A Circular Economy serves a Round Planet
Traditionally, when companies look to be more sustainable, first efforts are often focused on manufacturing processes. Far fewer companies are making the effort to deal with their products once they’ve been produced and sold. That means there’s a lot of opportunity in extended or infinite product life — known as the “Circular Economy.”
The Circular Awards shows us times are changing. The 2018 Circulars were a highlight of the recent World Economic Forum in Davos. The awards recognize contributions toward a circular economy. There were nearly 300 entries from people and organizations in 45 countries for these awards!
IKEA was one winner — for things like products made from manufacturing waste and the company’s furniture take-back scheme. AMP Robotics was also on the winners’ list for its ingenuity in sorting materials for recycling. Banyan Nation of India was another winner. It focuses on recovering and reusing plastics — 7 million pounds so far!
One interesting development in striving for circularity: Businesses who compete in the marketplace are now collaborating in industry groups, determined to lead the way with consideration of the end-of-life for their products. Waste 360, a trade association for trash haulers, landfill managers and recyclers, points to some trends… Producers of paints, batteries, food cartons, thermostats and mattresses are stepping out with new ideas to avoid the landfill.
Nonprofit PaintCare is comprised of paint manufacturers offering over 17 hundred drop-off sites in nine states.
Also, the industry-sponsored Mattress Recycling Council has pulled apart more than 2 million mattresses for processing.
The Carton Council of North America is another group of competitive manufacturers coming together to increase carton recycling in the U.S.
Scott Cassell, CEO of the Product Stewardship Institute, explains that traditionally, manufacturers need to be compelled to confront the environmental effect of the final disposition of the products they’ve sold. Without government mandate, the U.S. has been slower to pay attention to the end of the “first life” of their products. But now there’s some evidence that Extended Producer Responsibility — or EPR — is taking hold. Today, 30 U.S. states have laws around this.
More attention to the Circular Economy will help Americans increase their recycling efforts and reward companies that seek to extend product life or repurpose its elements.
Remember the term “Pre-cycling” that encouraged consumers to reuse things before trashing them? Instead of leaving it up to the creativity of consumers, Circular Economy begins before purchase, asking businesses to take the idea to a whole new level!
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Solutions in Sustainability is the text version of radioBANG, brief podcasts about positive trends and innovations in sustainability. Enhance your knowledge of sustainability vernacular like “Circular Economy,” “Extended Producer Responsibility,” and more at http://www.radiobang.org/jargon-busters/.
