What are the most effective circular economy principles for driving sustainability change?

As per a Harvard study, 80% of social and environmental impacts are determined during the design phase which inherently is wasteful in the current linear economy. The biggest issue that we are facing today is trying to make a linear take- make- waste system circular which in itself is a conceptual flaw. There is a need to focus on building a closed- loop system and the stage 0 in itself is “Designing for Circularity”. The basic principle is separating value creation from resource extraction while designing for keeping materials in use for as long as possible via continuous circulation; designing out pollution, waste and toxicity and designing for regeneration of living systems.

The circular economy tackles waste by prioritizing a "closed-loop" system. Here's the key: Design out waste and pollution from the start, aiming for durable, reusable products. Keep products and materials in use for longer lifespans through repair, remanufacturing, and product-as-a-service models. Finally, regenerate natural capital by using renewable resources and employing practices that minimize environmental impact throughout the product lifecycle. This holistic approach reduces reliance on virgin materials, lowers emissions, and fosters a more sustainable future.

I'd prioritize resource-efficient product design, resource recovery, and collaborative consumption models. Optimize supply chains for minimized resource consumption and waste generation while extending product lifespan through repair and maintenance. Embracing circularity is about valorizing waste, minimizing disposability, focusing on closed-loop systems that maximize value creation while minimizing environmental impact.

The most effective circular economy principles for driving sustainability change encompass eliminating waste and pollution, circulating products and materials at their highest value, and regenerating nature. This approach involves transitioning to renewable energy and materials, minimizing waste, promoting sustainable resource use, and advocating for sustainable production and consumption. Additionally, the circular economy emphasizes the decoupling of material use from economic growth, social equity, and the well-being of individuals. By embracing these principles, businesses and communities can contribute to environmental protection, economic growth, and social justice.

Design out Waste and pollution emphasizes the following approaches: 1. Regular maintenance of products will reduce premature disposal. 2. Sharing products among users will extend their lifespan while reducing the overall demand for new products. 3. Reusing items keeps them in circulation for longer periods. 4. Repairing mulfunctioning products extends their life and promotes a more sustainable consumption pattern. 5. Refurbishing: restoring products to a like-new condition reduces the need for new replacement. 6. Remanufacturing involves disassembling, refurbishing and reassembling components. It keeps materials in use through multiple product cycles. Eliminate Waste and Pollution: ellenmacarthurfoundation. org

First, we must imagine that the Earth exists within a closed system. Because, indeed, it does! To achieve circularity, we'll need to transform the way we think about "waste". "Waste" is often the result of a lack of imagination and is usually a misnomer. Recycling will only take us so far! Through collaboration and innovation, opportunities emerge to transform "waste" and connect with others. A great example of this is taking sulfuric acid, considered industrial "waste" by some, and transferring it to a cleaning supplies company. If you are unable to close the loop yourself, find others who can use your "waste" as inputs in their processes.

Para asegurar la efectividad de las estrategias que mantienen los productos y materiales en uso, es crucial diseñar experiencias que motiven a los clientes a participar activamente. La empresa debe ofrecer incentivos claros y beneficios tangibles para fomentar la devolución y el intercambio de productos usados. Esto puede incluir programas de recompensas, descuentos en futuras compras o acceso a servicios exclusivos. Además, es fundamental simplificar el proceso de devolución y recogida de productos, mediante puntos de recolección accesibles y sistemas de logística eficientes. Cuando la participación del cliente es fácil y gratificante, aumenta la probabilidad de éxito de estas iniciativas, lo que resulta en un impacto positivo.

I agree with all contributions here! We need to redefine the value of post-consumption waste. We need a world, where packaging doesn't end up in a landfill but finds its way back to the producer and it's reused or repurposed. We need a way to foster and empower customers and communities to support us - either via take-back systems or through bounties distributed by producers. We also need a global effort in regulatory space that will promote these actions worldwide.

Keeping products and materials in use is a fundamental principle of the circular economy. It involves extending the lifespan of products through reuse, repair, refurbishment, and remanufacturing. By maximizing the utilization of existing resources, we reduce waste generation and minimize the extraction of new raw materials. This not only conserves natural resources but also reduces environmental impacts associated with production and disposal. Embracing this principle promotes a more sustainable and resource-efficient economy while fostering innovation in product design and business models.

