Content Weapons Primer: Circular Economy

When you look at what is happening in the world, it seems that most people can only be happy when they are buying new things. No matter if it is a pair of shoes, headphones, the latest iPhone or even a new home. However, we all need to understand that happiness can be found in many other things, in other places, in other people. This is why a circular economy makes sense. After all, the goal of a circular economy is to redefine growth.

According to the theory behind the new concept, a circular economy involves being aware that resources are finite and design waste out of the system.

The Concept Of A Circular Economy

One of the main aspects of a circular economy is that it has the ability to see everyone as one. This means that the concept would be applied to both businesses and organizations, to both large and small businesses, both locally and globally.

While you may be wondering the whole concept simply needs some adjustments to decrease the negative impacts of the linear economy, it goes well beyond that. In fact, a circular economy actually represents a complete shift in the economy that should bring new economic and business opportunities as well as it should deliver both societal and environmental benefits.

Technical Cycles Vs Biological Cycles

According to the circular economy model, there is a main difference between technical cycles and biological cycles.

Simply put, biological cycles occur when there is consumption. This is when food, wood or cotton feed the actual system. These cycles have the ability to regenerate living systems that can provide renewable resources for the entire economy. And this is where technical cycles come in. These cycles are the ones that are applied to recover and restore materials, components, and products only by using repairing, recycling, re-manufacturing and reusing.

The Circular Economy Principles

To ensure that a circular economy is able to work, the circular economy needs to follow ten different principles.

#1: Waste Is Converted Into A Resource:

According to the circular economy, there is no waste. In the case of biodegradable materials, these return to nature. In the case of not biodegradable materials, these need to be reused.

#2: Reusing:

According to this principle, you should use products that still work (or the parts that still work) to create new artifacts.

#3: Second Use:

Since there is no waste in the circular economy, the products that are no longer needed by consumers need to be reintroduced again in the economic circuit.

#4: Reparation:

When a product is broken, it will need to be repaired to give it a second life.

#5: Recycling:

The products that are found in waste can be recycled and transformed into something useful.

#6: Energy From Renewable Sources:

In the circular economy, there is no space for fossil fuels. These are all eliminated.

#7: Valorization:

The productive use of a resource, and more specifically the use or application of something (an object, process or activity) so that it makes money, or generates value, with the connotation that the thing validates itself and proves its worth when it results in earnings, a yield. When waste can’t be recycled, it is important to to find secondary and tertiary uses.

#8: Functionality Above All:

One of the goals of a circular economy is to eliminate the sale of products itself. Instead, people would rent products and when the product completes its function, it should then return to the company. Here, it will be dismantled, and the valid parts should be reused.

#9: Eco-Design:

Every product that is created should always incorporate the environmental impacts through its life cycle.

#10: Industrial And Territorial Ecology:

According to the circular economy, there should be an implementation of an industrial-organizational method. Its mantra should be the optimization of the stocks and flows of materials, services, and energy.

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