Breaking the plastic cycle
Towards a new world made of sustainable materials
Breaking the plastic cycle
Towards a new world made of sustainable materials
The circular economy keeps resources — such as products, materials, and energy — in the economic system for as long as possible and at the “highest value” possible.
Products gain value as they’re manufactured, through the input of materials, labour and energy. Finding ways to reuse a product keeps much of that value. Recycling a product captures less value, because it requires energy and some materials break down in the recycling process.
Pursuing a circular economy first requires changing the way we think about products (Steps 1 and 2 in the graphic), by changing product design and production. Businesses need to think less about increasing revenues by selling more product, and more about selling longer-life and higher-quality products.
Once products are in use, the priority becomes reusing them, then repairing or remanufacturing them, and then recycling.
Circularity means that instead of materials moving from resource extraction to production to waste, the waste becomes feedstock for new products. Resources are recovered and reused and waste is reduced.