Towards a Circular Economy

Ellen MacArthur Foundation

In our current economy, we take materials from the Earth, make products from them, and eventually throw them away as waste – the process is linear. In a circular economy, by contrast, we stop waste being produced in the first place.

The circular economy is a systems solution framework that tackles global challenges like climate change, biodiversity loss, waste, and pollution.

The circular economy is based on three principles, driven by design:

• Eliminate waste and pollution
• Circulate products and materials (at their highest value)
• Regenerate nature

It is underpinned by a transition to renewable energy and materials. A circular economy decouples economic activity from the consumption of finite resources. It is a resilient system that is good for business, people and the environment.

National Zero Waste Council

In contrast to today’s ‘take-make-waste’ linear economy, there is no such thing as waste in a circular economy. Waste and pollution are designed out, products and materials are made to be kept in use, and natural systems are regenerated. Products made from biological ingredients return to the environment, and technical materials are designed to be continuously used, reused and remanufactured.

Accelerating Canada’s transition to a circular economy will require unprecedented levels of innovation and cross-sector collaboration to realize system-wide transformation. It will involve:

• Design change at the product level to prevent waste and enable durability and reuse
• New business models that re-imagine our relationships with products and services
• New policies and regulatory frameworks that create an enabling environment for change
• Behaviour change to encourage the adoption of new solutions and approaches