What Is Circularity, and What on Earth Is a Circular Economy Anyway?

To understand what we mean by “circular economy,” we must begin with the traditional linear economic model which has served us for generations.

We’re all familiar with the typical product life cycle which begins with sourcing raw materials and using them to make products. After products have served their purpose, they are disposed of. This “take-make-waste” model has existed for generations and worked well. But, as resources become scarce and technology evolves, we are entering a new era of processes. Just as the industrial revolution transformed economies a quarter of a century ago, the circularity movement is a modern economic evolution which seeks to reshape processes to eliminate waste and close the loop between end of life (waste) and resources (take).