At a time when the world’s resources are becoming scarcer, the traditional linear economy – where we “make, use, dispose” of raw materials - is no longer sustainable.
As natural resources become increasingly more expensive and difficult to source, the solution is to keep existing products and materials in circulation for as long as possible, extracting the maximum value from them. This is the circular economy – where products and materials are kept flowing around the economy.
The circular economy is one where businesses and consumers work together to make things last and get as much value from our products and resources as possible.
Making things last in a circular economy
This circular economy can be achieved by designing products with their whole life cycle in mind. Allowing them to be maintained in use for longer, then reused and refurbished to extend their lifetime, and, when their life is deemed over, recycled to create new products from old without the need for virgin raw materials.
For a more detailed explanation of Circular Economy, as well as some examples of existing circular businesses in Scotland, check out the video below: