The Circular Economy explained simply The concept of circularity is based on the reuse and recycling of goods, materials and services, with the aim of extending their life cycle and avoiding waste. This reduces carbon dioxide emissions, decreases the amount of waste and – as a result – improves the health of the Planet. From a linear to a circular economy The society in which we live is based on linear economic models, which propose disposable products and aim to exploit available resources, with negative consequences for the environment and people's health. The take-produce-dispose approach is not sustainable in the long run: every year in the European Union an average of almost 15 tons of materials are used to meet the needs of every single person, and 4.5 tons of waste are produced per person in the same time period. This is why extending the life cycle of each product is essential: sharing, repairing and remanufacturing have become the words of the future. These are the key elements, along with the abandonment of fossil fuels in favor of renewables, in the circular economy. Indeed, we can imagine it as a circle in which materials continue to rotate and be reused, without losing their function. This reduces the ecological footprint of materials while generating new value for society. What is the main problem with the linear economy? The linear economy, by excluding material reuse and exploiting nonrenewable sources, causes resource depletion and produces more and more waste and environmental pollution. When was the circular economy conceived? The idea was first presented in 1966, by the economist Kenneth E. Boulding in his paper on "The Economics of the Coming Spaceship Earth." People have therefore been talking about the circular economy for decades, but concrete action has only been seen in recent years. From the 3 to the 5 Rs, the keywords of the circular economy The circular economy approach is based on the 3Rs model: reduce, recycle and reuse. Combining these three actions decreases waste and promotes sustainability. The Rs can become 5, with the addition of regenerate and rot. How does the circular economy work? The circular economy is based on a production and consumption model that focuses on the use of renewable resources; reuse, the extension of the life cycle and the repair of goods; on the recycling of materials; on the sharing of services (the sharing economy), helping to reduce waste to a minimum. Examples and best practices of the circular economy in the home Using second-hand goods, taking advantage of services in the sharing economy, repairing items, and avoiding anything that goes back to the throwaway principle are some of the simplest actions that anyone can put into practice. It is equally important to avoid waste, producing as little of it as possible. In the case of food, for example, that means making purchases according to what is actually consumed, and putting back into circulation anything that can be used again, even in different forms. Why is recycling important for the environment and our future? The circular economy also means separate waste collection: separating plastic, glass, paper, metals, organic and undifferentiated waste enables us to reduce the impact of our activities on the Planet and to recycle and reuse materials together. Reducing waste going to landfills also means using up less land and producing fewer harmful emissions. Separate collection also involves citizens and encourages them to play an active role in the transformation to a more sustainable economy. Circularity and renewable energy In the case of renewable energy, circularity means extending the lifespan of power plants through the modification of certain components (revamping) or the addition of other components that enhance energy production (repowering) at hydropower, wind, solar and geothermal plants. But it also means reusing raw materials (for example, in electrical batteries or in solar panels), redeploying machinery in other plants and for other purposes, repairing equipment instead of throwing it away, recycling the raw materials from which some components are made (as in the case of wind blades), also for the production of other items.
