FEATURED TOPIC – CIRCULAR ECONOMY
Creating a real circular economy
THE WORLD IS HEADING INTO A +1.5ºC EXISTENCE. EMISSIONS, RESOURCE CONSUMPTION AND BIODIVERSITY NEED TO BE MANAGED, MIKE RITCHIE, MANAGING DIRECTOR MRA CONSULTANCY GROUP, DELVES INTO RESOURCE CONSUMPTION AND THE CREATION OF A MORE CIRCULAR ECONOMY.
Australia needs to rethink regulations and market design to facilitate a circular economy.
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o what does a circular economy look like? Try this: “In a circular future, we maximise the use of materials already in the economy and reduce reliance on virgin materials. We do this by designing for longevity, making smart material choices, emphasising repair, reuse, and refilling opportunities and by establishing efficient recycling systems with robust end markets. All levels of government commit to ‘upstream’ interventions including 26 / WMR / July 2023
brave targets, multi-pronged circular policies, financial mechanisms and regulatory instruments. Industry makes products to last, while consumers value and revalue products throughout their multiple life cycles. Recycling is part of a circular economy but a circular economy is much more than recycling.” – Maša Vahldieck MRA CE Manager 2023. It is hard to disagree.
Such an approach demands that recycling be seen in its proper context. As an end-of-life solution when other (reuse, repurpose, repair) options have been exhausted. A circular economy aspires to near 100 per cent recovery of materials for productive reuse in the economy. A circular economy aspires to maximum product life, maximum repair and reuse, moderate need for recycling and minimum landfill.