circulareconomy

The circular economy is an economic system aimed at eliminating waste and continually using resources. It seeks to keep products, components, and materials at their highest utility and value for as long as possible by restoring, refurbishing, remanufacturing, reusing, and recycling, thereby closing material loops.

Its guiding principles are design out waste and pollution, keep products and materials in use, and regenerate natural systems. This reframes production and consumption away from the traditional linear model of take, make, dispose toward loops that extend asset life and reduce environmental impact.

Practices include product-service systems, leasing and sharing models, modular design for repair, and comprehensive take-back schemes. In industry, repair networks, remanufacturing, and closed-loop recycling are pursued to recover value. Policy and producer responsibility schemes can support collection, sorting, and standardization.

Metrics focus on resource efficiency and system performance, such as material circularity indicators, recycled content, and life cycle assessments. Supply chain resilience, decoupling growth from resource depletion, and reduced pollution are often cited benefits. Critics note measurement challenges and potential rebound effects.

Adoption varies by region, with governments promoting circular economy through plans like the EU Circular Economy Action Plan and national laws on waste, packaging, and electronics. Economic constraints, capital costs, and complex supply chains can hinder scaling, while digital tools improve traceability and design for disassembly.

Historically, ideas date to earlier sustainability movements; the modern term gained prominence with the Ellen MacArthur Foundation around 2010, drawing on cradle-to-cradle concepts. Real-world examples include packaging redesign, electronics repair, and service-based business models that extend product life.