Circular Economy

What is this collection of blueprints about?

For industrialised economies, the dominant model of production and consumption has been linear: taking new materials in at one end and spitting them out as waste at the other end. This model is by definition unsustainable, and many organisations are moving towards a ‘circular economy’ model where items and materials are reused. The Ellen Macarthur Foundation shares lots of information about Circular Economies, starting with their Overview.

The blueprints listed below either form part of the product lifecycle and so directly impact how materials and products are used, or are service-based offerings that can contribute to the growth of the circular economy. They can be used alone or in combination.

Why does this context matter for Local Economies?

There is a close relationship between localisation of production and the shift to circular economies. If the capacity to make something exists in a community, you are far more likely to also have the capacity to repair or upgrade that item to extend its useful life. People are far more likely to get an item repaired if they can get it fixed down the road instead of needing to send it far away. Recycling of materials is more economic when the materials are kept local (although there is certainly a need for more investment in recycling technologies that work well at a small scale).  Put simply, circular economies work better when the physical products and materials can be kept local – so for that you need local manufacturing, repair, and recycling facilities.

Why do we need information about business models for this context?

Moving to a more sustainable model of production and consumption is essential for the future of humanity. Many entrepreneurs, businesses, and community organizations are innovating in this area and testing out different ways of making circular economies work. We want to share information on business models used in circular economy contexts in order to encourage greater take-up and experimentation.

We are keen to interview more organisations involved using circular economy business models – please take a look at the Invitation to Contribute to our Research.