Circular Economy

What is circular economy?

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Circular economy is based on three main principles:

• To eliminate waste and pollution
• Circulate products and materials
• Regenerate nature

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This differs from our current, traditional economic framework, which has a more linear approach. Large quantities of cheap, easily accessible materials and energy are used in this model, in a take-make-consume-throw away pattern.

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A circular design can be seen in the following slide.

Why should we switch to a circular economy?

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As the world’s population continues to grow, so does the demand for raw materials. Those raw materials, however, are becoming more and more limited.

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Further to this, the extraction and use of raw materials is having a major impact on the environment, and increases energy consumption and CO² emissions.

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A circular economy can help tackle the triple planetary crisis on climate, biodiversity and pollution. Smarter use of raw materials can lower CO² emissions, keeping resources in the loop for longer. In turn, this leads to a reduction of habitat loss, therefore improving biodiversity. Similarly, pollution will also be reduced, with less waste being produced

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Why should we switch to a circular economy?

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Politically, circular economy also gives countries more independence. Currently, limited supplies of resources and materials means some countries are dependent on others through imports, leaving them vulnerable to supply chain problems.

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With a circular economy, secondary materials can be extracted from products that would otherwise be discarded, destroyed and incinerated.

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Circular economy and biodiversity

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Biodiversity is a natural circular economy, promoting a balanced economic system. This balance is threatened by the current unsustainable, linear economic patterns.

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The actions of humans to fuel the current economic system are driving biodiversity loss, with 1 million species facing the risk of extinction as a result.

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With over half of the world’s total GDP highly dependent on nature and its services, the consequences of imperil are not just climate instability and pandemics, but also cost increases in multiple sectors.

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A circular economy shifts extraction to regeneration and would help curb these risks, taking pressure from our vast biodiversity.

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What are the benefits?

Switching to a circular economy has many potential benefits. These include:

• Reducing use of non-renewable resources
• Lowering carbon emissions
• Reducing waste (aiming for zero waste)
• Providing benefits for consumers
• Opening new opportunities for companies

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The pressure on the environment is reduced, improving the security of the supply of raw materials, while increasing competitiveness, stimulating innovation, boosting economic growth, and creating jobs.

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Waste prevention, eco-design and re-using has the potential to save companies money, in conjunction reducing the total annual greenhouse gas emissions. The production of materials used every day are currently contributing to 45% of CO2 emissions.

What are the benefits?

Due to the reuse of materials, a circular economy discourages practices like planned obsolescence, meaning products will be designed to last longer.

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This in turn allows for an increased disposable income, as a circular economy encourages practices like buying used items, renting or leasing instead of buying, and other more economic practices.

What is the EU doing to become a circular economy?

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In March 2020, the European Commission presented the circular economy action plan, which aims to promote more sustainable product design, reduce waste and empower consumers, for example by creating a right to repair. There is a focus on resource intensive sectors, such as electronics and ICT, plastics, textiles and construction.

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In February 2021, the Parliament adopted a resolution on the new circular economy action plan demanding additional measures to achieve a carbon-neutral, environmentally sustainable, toxic-free and fully circular economy by 2050, including tighter recycling rules and binding targets for materials use and consumption by 2030.

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What can individuals do for a circular economy?

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There are a number of ways that people as individuals can contribute to creating a circular economy. These include:

• Reduce food waste: As much as one third of the food we buy ends up in landfill. Decreasing what we buy and using what we have first can help reduce waste.
• Prevent household waste: investing in products that value quality over quantity
• Cut down heavily processed food & beverages: food and drink that has been heavily processed often require more energy and resources to produce. Where possible, reducing intake of these items can improve our impact
• Eat a more plant-based diet: producing animal-based proteins are water and resource intensive, and reducing this at a global scale can significantly reduce global emissions
• Check for certifications: many items are certified as ‘sustainable’ or ‘carbon-neutral’. Research and choose items based on their certifications.

What can individuals do for a circular economy?

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• ‘Repair and share’: repairing, maintaintaing, sharing, re-manufacturing and take-back programs can be used to prevent regularly buying new products.
• Consider ingredients: where possible, reduce products with harmful ingredients to the environment (e.g. chemical based, micro-plastics)
• Waste sorting: recycling, composting and donating products can all reduce waste
• Reduce travel emissions: travelling less often, using public transport instead of private vehicles, car-pooling and offsetting emissions can all make a positive change
• Stay educated: start open discussions within your personal communities to spread awareness. Continue research for best practices.

Sources:

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https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/headlines/economy/20151201STO05603/circular-economy-definition-importance-and-benefits#:~:text=The%20circular%20economy%20is%20a,reducing%20waste%20to%20a%20minimum

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https://s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/europarl/circular_economy/circular_economy_en.svg

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https://www.government.nl/topics/circular-economy/need-for-a-circular-economy#:~:text=A%20circular%20economy%20can%20be,energy%20needed%20to%20make%20products.

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https://ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/topics/circular-economy-introduction/overview

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https://ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/regenerate-nature

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https://unctad.org/news/blog-circular-economy-can-help-stem-biodiversity-loss

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https://tontoton.com/5-benefits-of-a-circular-economy/#4_Provides_benefits_for_the_consumer

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https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2022/03/21-circular-economy-solutions/

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Thank you!