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The circular economy or the road to zero waste

Posted on Friday November 24, 2017


The circular economy or the road to zero waste

The environment has never weighed so much on the collective conscience as it does today. Planetary resources are finite, while the earth's ability to absorb the waste we generate is just about at capacity. For a number of years now, the term ?circular economy? has been gaining traction as a possible means of reversing the trend. What is it, exactly, and how can it be applied to our day-to-day? Below, an overview of the issues at play.

Earth Overshoot Day

What we call our ecological footprint can be defined as the amount of productive land and water needed to meet our consumption needs. To quantify this, the organization Global Footprint Network (GFN) calculates a yearly Earth Overshoot Day: a hypothetical calendar date on which humanity's annual resource consumption exceeds the earth's capacity to regenerate those resources that year. The trouble is, this date continues to get pushed back. For example, in 2000, GFN set the date as November 1; by 2010, it was August 21. The stark truth is this: environmentally speaking, we're living beyond our means.

From linear to circular economy

The consumption model that's prevailed for decades is known as linear: natural resources are extracted, then used to produce consumer goods which, at the end of their life, end up in a landfill. More and more, it's becoming clear that this ?take, make and dispose? model is reaching its limits, not just in terms of available resources, but also of the planet's ability to absorb waste.

In this sense, the circular economy presents a solution of interest. What's the key to this new model? Optimization. In concrete terms, this means reusing, repairing, renewing and recycling in order to minimize the use of resources in consumer goods manufacturing and diminish raw resource extraction. The aim here is to have the waste generated by resource use become near-inexistent and by the same token, limit the use of global resources. The circular economy rests on one overarching ideal: attaining ?zero waste.? But it also aims to minimize the extraction of raw natural resources, particularly fossilized matter.

Principles that apply to everyday life

Overall, this means replacing disposable with durable, something that entails taking a hard look at our throwaway culture and its associated lifestyle habits ? for example, opting to purchase services instead of goods, or avoiding buying things we don't actually need. To postpone the exhaustion of the earth's available resources, we need to adopt and apply circular economy principles that promote the use of less resources in the first place. Here are a few thoughts on what you can do.

  • Opt for renewable natural resources.
    For example, during home renovations, this means reusing construction materials and/or buying responsibly sourced materials ? e.g. lumber from well-managed forest stands or made from fast-growing species like bamboo. When these products come to the end of their useful life, they can be reused to make other goods, thus feeding back into the sustainability cycle.

  • Borrow as opposed to buy.
    A single item can be used by more than one person. Borrowing is a practice as old as the hills that's making a timely resurgence, helping to mitigate the effects of overconsumption. For example, borrowing library books instead of buying new ones helps stop forests from being cut down to make paper.

  • Dematerialize.
    Giving the gift of a service or an activity (for example, a night at the theatre) rather than a useless object has numerous advantages: less natural resources are needed to make the object; less waste is generated; and you're also supporting an enjoyable educational experience.

  • Share. Another resurging practice, sharing isn't just good for the environment: it also helps you save money. Sharing a snow blower, lawn mower, drill or even vehicle is an excellent way of avoiding overconsumption and having to shell out the big bucks. Win-win all round! 

  • Say no to packaging (containers, bags, paper, etc.).
    New businesses are increasingly offering the option of bringing and filling your own containers, a practice that helps eliminate over-packaging. Look out for ?zero waste grocers? and other merchants that encourage this.


  • Vote with your wallet: choose manufacturers who employ sustainable practices.
    More and more manufacturers in a range of sectors ? fashion, electronics, even the auto industry ? are using existing waste to make new items. Your used jeans and sweaters could enjoy a second life in the form of new garments that are just as chic! Some car manufacturers are currently researching how to incorporate used vehicle parts into their new designs. Something to watch!

  • Vote with your wallet again: invest in the green economy.
    Based on a study by Montreal firm CoPower that was presented at the November 2017 Social Finance Forum in Toronto, our investments can potentially have twice the impact of all our other consumer choices combined. And while these options remain somewhat limited at present, asking your financial advisor about green investing is a sound idea. Of course, this shouldn't stop you from modifying other behaviours over which you have full control!

Rethinking our consumption patterns calls for adaptability and a far-reaching mentality shift. As we better understand the repercussions of our daily choices, finding innovating, engaging and even fun ways of consuming more responsibly is an inspiring challenge. If we pool our efforts, we stand to win as a society. At UNI, this is what we firmly believe. At the end of the day, real wealth amounts to what can be shared!

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