Circular Economy

As reported on the website of the European Parliament, the Circular Economy is a model of production and consumption that involves sharing, lending, reusing, repairing, reconditioning and recycling existing materials and products, with the aim of extending the life cycle as much as possible. When a product reaches the end of its function, the materials that compose it are, where possible, reintroduced into the production cycle through recycling and recovery, thus generating further value.

According to the definition of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, the circular economy is an umbrella term for an economy designed to regenerate itself. In this model, the priority is to maximize the lifespan of products through reuse, repair and recycling, minimizing waste.

The principles of the circular economy are opposed to the traditional linear economic model, based on a sequential process of extraction, production, use and disposal. Such a model is highly dependent on the availability of large amounts of natural resources and  cheap energy. On the contrary, the circular economy is based on a virtuous cycle, which includes:

• sustainable design;
• production with recyclable materials;
• efficient distribution;
• responsible consumption;
• reuse and repair;
• collection and recovery of goods at the end of their life

To close the loop, it is necessary to rethink each phase of economic activity, intervening:

• on the procurement of resources: favouring recycled materials to reduce the extraction of new raw materials, limiting the impact on landscapes, habitats and biodiversity;
• on product design and production: developing durable, easily repairable and recyclable products, reducing waste and energy consumption;
• on waste management: promoting the efficient recovery of materials that are still useful, including them in the production system.