The circular economy is an economic model based on circulating materials throughout the economy and avoiding waste. In our current linear economy, we extract raw materials from the Earth, use them for a short period of time and then throw them away. This system is not sustainable in the long term since resources are finite and will run out eventually. Additionally, continuously extracting these materials and manufacturing products produces a large amount of carbon dioxide emissions. The 2021 Circularity Gap Report states that the world’s economy is only 8.6% circular but if we doubled circularity, we could decrease emissions by 39% by 2032 and ensure that we do not reach a 2 degree Celsius temperature rise. In order to transition to a circular economy, we need to focus on three principles: eliminating waste, circulating materials and regenerating nature.
Firstly, we can eliminate waste by designing products for reuse instead of single use. Instead of designing products to have a short lifespan, we must design products that are easy to repair, durable and can be recycled. As for circulating materials, maintaining and reusing products is the best option, since this keeps the most value of the product. This can include sharing or reselling products, as well as repairing them. If the product can no longer be used, its parts can even be remanufactured or recycled.
Meanwhile, some materials are biodegradable, which means that they can break down naturally. Biodegradable materials can be returned to the land, allowing more food or materials to be grown on it. Returning materials to the land and dedicating less land towards extracting resources are ways of regenerating nature. Other ways include using farming practices that restore and improve the soil. Food production often uses synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, which can harm the ecosystem and soil. Producing food regeneratively means reducing the use of synthetic fertilizers and creating healthier soil that can absorb carbon.
The Royal Institution and Imperial College London’s Grantham Institute recently launched Undaunted, previously known as the Centre for Climate Change Innovation. This centre tackles climate change by funding green startups, as well as working with the public and policymakers. The Greenhouse is a programme within Undaunted that supports these startups by helping them to commercialise their products or services.
Many of the startups supported by The Greenhouse aim to promote the circular economy. For example, Sages uses food waste to create natural dyes for the textile industry. Not only are these natural dyes circular, but they also emit less carbon dioxide than synthetic dyes. Meanwhile, Ferris is an app that promotes the circular economy through encouraging the reuse of items. Consumers are able to give and get free second hand items through the app, preventing items from being thrown away and reducing the need to purchase new products. FlexSea creates bioplastics made of seaweed, which can replace single-use plastics in packaging. These bioplastics can naturally break down and return to the environment, which eliminates waste and regenerates nature. When biodegrading, the nitrogen in the seaweed fertilizes the soil, which encourages nearby vegetation to grow. Finally, NuOceans makes sandals using unrecyclable plastic waste. 3 billion pairs of unrecyclable plastic flip flops are made every year, but many ultimately end up as waste. NuOceans works with local communities in Thailand to collect this plastic so it can instead be repurposed into a new product.
Overall, it is imperative that we move towards a more circular economy, and these startups are leading the transition.