Buzz
Like many others, you likely want to contribute to preventing a Mad Max-like future where we're fighting for scarce resources in the desert. You recycle plastics, metals, and paper, and you bring a reusable bag to the grocery store.
These are positive steps, but they're not as effective as they could be because we're all part of a wasteful culture. The average person, for instance, wastes 168 pounds of perfectly edible food each year and produces nearly 5 pounds of trash per day. Plus, much of your recycling isn’t being recycled, including less than 10% of all the plastics we use. The global economy operates on a 'take-make-waste' system that encourages a disposable attitude toward nearly everything, and breaking free from it is no easy task.
However, adopting the circular economy model can help you do more.
Reduce, reuse, recycle
A circular economy is a framework designed to minimize waste to the greatest extent. It’s based on several key principles:
Reuse: When something is worn out or no longer serves its initial purpose, find ways to repurpose it rather than throwing it away.
Recycle: If reusing is not an option, seek ways to recycle it.
Repair: When items break, try to repair them instead of immediately opting for a new replacement.
Remanufacture: If repairing or repurposing is not feasible, only then consider producing a new version.
The heart of this concept is to convert 'waste' into a new resource for further use. While some of this requires societal action, there’s much you can do individually to embrace these principles and lead a more circular way of life.
Reuse as much as possible in your own home.
One of the simplest ways to adopt a circular economy lifestyle is to rethink how you use resources in your home by finding ways to reuse as much as possible. Water from your drains can be collected to irrigate your lawn or garden, or even to flush your toilet. Food scraps and other organic materials can be composted to enrich your garden (or landscaping, or even other people’s gardens).
This approach also applies to your possessions. Many appliances and items can be repaired with some knowledge and basic tools, rather than discarding them and purchasing new ones. Another important aspect of the circular economy is finding new uses for gadgets, tools, or materials that you no longer use or that have outlived their original purpose. For instance, repurposing an old toothbrush to clean bathroom tiles, turning leftover soap bars into new soap, or using dryer lint as fire starter for a fireplace or fire pit all contribute to a more circular life.
If you're undergoing a renovation or remodeling, choosing materials like tiles made from recycled materials or reclaimed wood can help transform your project into a circular one. You can also recycle any leftover materials from the renovation rather than tossing them in the trash.
Borrow instead of purchasing
In a society driven by consumerism, it’s easy to buy what we need, even if it’s just for one-time use. A more circular solution is to borrow or rent the items you need. This can be as simple as borrowing tools from your neighbor when needed, or renting equipment from a hardware store instead of purchasing it, using it once, and leaving it to gather dust in your garage for years before discarding it as obsolete.
Another option is to find a local tool library or start a neighborhood tool share. You can collaborate with friends, family, and neighbors to share various items, like clothing (especially those kids' clothes they quickly outgrow). Another circular approach is to use platforms like Freecycle or Buy Nothing Groups to give away items you no longer need and acquire secondhand items still in good condition. This type of circular lending and borrowing has the added benefit of saving you significant money over the years by borrowing or obtaining free used goods instead of constantly purchasing new.
Make thoughtful product choices
While it's not always possible to find what you need from a neighbor or on Freecycle, sometimes buying something new is unavoidable. However, in those situations, you can still contribute to the circular economy by choosing companies that align with the same values. For example:
Patagonia has created a business model built on circularity and sustainability, including their Worn Wear program, where you can trade in used gear and purchase used gear in return.
Ikea incorporates recycled materials into its products and offers a Buyback & Resell program that lets you sell your old Ikea furniture back, which they then resell, minimizing waste.
Adidas has introduced the Three Loop Strategy, which focuses on a) using recycled materials for its shoes, b) reusing those materials when the shoes wear out, and c) eventually transitioning to natural and renewable resources in shoe production.
Flor provides a comprehensive recycling program for its rug tiles, making it easy to send old tiles back for recycling and reuse in a sustainable manner.
Mattel has its Playback program, allowing families to mail in their old plastic toys so they can be recycled and the materials reclaimed.
Choosing companies that support circular economic practices may require some research, but once you identify them, you can simplify your efforts by partnering with these companies when buying is necessary. Creating your own personal circular economy is a powerful way to live sustainably and eco-consciously. (And just think of the money you'll save.)
