What if, when we make something new, we also consider how it can be unmade when it’s no longer of use? Can the materials be separated and repurposed? Can some or all of it biodegrade? How do we keep it from polluting our oceans or contributing to landfills? Can we plan for a product’s entire lifecycle as a part of its design? “There’s a world of opportunity to re-think and re-design the way we make stuff.” This is a concept called The Circular Economy.
…a circular economy aims to redefine growth, focusing on positive society-wide benefits. It entails gradually decoupling economic activity from the consumption of finite resources, and designing waste out of the system. Underpinned by a transition to renewable energy sources, the circular model builds economic, natural, and social capital. It is based on three principles:
• Design out waste and pollution
• Keep products and materials in use
• Regenerate natural systems
This Re-Thinking Progress explainer animation is from the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, a UK-based organization that’s working to educate and empower schools, companies, and governments in their transitions toward a Circular Economy.
Related reading: The Circular Design Guide.
Courtesy: The Kid Should See This
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