Circular Economies

Circular economies, or circularities, are an environmentalist's dream come true. It is an economic system that tackles widespread problems like loss of biodiversity, waste management, and climate change.

Take, Make, Waste

The usual linear economies function in an unsustainable way, creating hugely negative impacts on the environment. "Take, make, waste" is the best way to describe it. It involves exploiting the availability of a specific natural resource and utilising it in factories to make products on a large scale. Ultimately, large amounts of waste are created- both in the industry and when the final product is thrown out by consumers after using it. The basic structure of the economy is what is fuelling the unsustainability that is killing the planet. Only when there is a systemic change in the way economies are designed can there be a real positive effect on the environment.

A Better Option

A circular economy is a framework of three principles:

1. Eliminate waste and pollution,

2. Keep products and materials in use and

3. Regenerate natural systems.

Unlike linear economies, a circular economic system focuses on finding ways in which materials from the product can be reused. The aim is to create a regenerative system, where we never run out of resources.

Why Do We Need Change?

If we fail to act and change the linear economy to a circular economy, the volume of plastic on the market will double, the annual volume of plastic entering the ocean will almost triple, and ocean plastic stocks will quadruple. In 15 years, clothing production has doubled, but usage has dropped by 40%, and less than 1% of clothing is turned into new clothing at end of its use. The economic, health and environmental benefits of a circular economy for food alone would be worth USD 2.7 trillion a year by 2050. This is one of the only solutions to the climate crisis.

Examples

Deposit return schemes reward recycling by giving consumers a financial incentive to dispose of their recyclable drink containers sustainably. The schemes work by adding an extra deposit on top of the price of a drink, which is refunded to consumers when the empty drink containers are returned for recycling- often at a reverse vending machine.

Sugar production - When sugar beets arrive at the factory, they must be thoroughly washed to remove the dirt. Rather than this dirt and stone being a problem, some companies sell this ‘waste’ for other industrial purposes at a volume of 150,000 tons per year.

Thus, circular economies are essential if we wish to save the planet. Each solution is tailor-made, helping solve the wide variety of problems faced today. The only way forward is by giving back what we take.

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