A circular economy keeps materials in use for as long as possible. Instead of take, make, dispose, it designs products to be repaired, reused, remanufactured, or recycled. Waste becomes a resource. The goal is to decouple economic activity from resource extraction.

The linear economy dominates today. Most products are designed for a single use or a short life. Phones are glued shut. Clothes are made to be replaced each season. Packaging is discarded immediately. The result is mountains of waste and depleted resources.

Circularity is gaining ground. The European Union has a circular economy action plan. Companies like Patagonia repair gear and resell used clothing. Interface, a carpet maker, leases flooring and takes it back. Cities compost food waste and recycle construction materials. The transition is slow and uneven. It requires new business models, better recycling, and policies that price waste. Some sectors are moving faster than others.

Key principles

• Design out waste and pollution
• Keep products and materials in use
• Regenerate natural systems
• Repair, reuse, remanufacture
• Recycle as a last resort