The current economy is a linear economy that follows the "Take-Make-Waste" approach. The resources are continuously extracted to transform into useful products and at the end of their life, they are discarded as waste. There are visible consequences of continuous extraction of resources and disposal of waste in form of pollution, emission, accumulation of waste and depletion of resources .
A circular economy is a holistic approach to find long term sustainable solutions. It is an economic system in which raw materials, components, and products kept longer in use. It relies on renewable energy, material, designing out waste, and eliminate the use of toxic chemicals. Its objective is to keep the growth and development of societies independent of finite resources.
Presently, we are generating 2 billion tons of municipal solid waste and nearly 300 million tons of plastic waste worldwide every year. Half of this waste is for single use. According to the world bank, if the situation remains the same, waste generation will be doubled by the year 2050. According to the estimates, 40% of the waste generated worldwide is not managed properly. This waste is dumped, openly burned, and also reaches the ocean. Our finite resources are diminishing and as the global population and consumption grow, we are requiring more resources than ever before. Therefore, to continue the growth of business and society, we should transition from a traditional "Take-Make-Waste" linear economy system to a "Restorative-Regenerative-Resilient" circular economy system.
“Let us take tiny steps to go circular…together“