Circular Economy; It is Time to Think in Circles

Circular economy (CE) is revolutionizing how we see and deal with products and our environment. The concept promotes longer use of products with the possibility of second, third or multiple lifecycles. A lot of people tend to confuse CE with promoting recycling at the end of a product’s lifecycle. Viewed this way, CE then becomes more of a solution to deal with waste and nothing else.
However, CE is much more than that. The first of its three core principles is about the elimination of waste, not only at the end of the product’s lifecycle but also along the value chain. Lean manufacturing tends to align well with this principle as it promotes the relentless pursuit of reducing waste in the manufacturing process.
The second principle deals with the circularity of products and raw materials in the highest possible value. A good example is the 7Rs: reusing, refurbishing, recycling, remanufacturing, repairing, repurposing and reducing. The ultimate objective in the R’s is to use the product and the subsequent raw materials for as long as possible. The third principle is about regenerating nature and it weaves perfectly well into the first two.
The circular economy is elaborate. It tackles the problems with resource utilization along the whole value chain. Downstream, for instance, CE promotes the responsible extraction of raw materials, design of processes and products and eventual consumption. Upstream, CE promotes repairing and refurbishing broken items instead of dumping them. It also advocates for recycling and reclaiming raw materials and resources from waste.
Should the status quo remain and we continue with our linear thinking, there will be massive environmental damage by 2050 let alone imagining about the end of the century. Between 1970 and 2018, greenhouse gas emissions rose by 28 gigatonnes (Gt). If nothing is done, a further increase of 24 Gt is expected between 2018 and 2050 which will lead to an increase in the global temperatures to between 3 and 6 degrees Celsius. Imagine the effects for a moment.

Currently, higher-income countries are accounting for over a third of all virgin resource extraction. These economies account for massive carbon emission equivalents. Additionally, global household waste is to the tune of 2 billion annually with an annual generation of 50 million tons of E-waste as well.
If anything, the preceding figures should raise our eyebrows on the need to accelerate the adoption of circularity principles at the micro and macro levels. CE economy works best with excellent cross-collaboration. In emerging economies, the concepts seem to be foreign to the consumers. Governments are left to juggle the wave alone often without qualified people to lead at the higher level in policy development and implementation.
It should be clear though that CE needs to be driven by consumers, governments, the private sector and other non-governmental organizations. It involves everyone. Accelerated digitization of industry and society can increase CE transitions and help increase awareness. It could also add efficiency to the collaborative side of the narrative.
Initially, CE was idealized for the manufacturing sector obviously due to the principle of raw material conversion into finished products. Specific pointers such as known raw materials which could be zinc, aluminium, iron and the results in the form of a car, metal bar et cetera with cross border and international trading made it harder for a lot of people to visualize a successful circular economy.
Over time, CE has become much more than the physical aspects of the whole idea and has moved into abstract thinking which is the core determinant of its success. People are making valuable items out of waste. It has also moved beyond manufacturing and into all other sectors such as food, fashion, architecture, construction and much more. At the very core of it all, the consumer is proving more and more critical in ensuring its success.
Let’s all think circularly and help revitalize this planet. We can reduce food waste by getting just enough and sharing or selling the extra. There will always be people in need of therefore you throw it out, and think of a creative snack you can use it for. As a thumb rule, before throwing it out, recycle it, reuse it or repurpose it.
If you don’t like your clothes anymore, think twice before you throw them away. Refashion them, reuse them, give them out to charity, or sell them as second-hand clothes. Health and electronics equipment need to be redesigned to enable easier repairs and refurbishing for resale. A lot of this equipment and electronics are just too valuable to end up in garbage.
Carpool and car share as much you can and can be possible. It is easier and environmentally good. It helps reduce energy wastage and in the case of fuel engines, reduces emissions too. And even in death, save the planet with cremations and concretes and unnecessary energy wastage. Sometimes the embodied energy is not worth it. Be composted and enrich the garden and the soil. It makes us feel good, right? I know this sounds controversial now.
But as said earlier, we need to think in circles. That is not ordinary.