What is a circular economy and why is it good for us?
We have all heard that the dream of continued economic growth is in many ways unsustainable, but fortunately there is an alternative. And that is the circular economy. What is this new economic model all about, what are its benefits and how can it benefit both consumers and businesses? Read our blog post to learn about the basics of the circular economy model.
What is a circular economy?
The circular economy model offers an alternative to the unsustainable model based on continuous consumption. It is a system that minimises the amount of production from non-renewable materials using various forms of recycling, and where waste is either returned to the cycle or harmlessly released back into nature.
The circular economy model favours the use of degradable feedstocks over fossil fuels, single-use plastics and the like, so that waste can be reintroduced into the economic cycle without harming the environment. It is an environmentally friendly production method where all non-renewable feedstocks are in closed loop.
The best friends of the circular economy:
- Closed circles
- Renewable energy
- Systemic thinking
Principles of the circular economy model
The circular model can be broken down into ten principles:
- Waste is a resource. Waste is not just waste! Degradable raw materials are returned to the environment (think composting) or reused. CYCLE also uses waste to produce its cleaning products, by recycling biomass.
- Renewing the ingredients. In the circular economy model, products are renewed, redesigned so that the ingredients they contain do not become mere waste
- Reuse. Products can be reused over and over again, either as part of other products or as components.
- Use of damaged products. Some products are damaged, but they can be repaired. Many products are simply thrown away if a part is damaged, even though they could be repaired.
- Recycling. In all cases, the possibility of recycling a product should be considered before throwing it away. It may be possible to make a new product from it or to dismantle it to make a useful waste product.
- Recovering the energy in non-recyclable products. Specialised power plants can recover energy from most waste.
- Renting instead of owning. The circular economy aims to produce as few products as possible and therefore prefers renting to owning. In this way, products can be used more optimally and at the end of their life cycle, the real owner can recycle or reuse the parts in other similar products.
- Use of renewable energy. The circular economy model naturally aims to use renewable energy sources (such as solar, wind, geothermal) as opposed to simple fossil energy sources.
- Eco-conscious thinking in design. The circular economy should be at the forefront of product design - so that we can start designing products with a view to minimising their life-cycle ecological footprint.
- Rethinking the business model and using digital technology. Companies that support the circular economy model subordinate their entire business model to these goals, thinking not only in terms of products and services, but also of the entire supply chain. Digital technology is an important element of this
Why is the circular economy model good for everyone?
The circular model is not only good for our planet, but also for individuals and businesses. The benefits of a circular economy include:
- The cost of raw materials is reduced. Re-used raw materials are available at a lower cost than if we had to find them from scratch.
- Production costs are reduced. For reasons similar to the first point, production costs will also be lower.
- Sales prices are also falling. If production costs are lower, the final product will clearly be cheaper.
- An environmentally friendly solution. If we protect nature, it will reward us for our care. A circular economy reduces the environmental impact.
How can we use circular thinking in our own lives?
As shoppers, we can also help the circular economy to grow by supporting sustainable businesses that follow the principles of the circular economy model. These are companies that recycle or reuse products or waste. For example, CYCLE is a good choice for cleaning products, as CYCLE s cleaning products are made from recycled biomass, without using a drop of drinking water, and do not contain harmful chemicals produced in chemical plants. What's more, the bottles are made from recycled plastic - so there is no need to produce new plastic for them.
And in our homes, we strive to repair, recycle or donate our household items when we no longer need them.
The circular economy offers a win-win vision for the future, and we can all take small steps to make our planet a better, more liveable place.
