Circular Economy and Waste Management: Rethinking Strategies for a Greener World Whenever

The finite nature of resources has led to questioning the sustainability of the linear ‘take-make-dispose’ paradigm. Rather, an alternative model, the circular economy is emerging where waste is seen as design flaw, and products use and reuse is thought up differently. The idea behind this circular economy is to make sure that materials are only used for the shortest appropriate period of time in practically no disposable system as in nature whereby everything possesses a purpose, and nothing is discarded.

What if the common things were engineered to be reclaimed, recycled, or consumed in the process of composting rather than making their way to a trash can? Imagine packing materials that are either compostable, or especially designed to reincarnate themselves into different products, and fabrics that can easily revert to new ones instead of ending up as a waste – a loop system instead of a linear one.

Redesigning packaging is one of the less difficult yet most effective practices within a circular economy. Many progressive economies are moving towards wrapping materials which are compostable in nature or recyclable limiting the pollutants such as plastic bags which fill up visitations and oceans. Some industries are also embracing the notion of packaging that does not create waste as ‘used’ containers are cleaned and refilled for other uses thereby alleviating pollution.

Also, systems for assisting recycling are being overhauled as well. They can also help with the new wave of recycling, which is more advanced and enables more intricate items to be reconstructed for better commodity. But a circular economy is not limited to making sure that there is an efficient recycling system in place; it is also creating a product easy to recycle or upcycle from the very beginning, be it a mobile phone a pair of sports shoes or a piece of furniture.

Waste minimization approaches are of equal importance. These include offering repair services to increase the longevity of items, promoting second hand usage, and backing businesses which have a focus on long lasting products. The aim is that all materials and products have a value; that nothing goes to waste.

The circular economy opens up for new approaches to consumption, such that in the consumption process, it is not a linear movement that takes place. In other words, we are able to bring about an end to the ‘use-and-throw’ culture and instead embrace a culture of reusing materials, which decreases waste and helps in the conservation of resources and maximizes the sustainability of the products rather than the product itself.