There is no one fixed definition of a circular economy, with different groups and organizations using different terms for different phases of the economy. We are using seven steps, or 7 Rs here, as they encompass the whole cycle of circular economy practices.
Select each accordion to learn more about the 7 Rs of the Circular economy:
Rethink
Most production processes are designed to cost the least money. In a circular economy, we must rethink how products are designed and produced, to make them easier to repair, reuse or recycle. Manufacturers would think circular in design to eliminate waste and minimize the use of virgin (new) materials.
For example: A mobile phone could be designed to be modular, therefore easier to replace parts when just one part is no longer working, such as Fairphone.
Refuse
Products are made because there is demand in the market to purchase them. So what if consumers stopped buying? By refusing to buy new products when there are alternatives, we can collectively prevent production in the first place.
For example: Patagonia ran an advert in 2011 on Black Friday asking consumers not to buy a new jacket. Think: do you really need to buy something?
Reduce
A lot of goods we produce and buy are things we need. But a lot of necessary goods are unnecessarily disposed of. To reduce waste, we need to value goods more – and think about how to extend their life. This includes repairing things before throwing them away and buying replacements.
For example: Communities are beginning to set up repair cafés, like one in Toronto, to help people mend their stuff, or teach them to do it themselves.
Repurpose
Sometimes, goods cannot be easily repaired to return to good-as-new use. In these cases it might be time to repurpose it. This is altering an item to use it in a different way than it was first designed; which could include refurbishing it to be used as furniture or decoration.
For example: Abandoned industrial buildings can be refurbished for public use, such as Toronto’s Distillery District or Montreal’s Technopôle Angus eco-district.
Reuse
Just because you no longer need something, doesn’t mean it’s the end of its life. By selling or giving away goods to be reused, you avoid creating waste and prevent the production of something new. This means less resources are used, and someone else gets to benefit from your stuff!
For example: Selling or giving away things no longer needed means they aren’t wasted, and a new item is not produced, like donating furniture to Furniture Bank.
Recycle
When products are no longer of use, and there are no other options left to keep them in circulation, they can be recycled into materials. These materials can then be used to make new products, which reduces the need and demand to create virgin materials, and also reduces overall waste.
For example: Paper waste can be recycled into sustainable toilet paper, which must be a single use product. This reduces the need to cut down new trees.
Rot
Some goods cannot be reused – others eventually reach the end of their life. The most sustainable disposal method is biodegradation, or rotting – letting the earth take nutrients from goods as they decompose to nothing. There is another (controversial) disposal method: waste-to-energy burns waste to generate power, reducing fossil fuel use.
For example: You can compost organic waste from the kitchen and garden to create a nutrient-rich addition for soil. Look up the Compost Council of Canada’s website for more information.