Influencing A Circular Economy

A Circular Economy (CE), according to Wikipedia, is an economic system aimed at minimizing waste and making the most of resources. In reality, it is achieving a sustainable eco-friendly society in a closed loop system following The 5Rs For Sustainable Living; refuse, reduce, reuse, repurpose, recycle. Achieving a CE involves getting everyone involved. Governments, companies, and the general public all have to work in unison integrating their products and services to function with each other efficiently.

Besides being good for society and our planet, a CE is also a good long-term business opportunity. Companies can increase their sustainability adapting to a circular economy contributing to ensuring that resources and materials they need in the future will still be available. For businesses to succeed in establishing a sustainable economy they will need help from governments and citizens. We all need to play our roles in creating a sustainable eco-friendly Circular Economy.

All forms of government; civic, provincial, and federal, need to play the central role in the development with regulations, guidelines, programs, and incentives that help businesses achieve a sustainable circular future. Introducing tax incentives to develop sustainable products and practices, and placing higher taxes on unsustainable goods and packaging to alleviate their negative impact come to mind. The Federal Government should also introduce sustainable product labelling allowing consumers to judge its eco-friendliness.

The biggest challenge is to get consumers to change their behaviour with their over-consumption on short-lived trends and continuous upgrading to the latest and greatest. The general public can join the movement towards the development of a CE by not buying things that they don’t really need and not throwing away useful or repairable items. The rest can be either repurposed or recycled.

Make A Difference and Join The M.A.D. Movement that is creating a sustainable Circular Economy for the benefit of all. Local commerce benefits from a Circular Economy by stimulating the local economy creates jobs, reduces waste, and saves the environment. The greater the number of followers, the bigger the movement.