circulair

Circulair is a Dutch term that refers to circularity in the context of sustainability and the circular economy. It describes an approach to production and consumption aimed at keeping materials and products in use for as long as possible, reducing waste, and limiting the need for virgin resources. Circulair systems seek to close material loops through strategies such as repair, refurbishment, remanufacturing, and recycling, while allowing cascading use of materials and energy from renewable sources.

Core principles include designing for longevity and reparability, modularity and standardization, easy disassembly, and the use of durable materials. It also emphasizes business models that retain ownership of products and enable take-back, repair, or remanufacture, as well as a preference for reuse and recycling over disposal. The goal is to extend product lifetimes and maximize the value recovered from resources.

Applications span manufacturing, construction, packaging, textiles, electronics, and mobility. Policy and industry initiatives promote circulairity through waste reduction targets, improved sorting and recycling infrastructure, and incentives for circular business models. Tools commonly used to support circular thinking include life cycle assessment (LCA), material flow analysis, and circularity metrics to monitor progress.

Benefits include reduced resource consumption, lower environmental impact, and potential economic opportunities such as new business models and jobs. Challenges involve high up-front costs, the need for coordinated value chains, quality and purity issues in recyclates, and consumer acceptance. Circulair is a central element in strategies for decoupling economic growth from resource use and for achieving climate and sustainability targets.