What is a circular economy?

Top takeaways

A circular economy is a system where materials never become waste and nature is regenerated. This is in contrast to a linear economy, where we take things, make things, and then dispose of them. Our planet’s resources are finite, and a circular economy is a way of keeping things in a lifecycle. Schools are already part of a circular economy through things like food waste collection, and there are other simple ways to get started.  

What is a circular economy?

This is how the Ellen MacArthur foundation defines a circular economy: 

The circular economy is a system where materials never become waste and nature is regenerated. In a circular economy, products and materials are kept in circulation through processes like maintenance, reuse, refurbishment, remanufacture, recycling, and composting… The circular economy is based on three principles:

• eliminate waste and pollution
• circulate products and materials (at their highest value)
• regenerate nature. 

Underpinned by a transition to renewable energy and materials, the circular economy is a resilient system that is good for business, people, and the environment.

A key element of the circular economy is the separation of biological and technical waste, or the notion of two different life cycles. The technical cycle is all about things that won’t biodegrade – metals and plastics, for example. The biological cycle refers to things that will naturally biodegrade, such as food and paper. 

This butterfly diagram illustrates the two parts of this cycle. 

For an explanation and examples of the circular economy in action, watch this 10-minute video.

Other definitions 

You’ll also see the ‘five Rs’ talked about in terms of the circular economy. Here’s how they are described in edie Explains: First Steps in the Circular Economy:

• Refuse: Eliminate unnecessary materials or products upfront. (E.g. refuse single-use packaging where possible.)
• Reduce: Minimise material use through leaner designs or efficiency. (For example, using lighter-weight materials or cutting out non-essential components.)
• Reuse: Keep products in service longer. This includes reusing the same product (re-fill, re-sell, repurpose) or reusing packaging.
• Repurpose (or Repair/Share): Give items a second life in the same or a different form – repair products for continued use, donate or share goods, or repurpose byproducts into new products.
• Recycle: Only after all above should you recycle. Recover materials at end-of-life so they can re-enter the production cycle.

Metabolic, a company dedicated to sustainable economies, has a seven pillar model, which incorporates people wellbeing and social justice. 

Their seven pillars are: materials, energy, water, biodiversity, society & culture, health & wellbeing, and value. These are viewed through the lenses of:

• equity
• resilience
• transparency.

Why do we need a circular economy? 

The planet’s resources are finite, and the circular economy is a way of tackling climate change. WRAP has identified that 45% of global emissions can only be tackled by changing the way we make and consume products and food.

The government aims to transition to a circular economy, establishing a taskforce with aims to:

• support economic growth
• create green jobs
• promote efficient and productive use of resources
• accelerate the transition to net zero emissions.

Eco-Schools have a series of downloadable lesson plans which can be used to incorporate teaching about the circular economy into the curriculum. 

What does it mean for schools?

You’ll already have elements of a circular economy in progress. For example, the recent simpler recycling regulations, which mean that food waste has to be collected separately, enable that biological waste to be re-used. 

Other things which you may be doing already, or can consider doing, include the following.

• Uniform swap shops: an example of reuse, keeping things in the life cycle for longer, as well helping save money for members of the school community.
• Redistributing leftover food: for example through community fridges, where leftover food can be stored for members of the school community, or taking part in a scheme like Olio where leftover food is donated and redistributed. 
• Composting: creating another product out of waste material (also a money saver!). The Devon recycling zone has a whole series of freely accessible resources to help schools get started. 
• Buying refurbished devices, rather than new.
• Donating used devices: for example making use of the Air Ambulance asset donation programme. 
• Avoid laminating: laminated paper can’t be recycled. 

Areas for reflection and action

• What are you already doing in your setting which is contributing to a circular, rather than linear, economy?
• Can you see scope for quick actions to implement a more circular approach?
• Where could you adopt a more circular approach with the investment of some time or resource? For example, investigating the purchasing of refurbished devices. 
• Can you incorporate teaching about the circular economy into the curriculum? What might be appropriate for different phases or stages? 

Reading and resources

• Air Ambulance IT Asset Reuse
• Blog: Seeking the co-benefits: people, planet - and financial efficiency 
• Eco-Schools: Lesson Plans on Circular Economy
• Eco-Schools: What is Circular Economy
• edie Explains: First Steps in the Circular Economy (note that you need to register for an online account to download the report)
• Ellen MacArthur Foundation: What is a circular economy?
• Gov.UK: Circular Economy Taskforce
• Metabolic: The Seven Pillars of the Circular Economy
• Need to Know: A benchmark for sustainability practices 
• Need to Know: How green is your school? 
• Need to Know: Ready for simpler recycling? 
• Olio: share more, waste less
• Recycle Devon: Compost resources
• WRAP and the circular economy