What does a circular economy mean? The bottom line, its one in which materials are kept in circulation for as long as possible, allowing them to be used again and again. Circular solutions start on the drawing board. Redesigning products so that they use fewer materials and last longer; are easy to maintain so that they can be refurbished for resale and reuse; or, when there are no other options for them, to take them apart for recovery and recycling of all the materials inside. Ultimately, the circular economy is about rethinking everything, including business models themselves so that we can reduce consumption. It’s a clever idea as it not only reduces the amount of raw materials needed for a growing global population to live healthy lives but can also reduce carbon emissions and water use during the production of the goods we all buy. But, it will only happen if every business plays its part. Even if we think that our individual footprint isn’t big enough to matter.
Lisa James
