Waste from industries, houses, countries affect the environment and makes it impossible to live. The circular economy is the best model to adapt to live in a clean environment.
Circular Economy and its affects
The most important thing we need to survive is food, clothing, shelter. These three things directly come from nature. In today’s times, our needs are increasing day by day. Thus, making the use of resources even more. These things create waste and there is no proper waste management. Some countries dump their wastes in oceans or other isolated islands. Now waste has become a major environmental issue. It is affecting human health as well as our atmosphere. People are becoming aware of the demerits of waste and doing everything they need to protect the environment. Recently under the guidance of the UN 175 countries signed a pact where they aim to restrict plastic pollution.
Three principles of circular economy:
- Eliminate waste and pollution
- Circulate products and materials.
- Regenerate nature.
Concept of circular economy:
- How to manage resources
- How to make products
- How to use products
- What to do with materials.
In a circular economy, all forms of waste like cloths, metal, electronics return to the economy in the most efficient ways.
Closing the loop
The concept of a circular economy was originated in Europe. The circular economy can be defined as an economic model that designs and manages the planning, resourcing, a production that leads to maximizing functioning and human wellbeing. The loop means that everything can be used and reused in many ways. The goal of circular economy is to bring back the items in their original shape to reuse those items. In the case of organic food, fruit and vegetables are converted to food and the waste from such food can be converted into compost in homes. Gas produced from plants is used to generate clean electricity. This is the best example of a circular economy. In a circular economy, there is no place for waste products. But the cost of recycled products are more than the original products which make the business avoid buying recycles products. Business considers it as loss because money is lost during contamination. There is lack of infrastructure and technology to recycle the waste product. Less knowledge acts as a villain for recyclable items. The circular economy will be a successful only when there is increase in technology to support the use of recyclable products.
Barriers to transitioning
Germany incorporated the model of circular economy in their national law in 1996. There are lots of benefits to a circular economy. The circular economy is a successful model in times of protecting the environment from pollution but there are major barriers to transitioning the circular economy. The circular economy is different from a linear economy where products are used and discarded. The linear economy is supported by the government through subsidiaries, taxes and thus, creating hindrances in the way of the circular economy. Many industries have incentives for the linear economy and a circular economy is more expensive than a linear economy. Consumers play a major role in any type of economy if people demand recycled goods, then the industry is bound to provide them but people find recycled products as unhygienic and thus, avoid purchasing recycled products which in turn restrict the use of the circular economy.
There are several barriers to transitioning in a circular economy. They can be:
- Lack of involvement of businesses.
- Lack of policymaking to enhance the circular economy.
- Selfish about a luxurious and comfortable life.
- Lack of interest of the consumer
- Less awareness about circular economy.
- Not enough practice of waste management.
Conclusion:
A circular economy restricts the greenhouse gases in the environment. It creates a balance between soil, air, water bodies. The model of circular economy is much needed to emit pollution from coming industries and curb the harmful gases that are harmful to the ozone layer. The industry has to see the benefits of the circular economy rather than seeing their profit, only then the model of circular economy will become successful and there shall be limited wastage of goods that will clean our environment and eradicate the threats to the environment.
