What is a circular economy?
A circular economy is an alternative to a traditional linear economy (make, use, dispose) in which we keep resources in use for as long as possible, extract the maximum value from them whilst in use, then recover and regenerate products and materials at the end of each service life.
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Design/manufactureAround 80% of a product's environment impact is locked in at design stage. We're working with designers and businesses to create new and innovative ways of reducing this. We're also looking for ways of increasing the opportunities for re-use and repair, prolonging the life of products. This reduces the need for virgin materials, stabilising prices and reducing reliance on volatile markets.
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Retailer
Working with more than 50 signatories in the grocery sector, the Courtauld Commitment voluntary
agreement seeks to reduce packaging and food waste along the whole supply chain. To date, this has led to an 8.8% reduction in product and packaging waste. -
Consumer/householder/LA
Working with local authorities and private sector partners, Love Food Hate Waste has helped consumers reduce food waste in the home by 1.1m tonnes since 2006 - stopping £2.5bn of food from being thrown away. More than 90% of english local authorities use WRAP guidance to help make their collection and recycling services more efficient.
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Re-use/repair/recycling
Worth over £200m in gross revenue each year, 23% of the 348,000 tonnes of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) collected at household waste and recycling centres could be re-used with minor repairs.
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Recycling sector
Since WRAP began in 2000, reprocessing capacity has increased by 49million tonnes, today generating
more than £10bn in sales and employing 30,000+ people. The sector has continued to invest during the economic downturn. In 2010, it invested £368m.
