Circular economy
Updated: Apr 16, 2021
Welcome back to Way To Zero Waste. For many years, mankind has generated waste without thinking about the future. Today, multiple organizations and companies are transforming the way waste is treated with the aim of leaving landfills in the past. This change has been made possible by the circular economy, a concept created to address climate change through systems, products and services designed to reduce waste.
This is a model that goes beyond recycling, and its objective is to find the root cause of the problem in order to provide a viable solution. It is a comprehensive solution for companies and individuals that aims to "add value to everything" without generating waste. In essence, this approach seeks to change the traditional make-buy-use-dispose economic model to one in which resources are not depleted, but can be redesigned, reconditioned, reused or recycled.
Circular economy to promote a zero waste society
The only problem with waste is not its disposal phase. Waste is made up of raw materials that were extracted from nature to manufacture products, which will be transported, consumed and eventually discarded. These steps of the linear economy generate a significant percentage of the greenhouse gas emissions that affect our planet.
Unlike the linear economy, the circular economy model is based on a "zero waste" society, in which anything that is manufactured and consumed can be safely returned to society or nature. Many governments have begun to recognize the potential of this approach to reuse and recycle waste produced by every sector of society, in addition to its major impact on reducing carbon emissions.
Today's zero waste tools, merged with the anti-climate change strategies proposed by various industries, can change the current scenario and limit global temperature rise to 1.5°C in the coming years, as proposed by the Paris Agreement action plan.
Burning waste is a primitive activity that has nothing to do with the idea of creating "life" proposed by the circular economy. In various cities around the world, companies with high levels of social responsibility, recycling organizations and legislators committed to innovation have already demonstrated the viability of this system.
Why do we need the circular economy?
By 2050, the world's population could exceed 10 billion people, and natural resources are becoming increasingly limited. As a result, the cost of raw materials has risen sharply in recent years, threatening the stability of global markets and industry in general.
The circular economy offers new business opportunities that will improve this scenario, facilitating the diversification and growth of companies. This economy model will make possible the continuous circulation of products along the supply chain, prioritizing the high-value use of these materials.
If we want a more prosperous economy, a cleaner environment, and a more ethical world, it will be crucial to strive as a society to extend the useful life of all things.
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