According to a @circleeconomy study, only 7.2% of the economy is circular, meaning more than 90% of materials extracted and used are thrown away. The same research reveals that 70% of greenhouse gas emissions are generated through material handling and use, such as the clothes we wear or the food we eat. This leaves a huge Circularity Gap: the globe almost exclusively relies on new (virgin) materials. It is necessary to act quickly and make better use of existing resources. Here are four strategies to make the economy more circular:
✅ USE LESS
By minimizing the overall material inputs into the economy, the emissions present in resources and end-products reduce.
In practice: Sharing and rental models, material light weighting, energy efficiency.
✅ USE LONGER
By extending the lifetime of resources, the emissions attached to materials flows are spread out and reduced over time.
In practice: Durable material use, modular design, repair, refurbishing, remodeling.
✅ MAKE CLEAN
In using regenerative resources, the emissions in fossil fuels and unsustainable biomass are cut from the economy.
In practice: Regenerative material use, renewable energy, regenerative agriculture.
✅ USE AGAIN
Depending on the energy used and emissions released during cycling, this strategy has the potential to eliminate embodied emissions from inputs.
In practice: Design for recyclability, design for assembly, recycling, waste-to-energy.