Circular economy. What´s that?

This term, which may seem new to some, was already debated in the 1970s. It is a concept that has gained more strength over time due to successive economic crises, environmental crises, price volatility and instability, and scarcity of primary resources.

Okay, but what is the circular economy?

The circular economy is a new economic model that proposes to keep materials, products and their components in circular processes, incorporating them into the value chain once their useful life is over.

It arises as an alternative to the current linear economic model of “take-make-dispose” and the problems that it presents, what to do with waste once the useful life of the product is over? How to obtain “cheap” resources in a constant way? These are some of the questions that arise.The linear model poses a permanent economic growth, ergo, a constant consumption.

However, in a world with finite resources, the concept of infinite growth and when growth depends on limited resources, seems incongruous. At this point, the circular economy proposes to rethink production models using, if possible, biomimicry as a proposal. If there is no waste in nature, why don’t we do the same? That is, be more effective than efficient, any waste can become a resource.

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As its name indicates, the circular economy proposes a cyclical system whose fields of action would be to extract, transform, distribute, use and recover materials and energy from products and services.

• Extract: refers to the way in which companies take resources from their environment. They must try to do this more efficiently and responsibly.
• Transform: to ensure that the transformation of the resources extracted is as sustainable as possible.
• Distribute: the environmental impact generated by the delivery of the product to the customer must be reduced.
• Use: aims to reduce the impact of energy associated with the use of the product or the efficiency of the product itself. For example, by repairing, giving a second use to the product.
• Recover: waste must be recovered. This can be done in two ways: biological (the resource can be returned to the biosphere) or technical (incorporating it into the production chain)

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The scope of application of the circular economy can be seen at three levels of integration:

• Micro or individual: companies and individuals must make use of clean energy, use of good practices for the environment, energy efficiency, implementation of eco-designs, reduction of carbon footprint, etc.
• Meso: collaborative economy where organizations cooperate to reduce waste, share resources, etc.
• Macro: at a regional or national level where policies for the implementation of eco-cities are established.

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The following are examples of the application of this model:

Companies:

• Philips: is a Dutch lighting company. In 2012 it decided to implement the model by offering its customers, as if it were a leasing agreement, to pay for the light, not for the appliance. Once the contract ends, the device is returned for recycling or reuse.
• Natura: considered the 15th most sustainable company in the world according to the Canadian Corporate Knights, it is known for its numerous policies related to reducing carbon emissions, water consumption, solid waste, innovation capacity, salaries, work safety, percentage of women in management, among others.
• Levis: the American company is focused on generating clothing with great durability while minimizing its environmental impact, for which it communicated a strategy in 2009 to reduce energy consumption and efficient water use. Sharing its data with its competitors, last year they held a conference with the aim of obtaining greater knowledge and better practices in water saving.

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Cities:

• Copenhagen: one of the greenest cities in the world, was awarded in 2017 by the C40 Cities Awards as the greenest city for the C40 Cities project as the greenest city for the zero carbon emissions project and totally potable water with a target of 2025. With comprehensive planning, the city now uses green energy, green roofs, sustainable mobility.
• Singapore: in August 2019 it presented a zero waste plan, as well as a model of a circular economy explained in 3 phases and applying the concept “Product as a Service” for the products generated there.
• San Francisco: this is the greenest city in the United States and the application of the circular economy has enabled the city’s environmental and habitability parameters to be improved. It has managed to considerably reduce its C02 emissions into the atmosphere by reducing the number of personal trips within the city by 50% and by promoting the use of public transport powered by renewable energies. The waste collection and treatment plan is inclusive of households and companies, with 0% of waste going to landfill or incineration.
• Cape Town: With the Integrated Waste Exchange Scheme in Cape Town, it has been possible to connect people, public bodies and companies who want to exchange their waste. This project encourages a circular flow of materials and promotes horizontal exchange. Users reduce energy consumption, save money and reduce waste.

References & Resources

• Ellen Mcarthur Foundation, “Towards the circular economy: Economic and business rationale for an accelerated transition”
• Researchgate, (November 2017), “Circular economy: Relationship with the evolution of the concept of sustainability and strategies for its implementation”
• Associació Pacte Industrial de la Regió Metropolitana de Barcelona (Februar 2018), “Qué es la economía circular y por qué es importante para el territorio“
• Flaticon
• Unplash – Findin Dan, Brandon Nelson, Darth Lui and Felix Fuchs