The moment we live in has demanded a new attitude towards the use of natural resources. After all, linear production thinking, which has been widely adopted in recent decades and consumes more resources than nature can replace, has already proven itself to be unsustainable for the health of the planet. Therefore, more and more, we have been talking about the Circular Economy, which presents itself as a great alternative to traditional patterns.
To give you an idea, the “Earth Overload Day” - date when the limit of raw material that can be extracted annually, without causing damage to the environment, is reached - each year is anticipated in the calendar and, in 2019, arrived even earlier: on July 29, breaking a historical record and reinforcing the need to rethink our habits and attitudes towards the environment.
What is Circular Economy?
In order to know the essence of this concept, we first need to understand the linear thinking that still prevails in our society today.
Since the beginning of the industrialization process, the products have been manufactured with a limited useful life. In other words, the raw material was extracted, used and thrown away. That simple. But when the depletion of Earth's resources became increasingly evident and the waste produced seemed to have no end - or where to be disposed of - some companies noticed that a new production strategy needed to be adopted.
It was in this urgency scenario that the concept of Circular Economy, created based on thought “Cradle to Cradle” (“From Cradle to Cradle“, In Portuguese): a cyclical system of production in which resources can be“ infinitely ”reused.
Thus, the Circular Economy seeks to extend the useful life of products, reusing them as much as possible and transforming them into new raw materials, which involves correct disposal and recycling of materials. This thinking also aims to reduce the generation of waste and promote practices that allow the renewal of resources in nature.
But how to put this concept into practice?
At first, Circular Economy it was adopted by private organizations and public institutions that wanted to transform production into a sustainable process. But, with some actions on a daily basis, you can also do your part and contribute to the conservation of natural resources. Here are some examples:
# 1- Dispose of waste correctly
A good way to start contributing to this cycle is to separate the waste you produce to ensure that it is sent to recycling stations to gain new uses. However, some products should not be disposed of with ordinary waste, so you should look for the appropriate places to dispose of them.
- Fabrics
Clothes that you no longer wear can be useful for other people. Thus, allocating them to thrift stores or for donation is an excellent alternative. In addition, parts that are not in conditions of use can also receive an appropriate destination, where they will be used as raw material for other products.
Among the initiatives created with the aim of recycling textile materials, we can mention the Renew Textile, a program that receives waste generated by uniforms and pieces with the company logo and turns them into new products - which can be used as fillers, blankets and automotive plates, for example.
- Electronics
You have probably heard that the disposal of electronics in the common garbage can cause several problems to the environment, right? This is because some of them have elements that can contaminate soil and water, in addition to causing risks to human health.
Therefore, by law, electronics manufacturers need to have a reverse logistics system that receives the waste generated by their products. For this purpose, the Apple Recycling Program allows its consumers to take the products they no longer use to collection points of the company itself. Thus, they can be transformed into raw materials that will be used in other products of the brand.
- Plastic
Some types of plastic, such as PVC film, can be completely recycled. So, to help you get rid of each one correctly, eCycle created a platform which provides the location of the recycling stations closest to your home, according to the waste you want to dispose of.
# 2- Create new uses for products
Separating waste for selective collection is important, as it allows waste to be properly recycled and transformed into new raw materials. However, some products, which will no longer be used in their original function, can (and must!) Gain new uses without you having to discard them.
To do this, you can start by reusing glass bottles as modern decorative objects or taking advantage of organic waste, such as leftover food, to make composting, which is a process capable of transforming waste into a potent fertilizer for your garden.
# 3- Give shared services a try
Finally, giving preference to products that explore the ideals of Circular Economy it is also a way of contributing to this practice. Shared economy initiatives, such as renting electric scooters and bicycles, are options that allow you to access these products and services without having to buy them, thereby reducing excessive consumption.
A Circular Economy it is a sustainable alternative that seeks to extend the useful life of products, in order to reduce the unbridled extraction of natural resources. Best of all, by following these suggestions, you can also contribute to this process and help make our planet a better place to live.