A tale of circular economy
Tracing back the history, the meaning, and the importance of embracing circularity
For the majority of people, the term “circular economy” still feels foreign. If you’re not aware that our current economy is called a linear economy, there’s a high probability that you might not know what a circular economy means. Some might equate circularity with sustainability, sustainability with eco-friendliness, and eco-friendliness with being green. They are related but not the same. Imagine these terms getting tossed around like a smoothie in a blender — they’re not all the same flavour.
In this writing, I aim to tell a tale about the circular economy — its principles, intertwined history and culture, and why it’s important to care about. This is a personal reflection as I embark on my new journey in life, so enjoy reading!
Let’s start with what a circular economy is not: the linear economy (duh). Based on the description from the European Investment Bank,
Linear economy is a system in which people buy a product, use it, and then throw it away.
It prioritises profit over sustainability, heavily promoting short-term convenience over long-term impact. This has to sound familiar to most of us as this is the way our economy has been build upon for centuries. I wonder if it started with the industrial revolution? The revolution created a way to mass-produce anything cheaply, leading to an increase in single-use products.
However, you might ask, hasn’t the industrial revolution brought economic prosperity? Isn’t it a good thing? Of course, there’s no denying that. But the extent of our exploitation for the sake of convenience has reached its limit. Convenience is never free, it always carries a hidden cost. We’ve exploited Earth’s finite resources without allowing enough time for her recovery. We’ve seen this is in more biodiversity loss and environmental crises. The promised economic prosperity from the industrial revolution cannot be sustained forever, especially if we don’t consider its environmental impact. Healing the Earth is vital to aiding humanity.
Now, what is a circular economy? I like the simple definition by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation,
The circular economy is a system where materials never become waste and nature is regenerated
In the realm of the circular economy, the premise is simple yet transformative: materials are in a perpetual loop, never becoming waste, and hence, nature can enjoy restoration. A loop has no beginnings and no ends. Here, any products and materials should undergo as many processes as possible — reuse, refurbishment, repair, recycling, and composting — to keep them in circulation, maintaining their value.
This circular economic model, if implemented correctly, could tackle issues like climate change, biodiversity lost, waste, and pollution. It achieves this by finding ways to grow the economy without exhausting all our finite resources. Instead of the old ways that use up resources, here, we focus on more lasting methods to preserve resources for a long time.
What I found most fascinating is realising that the circular economy is not a new concept — it is more like a rediscovery or a new twist on an old tale. The principles of a circular economy have roots deeply woven into our past. Perhaps it was so ingrained in our daily lives that we didn’t slap a fancy label on it back then. It could have just been “the way things were done.”
As I untangle this historical yarn, it’s becoming more evident that the essence of the circular economy mirrors practices of bygone times. It’s almost like a journey back to a time when waste wasn’t really a thing, when resources were cherished and repurposed, and when the throwaway mindset was nowhere to be found. At the end of the day, circular economy is less about inventing something new and more about rediscovering the wisdom of the past — a way of doing things that was once the norm, long before “circular economy” became a buzzword.
The industrial revolution wasn’t without protest when it started. A group of British textile manufacturers called the Luddites protested the introduction of new machines to manufacture new products. They argued that using these machines for recycling existing materials would be a more efficient approach than creating entirely new products from scratch.
Before plastic became omnipresent, our ancestors across various cultures ingeniously used natural materials like banana leaves to wrap food. In places like Bali, Java, and many other regions worldwide, the use of banana leaves for packaging showcased a sustainable approach that is inherently circular. So it is unsurprising to see new circularity initiatives take shape by leveraging the inherent qualities of banana leaves for packaging, such as this cellular enhancement in banana leaves in India.
Similarly, in South Korea and Japan, the use of cloth for carrying items was the norm, showcasing a convention to reusability over disposability. Furoshiki dating back to 710 B.C., was originally employed by noble families and feudal lords to bundle their garments when heading to public baths. Bojagi, translated to “the wrapping of luck” in Korean, was started as a way to utilise leftover fabric after clothes making — resulting in not a single scrap being wasted.
If paper-wrapped gifts are meant to be ‘ripped apart,’ bojagi should be slowly ‘untied,’ which gives a sense of relaxation and style — Lee Hyojae
How beautiful is that? ❤
Recently, I tried to repair my broken earpieces at the official store — to no avail. I was told that the cost of repair could be higher because they would replace the broken piece with new ones. I just can’t understand why our economy encourages new purchases and discourages repairs? The same goes for the durability of new products. Have you ever heard your parents complaint that old products had way better quality? To me, this feels like a familiar tune that keeps playing on repeat. From 20+ year-old frying pans to my mom’s old clothes, many of today’s products are not made to last but to sell. Our economy emphasises consumption over quality.
Companies, measured by how much they can sell, push for frequent purchases even if it means products don’t last as long. It’s like a merry-go-round where more sales mean a healthier economy, but at what cost?
At the cost of our finite resources that will only last for a few more hundred years. At the cost of overflowing landfills with no one taking responsibility. At the cost of the next generation. Will we be leaving behind a barren, uninhabitable planet for them?
“The tragedy of the commons” theory is like a cautionary tale unfolding before our eyes. When resources are shared, but individuals exploit them solely for personal gain, it leads to overconsumption and depletion. In the end, everyone suffers. The drive to win individually, without considering the collective impact, might lead us all to lose together.
We’re at a crossroads where our actions today determine the legacy we leave behind. It’s not just about winning in the short term; it’s about ensuring a sustainable future for generations to come. Balancing our needs with the Earth’s limits, finding ways to share and preserve resources collectively, becomes crucial for creating a world where we can all thrive.
I really like the term performance economy, from Walter Stahel, credited with having coined the expression “Cradle to Cradle” in the late 1970s. In this model, the focus shifts from the traditional approach of selling goods to selling the function, benefit, or outcome those goods provide. Instead of outright ownership, individuals or businesses pay for the use or performance of the product. For example, you’d pay for the light a bulb provides, rather than buying the bulb itself. Companies embracing this model are encouraged to design products that last longer, are easily fixable, and recyclable. The aim is to extend the product’s performance and lifespan to the fullest.
So I’ll say circular economy is an economy that tackles emissions right from the start, not as an afterthought. By doing this, it can align and bolster worldwide efforts for decarbonisation and achieving net zero emissions. The ultimate aim? Creating an economy that’s both robust economically and friendly to the environment, operating within the limits of our planet and continue uplifting people’s lives.
Circular economy is still far from being a norm but it is not impossible. Revisiting traditional practices teaches us valuable lessons about living more harmoniously with our environment. And to fully unlock its potential, the circular economy must permeate various systems and industries. It is a task that not one individual is responsible for, but it is a responsibility for all of us to make it a reality.
