up in landfill sites. But we talk in more detail of How To Introduce Circular Economy In Daily Life in this article that I invite you to read.

Through these efforts we can all work towards creating closed loops where resources are reused over and over again with little or no waste – helping us build a more sustainable world together.

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