Buy, use and throw away. We must fight against this type of consumption. I'm sure you know what we're talking about. We are used to this type of consumption where everything has to be updated and the items do not last long. The rapid consumption that generates so much waste is based on a linear economic model. But luckily, there is a more sustainable option: the circular economy. There are thousands of examples of circular economy which are already working today.
In this article we are going to tell you about the best examples of circular economy, how this type of economy works and its importance.
What is the circular economy
Instead of following the traditional linear model of buy, use and throw away, the circular economy proposes a system in which products, materials and resources are kept in use for as long as possible. It is based on the idea that waste can be considered as resources, and that strategies can be implemented to minimize their generation and maximize their value.
In this approach, the reuse, recycling and recovery of materials is encouraged to create a continuous cycle of production and consumption. The aim is to design products in such a way that they can be repaired, reconditioned or recycled at the end of their useful life, thus preventing them from becoming waste.
The circular economy implies rethinking and redesigning production processes, adopting more efficient and sustainable practices. This includes the use of renewable energy sources, the optimization of supply chain management and the promotion of collaboration between different sectors and actors.
One of the main benefits of the circular economy is the reduction of environmental impact. By prolonging the useful life of products and reducing the extraction of natural resources, the generation of waste is reduced and the emission of greenhouse gases is minimized. Besides, this approach can create economic opportunities, such as job creation in the waste management sector and the development of new industries based on recovery and recycling.
Main benefits
Current linear models require a lot of material and generate a lot of waste. For this reason, many resources are overexploited and many ecosystems are contaminated. But if we make use of these materials, we can reduce the pressure on nature: we remove less material and pollute less. Thanks to them we get the following benefits:
- Recycle the scarcest resources.
- We keep our ecosystems in good condition since there is no need to deforest or change habitat
- we are in favor of protect species and reduce threats that threaten the extinction of animals and plants.
- Waste becomes resources and gains economic value. This way they do not end up in nature, they allow the creation of new objects and help to supply products that depend on natural resources.
- The economy benefits from reusing materials by creating new industries and jobs.
- We reduce greenhouse gas emissions, we help meet the objectives of the Paris Agreement and mitigate the impact of the climate crisis.
Examples of circular economy and products
For the circular economy to become a mainstream model, it is necessary to know if circular products already exist. The answer is yes. It is true that each material or compound has a different structure and requires different handling before it can be used again. But technology is advancing, and there are more and more ways to use compounds as raw materials multiple times to create new products.
Examples of circular economy:
- Recycle plastic bottles and turn them into car mats and dashboards.
- Tires used to make shoes.
- Dry bread as a base for brewing.
- Residues from the winemaking process, such as the pulp or seeds, are used to make vegan leather.
- Used oil can be reused to make homemade soap.
- Organic waste is properly separated and processed to generate biogas and compost.
- Glass bottles that can be recycled indefinitely to make new bottles or other glass products.
- Old clothes are reused to produce new clothes.
But a circular economy is not just about reusing waste or materials. It also includes initiatives such as thrift stores or item rentals. You can even make musical instruments or toys. Being able to donate items that are still in good condition, sell them to someone who might need them, or reuse them for other functions in your home is one way to extend the life of these products and avoid the buy-use-throw process.
Companies that make circular economy
Although at first this seems too good to be true, today there are many companies that practice the circular economy. In some of these companies you can buy reusable articles, clothing or other utensils, while others manage surplus materials, or waste, that serve as raw material for other products.
These are some of the most famous circular economy companies:
- Eko-rec is a company that turns plastic bottles into car mats and dashboards.
- Ecozap converts materials such as tires into ecological shoes.
- Crust Breeding is a Singapore brewery that uses leftover bread to brew a beer called Bread Ale.
- NoTime make tennis with tennis balls.
- Ecoalf uses different recycled materials to manufacture its textiles.
- win now has designed an instrument for restaurants that allows reducing food waste and using that leftover food to prepare new dishes.
- enerkem is a company that captures the carbon emitted by non-recyclable waste and converts it into biogas for public consumption.
- Cambrian Innovation is a company that has successfully treated wastewater into clean water while at the same time capturing biogas so it can be used for clean energy production.
- Sheedo makes paper materials that contain seeds so they can be planted when no longer used.
- Too Good To Go is an online platform that allows you to sell leftover food at low prices in places like supermarkets, greengrocers or restaurants and save it so it doesn't go to waste.
I hope that with this information you can learn more about the best examples of circular economy and its advantages.