Hello readers, Welcome to #CircularTuesday on CleanbuildVoices!

Nearly half of all global emissions stem from the way we produce things and the way we use what we produce.

For this reason, we need to introspect on the way we produce and consume if we are to mitigate climate change. This will drive the circular economy as it seeks to eliminate waste, circulate materials and regenerate nature via redesigning, producing, and using products.

To achieve this changes need to be made to the way businesses run and consumers’ lifestyles. Below are the changes that we need to make for a successful and effective circular economy.

Circular business models

No doubt, the pandemic gave businesses insights on consumer behavior, leading to the creation of new business models and providing a strong opportunity for businesses to go beyond talking to implementing circular business models and initiatives.

As consumers make conscious choices and more companies craft circular models, we need to combine consumer demand and corporate opportunity to ensure a society without waste thereby reinforcing circularity.

Circular innovation hubs

The circular economy, from all indications, needs to go beyond only finding recycling solutions for post-consumer products.

It requires developing alternatives and solutions that factor in both recycling and manufacturing in such a way that it allows for later disassembly.

This will require the collaboration of many partners across the value chain and across industries.

Circularity-focused design

Because the circular economy approach is designed to eliminate waste and ensure that products and materials are kept in use throughout their lifecycle, it is heavily dependent on systems that are designed with a focus on reuse, repair, refurbishment, and recycling.

This requires paying mind to the way products are produced and how they are produced in terms of inputs and the end of their lifecycle. It can be in form of modular design adoption, renewable materials design, etc.