The concept of \u2018closed loop\u2019 or circular economies has been around since the 1970s, but it has become more popularized in recent years because of the growing recognition that our current linear “take-make-waste-repeat” economy isn\u2019t sustainable and that continuing to turn our planet\u2019s precious, and dwindling, natural resources into garbage doesn\u2019t make environmental or economic sense.<\/p>\n\n Circular or closed loop systems\u2026<\/p>\n\n To transform to a circular economy, what do we need to do? We need to start by taking a bird\u2019s eye view of our current system, dominant business models, and social structures to see where exactly we\u2019ve gone wrong. The throwaway culture has been praised since the 1950s for its convenience. But in reality, this so-called convenience is based on a heavy extractive and wasteful model that has fuelled multiple environmental crises and social injustices we are facing today.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n We need to rethink and redesign those business models, help shift people\u2019s mindsets about our relationship with nature and quality of life, and create the conditions for positive and widespread social change that benefits the masses, including other beings on this planet, not the few. <\/p>\n\n It\u2019s not only a system reboot, it\u2019s a system reprogram. It\u2019s no small task but it\u2019s doable if we build on the momentum of existing corners of society that are already modelling a circular vision, and start to phase out key linear model crutches, such as multiple subsidies<\/a> to the fossil fuel and petrochemical sectors.<\/p>\n\n Closed-loop models exist all around us. <\/strong>They are some of the oldest, tried tested and true ways of consuming in a more sustainable and socially responsible way. It’s not a new concept, it’s just one we’ve had to name as we’ve lost sight of co-existing with the natural world. Some examples? Organic farms that use regenerative agriculture<\/a> techniques, deliver produce directly to people, without packaging, without travelling hundreds of kilometres, and where the food scraps go into a composter. Community bike share, tool share, or other share programs where items get repaired and refurbished and source materials are from non-extractive origin. Companies offering their products, sourced or created within nature\u2019s limits, in reusable, returnable, refillable packaging that can be used hundreds of times before created again, not losing material value. Taking a look at how different models can fit and work together, to create one circular economy, is the scaling and holistic approach we need. <\/p>\n\n Like oil and ocean water, certain things just don\u2019t mix with a true circular economy. Single-use plastics is one of them. Disposable plastics are a symbol of everything we need to leave behind – fossil fuel dependency, waste-generating products, a throwaway culture, disproportionate negative social impacts, and a threat to biodiversity and planetary health.<\/p>\n\n The Canadian government has increasingly thrown around the term circular economy and zero waste when it comes to tackling our plastics problem, but unfortunately like various other terms denoting a greener approach, industry has worked to co-opt the meaning of circular economy and zero waste, creating confusion, watering down the concepts and working to convince government that we can have it all – disposables, a circular economy and a magical zero plastic waste future.<\/p>\n\n Wrong. To date, Canada has only managed to recycle 9% of its plastic waste<\/strong>. And the solutions proposed by the industry, such as 100% recyclable, biodegradable or compostable packaging, in no way meet the founding principles of a circular economy, such as limiting resource extraction or maintaining the value of materials used. As the Canadian government creates the country\u2019s post-pandemic recovery plan, it must leave carbon-intensive, polluting industries behind, and that means cutting our reliance on non-essential plastics.<\/p>\n\n The feds have said that they will be delaying the previously promised single-use plastic ban that was set to roll out in 2021. Choosing to look on the bright side, we can use this time to make it crystal clear to the government that this extension must be used to create a comprehensive ban list and not settle for a piecemeal approach to phasing out problem plastics.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n If you haven\u2019t already, take a look at the 5 actions you can take for a plastic-free future. We need to keep making it clear that we can move away from single-use plastics and a move toward a green and just economy.<\/p>\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/static\/planet4-canada-stateless\/2020\/05\/486da212-circularity_illus-1024x1024.png\")
How to start rounding our linear system<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n
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Disposables don\u2019t belong in our circular future<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/static\/planet4-canada-stateless\/2020\/05\/5d97db01-gp0sttzsf_medium_res-1024x683.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\nKeeping up the pressure for our single-use plastic-free future<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n
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