Building the 7 pillars of circular economy

The concept of a circular economy is built on the idea of minimising waste and making the most of resources. While there isn't a universally agreed-upon set of "7 pillars" for a circular economy, various frameworks and models have been proposed to outline the key principles and strategies. Here's a commonly recognised set of principles or pillars that form the foundation of a circular economy:

1. Design for Longevity and Durability: Products should be designed to last longer, be more durable, and have easily replaceable or upgradable parts. This extends the lifespan of products and reduces the need for frequent replacements.

2. Maintain and Extend Product Life: Encourage repair, maintenance, and refurbishment to extend the life of products and assets. This includes creating a culture of repair and making it economically viable.

3. Reuse and Re-purpose: Promote the reuse of products and materials whenever possible. Encourage the development of secondary markets for used goods.

4. Recycle and Recover: Implement efficient recycling systems to recover materials from products at the end of their life cycle. This includes both mechanical and chemical recycling methods.

5. Reduce Waste and Minimise Resource Use: Aim to reduce waste at every stage of the product lifecycle, from design and production to consumption and disposal. This involves optimising processes and using resources more efficiently.

6. Shift to Sustainable Materials: Transition to using renewable, biodegradable, and non-toxic materials. Prioritise materials that can be easily recycled or repurposed.

7. Embrace Digitalisation and Sharing: Leverage digital technologies and sharing platforms to optimise resource use, track product life cycles, and encourage sharing of resources and assets (e.g., sharing economy models).

It's important to note that these pillars are not strictly linear or mutually exclusive; they often overlap and complement each other. Circular economy principles can vary based on specific industries and contexts, but the overarching goal is to create a regenerative system that minimises waste and environmental impact while promoting economic growth and sustainability.

...what would the pillars be?

1. Materials ♻️

In a circular economy, materials are cycled continuously. Keeping materials in use for as long as possible ensures minimal loss of quality or value and lowers the need to extract resources from the environment.

2. Renewable Energy⚡️☀️

This can be generated from solar, wind, and geothermal sources, which lowers greenhouse gas emissions and, in return, has minimal impact on the environment. In a truly circular economy, all energy used is from renewable sources and powers all aspects of material transport, processing, and use.

3. Water Stewardship💧💧

In a circular economy, water is cycled for indefinite reuse. Water is managed as a shared resource, and its quality is maintained through water systems and technologies that can maximize energy and nutrient recovery from wastewater. Sustainable practices such as water conservation, wastewater treatment, and rainwater harvesting can also be leveraged to support the availability of water.

4. Biodiversity🦔🦦🐇🕊️🌴🌿🌲which aims to protect our natural ecosystems. Biodiversity can be integrated into a company’s strategy through sustainable land use and environmental preservation practices. It is also supported through measures such as reforestation, habitat restoration, and species conservation.

5. Society & Culture🏛️

The needs of society play a significant role in the design and implementation of the circular economy. Enterprises often reference cultural and social values to inform their internal processes, production, and management models. Additionally, communities use sustainable consumption practices to reduce their environmental impact and support the circular economy.

6. Health & Well-being👨👩👦👦

Aims to support the health and well-being of humans and other species. In a circular economy, measures are taken to reduce exposure to toxic substances, such as keeping harmful chemicals in highly controlled cycles.

7. Value💰

Since natural resources and energy aren’t infinitely available, their use contributes to societal value. Value exists beyond the financial aspect, as natural resources have immeasurable value and environmental impacts. Utilizing resources related to societal value allows businesses to broaden their value generation into different elements that can positively impact society collectively instead of just individual stakeholders.