Reducing Waste Through Circular Economy Practices

• 20 November 2024

Reducing Waste Through Circular Economy

Introduction

In a world where resources are stretched and questions of sustainability are mounting, the circular economy provides a compelling alternative to our traditional “take-make-dispose” model. The United Nations SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) prioritizes sustainable resource management and emphasizes the need for responsible consumption and production methods. We extract over 100 billion tons of raw materials annually, with only 8.6% of them being recycled and reused. 

What is a circular economy?

A circular economy is a cyclical model of production and consumption that aims to extract resources and minimize waste fully. It emphasizes a regenerative system where materials are reused, remanufactured, or recycled back into production. According to the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, transitioning to a circular economy could generate $4.5 trillion in economic benefits by 2030. Currently, the linear economy wastes between 78-92% of all resources used, highlighting the urgent need for change.

Why is it important?

The circular economy is guided by 3 key principles: filtering out waste and pollution, extending the lifespan of products and materials, and regenerating natural systems. This emphasis on maximizing the resources available to us, recovering waste, and developing a more sustainable production model is key to ensuring sustainability. Through reducing emissions and minimizing natural resource consumption, this model is geared towards environmental protection.  A circular economy helps create new markets and encourages more innovative business strategies, which in turn accelerates economic growth and increases employment opportunities. Promoting the use of circular economic practices can also act as a differentiating factor for businesses, with studies showing that around 73% of millennials prefer spending more on more sustainable brands.

Practical applications

Modern product design often prioritizes short-term convenience over durability. Research shows that extending the lifespan of smartphones by just one year would save 2.1 million tons of CO2 emissions annually in the EU alone. Other ways of contributing effectively to a circular economy are to minimize waste and use it as a resource. Only 9% of plastic produced is recycled and up to 97% of construction waste can be reused. Waste can be converted into compost or biogas, which can then be used as energy sources. Additionally, new products can also be created from said waste. It is also important to make people aware of the importance of circular economies through public awareness campaigns. Promoting events that educate the general population on waste reduction and the benefits of recycling can go a long way toward increasing the visibility of such initiatives.

Challenges

While we highlight the benefits of adopting a circular economy, it is also important to address the challenges that can come with it. Such projects typically require higher initial costs for implementation and redesigning products. There can also be instinctive resistance on people’s part to change habits due to being unaware of the potential benefits of a circular economy. Additionally, the policies and incentives needed to encourage businesses to adopt sustainable practices would require significant backing from the government  for such initiatives to be fostered.

Success stories

Phillips Lighting transformed its business model to "lighting as a service" by using future-proof components that were more durable and easily upgradable, reducing energy usage by 50-80% and extending product lifecycles by 75%. This initiative has been adopted across countries too. Dell’s Closed Loop Recycling Initiative has used 100 million pounds of recycled plastic since 2014 and recycled over 2.1 billion pounds of electronics. This ideology has spread across countries too. The Netherlands is aiming to become fully circular by 2050 and has implemented various waste-to-resource programs to achieve this goal. Sweden today recycles 99% of its household waste through advanced sorting and waste-to-energy systems.

Mauritius

Within the Mauritian economy, there are various key sectors that can be targeted for circular implementation. Within the tourism industry, 40% of total food waste is generated by hotels and the average hotel produces 1kg of waste per guest per night. To curb this, resorts can partner with local farmers for composting. Tracking systems can be installed to monitor food and water wastage. Rainwater harvesting and installing biogas digesters can help minimize wastage. Similarly, the textile industry contributes 6% of the country’s GDP and generates 60000 tons of textile waste annually, with only 10% of it currently being recycled. One way of rectifying this is by establishing textile collection centers and creating textile-related relationships with neighboring countries like Madagascar and India.

Conclusion

Reducing waste through circular economy practices is essential for achieving SDG 12 and creating a sustainable future. With the potential to generate $4.5 trillion in economic benefits while reducing global resource consumption by 28-32%, the circular economy represents both an environmental imperative and an economic opportunity. The time to act is now, and everyone has a role to play in this transformation.