Beyond recycling: Harnessing the Circular Economy for a Sustainable Future

~ By Bethany Steele ~

We have all heard the phrase, ‘One man’s waste is another man’s treasure’, well it is now the time to live by this. The world is creating too much waste and it is more important than ever to take accountability by minimising the waste we generate. Within the EU, there is over 2.1 billion tonnes of waste each year which equates to filling Wembley stadium over 22 thousand times. Each household within the UK creates nearly 1 tonne of waste per year, of this approximately 80% has the potential to be recycled. To ensure for a more sustainable future we must strive for resource efficiency and a circular economy can play a key role in this.

Society must move away from a linear economy and adopt a circular economy in order to reduce pressure on natural resources. These two models can be defined by their different central themes, linear focuses on products whereas circular focuses on services. The linear economy which some industries uphold follows the ‘take – make – waste’ trend. By using the linear economy model, the population are choosing profitability over sustainability. Consumers are not taking accountability for the waste being generated. As a society, we must try to go against this pattern and focus on a circular economy which has the main aim of extending the use of resources and maintaining their value.

A real advantage of this initiative is that there is no need for drastic changes that feel like a burden each day. To help understand the circular economy model, there are two cycles put in place to determine how the products will be used to their full potential, the technical and biological cycle. The technical cycle involves materials being recycled and repaired for further use which can be done on both a small or large scale. Within the household, consumers are encouraged to repair clothes and fix broken items rather than disposing of them and buying new. On a large scale, when disposing of bigger appliances such as refrigerators or cars, there are valuable components that can still be utilised. The biological cycle concentrates on materials being biodegradable and restoring the environment. Within daily life we can contribute to this by composting our food waste. This would help minimise the current 9.5 million tonnes of food waste that is created each year in the UK.

Although there are lots of changes that consumers can make to reduce and manage waste, there must be a bigger effort from the major industries and organisations to ensure sustainable design. If we prioritise durability of a product, it will have a smaller impact on the environment.

Ecovative is a company dedicated to creating environmental packaging and materials made from nature and are centred around a circular economy. The company found that plastic used to protect items whilst in transit created too much waste and alternative was essential. The fungus Mycelium grows quickly and has no need for light or water and due to the unique cell structure it can be formed into a high-quality material that is resistant to water and decay. Ecovative have successfully designed a product which has little environmental impact and relatively no waste. It is not possible for all products to be circular, but there needs to be much more awareness of how to minimise waste.

One of the major limitations of this model is willingness to support - there needs to be greater engagement from governmental bodies in order to fully transition. The EU Commission has set an action plan that outlines targets to ensure organisations are progressing towards a circular economy. By 2030, the goal set by the EU, is for all plastic packaging to be recyclable and to ensure this is possible, an investment of £300 million from the EU Commission was given to aid the plastic circulation. The investments made will continue to grow awareness to encourage people to actively choose products that can be maintained and help towards a sustainable future.

There is a growing concern for how the planet will cope with the amount of waste generated. The circular economy model is a key part to moving towards a more sustainable future. It is essential to acknowledge the waste we create, but more important to understand how we can minimise it. The implementation of the circular economy needs both individual and systemic changes, from repurposing goods within the household, to international goals set for waste reduction. Through collaboration and investment, every resource can begin to be valued and utilised to their full potential.