In any business model or resource flow, know what are the regeneration cycles - they are the ones who define if your use of any resource (including labour) is sustainable. Examples: - Employees have regeneration cycles - they need enough sleep on a daily basis - nutrients in food chains are part of regeneration cycles - be sure to think about how to bring them back into the soil - mineral resources and fossil fuels naturally regenerate way too slow for any practical purpose - so, we need to ensure we keep them circulating in the economy - forrest have their regeneration cycles - don't exceed the rate of regeneration

Implementing circular economy principles is essential for driving sustainability and regenerating natural capital. By designing products for durability, repairability, and recyclability, waste generation is minimized. Extended Producer Responsibility ensures accountability throughout the product lifecycle. Collaborative partnerships optimize resource use, while innovation in technology enables resource recovery. Consumer awareness, supported by policies and circular business models, fosters sustainable practices, preserving and replenishing natural capital.

As iniciativas mencionadas exemplificam a crescente adoção da economia circular, promovendo sustentabilidade e responsabilidade social. Empresas como Fairphone e Patagônia não apenas oferecem produtos duráveis e éticos, mas também incentivam práticas como reparo e reciclagem. A abordagem da Loop com embalagens reutilizáveis e a Ecover com ingredientes biodegradáveis mostram como a inovação pode impulsionar a mudança para um modelo mais sustentável. Essas iniciativas são passos promissores em direção a um futuro mais consciente e ecologicamente equilibrado.

I am a founder and CEO of Recyclium - where we work on a globally adaptive bounty system that allows any product to be registered and returned to the producer. We do it cost-effectively for manufacturers and we promote the programme among all stakeholders in the reverse logistics chain - from customer back to the producer. We believe in tracking every single post-consumption packaging / item that can negatively affect our environment and promote a culture of sustainability across governments, big brands and communities.

Denmark’s deposit and return system for recycling drink cans and bottles is a prime example of a circular system. Consumers pay a deposit when purchasing beverages in containers. When they return the empty containers to designated collection points, they receive a refund. The containers are then cleaned, refilled, and put back into circulation, reducing litter and promoting recycling

In my neighborhood, we use a large Whatsapp group to sell or buy things related to having young children from each other. It works very well. There are >20 daily deals, using products until they are really depreciated. Handovers facilitate social cohesion and often take place by walking or biking. And generating welfare with consumer surplus. The large Whatsapp group currently has 562 members. To keep oversight and benefits, we are strict with a few rules: 1. Place ONE post per item with a fixed price (or free). If you want to serve multiple perspectives, integrate them in a collage. 2. You reach out personally to the seller/buyer to keep the thread clean. 3. If the item is sold/given away, you remove your post.

A circular approach doesn't necessarily provide the most environmentally beneficial outcome. The goal of circularity is material conservation thru the principles of reduce (using less material to produce more product through efficiency and better design), reuse (keeping materials in use longer) and recycle (reclaiming materials from used products and repurposing them). Sometimes, it's more beneficial not to recycle or better to use more material in order to extend the life of the product etc. To minimize environmental (and social and economic) impact, life cycle assessments (LCA) provide a quantitative view on damage done throughout the lifecylce of the product. Ensure that your circular strategy aligns with LCA.

Having a good tool for DfS through end of life. LCA tool is a good start to help understand areas of opportunity along the life cycle of your product. Understanding if you need to design for recyclability and opportunities there will help with end of life recovery for circularity.

Circular economy principles require assessment of a product through its entire life-cycle. Even before manufacturing, the manufacturer needs to think through its fate after use. i.e. whether the product will go in landfills or can be repaired, refurbished, remanufactured or repurposed. This kind of thinking will compel the manufacturer to judicially select the raw materials, which can be recycled or reused for some other purpose after the product life ends. Businesses would then think of the entire range of the products that can be related with the recycled material. Circular economy principles emphasise on reusing the material in every possible manner till it completely gets exhausted or changes form.

Add always a perspective of reuse before recycle, 2nd hand before new, local before shipped, ugly proper season before beautiful whatever the season, walk before collective transport, consider it before doing it…

Fomentar la colaboración entre sectores es clave para avanzar hacia una economía circular. Uniendo gobierno, industria, academia y sociedad civil, se pueden crear alianzas estratégicas que impulsen la innovación y la adopción de soluciones sostenibles. Esto facilita el intercambio de conocimientos y recursos, generando sinergias que beneficien al medio ambiente y la sociedad. La colaboración intersectorial promueve la implementación efectiva de políticas y proyectos que aborden los desafíos ambientales de manera integral.