Circular Economy
What is the circular economy?
The circular economy is a different way of doing business.
The way our economies extract, use, then dispose of resources is putting pressure on our natural systems, communities, and public health. This is a linear economy—it moves in a straight line from resource extraction to waste disposal.
In a circular economy, nothing is waste. The circular economy retains and recovers as much value as possible from resources by reusing, repairing, refurbishing, remanufacturing, repurposing, or recycling products and materials.
It’s about using valuable resources wisely, thinking about waste as a resource instead of a cost, and finding innovative ways to better the environment and the economy.
Transcript
Taking action to protect our environment will help to keep our Canadian economy strong and growing.
In a circular economy, products are made to last longer, communities share resources and save money, and businesses are maintaining, reusing, remanufacturing and recycling materials to create more value for you and future generations.
For example, in Canada, if we improve how we manage plastic waste through the circular economy, by 2030 we can
- reduce 1.8 million tonnes of carbon pollution
- generate billions of dollars in revenue
- and create approximately 42,000 jobs.
So, if you repair your things instead of throwing them out, use sharing services like tool-lending libraries or car-sharing services, or simply repurpose some of your belongings–like turning old pallets into new bookshelves–you are participating in the circular economy.
And if you’re not yet taking any of these actions, now is your chance to learn more about how you, your business, and your community can contribute to the transition toward a more circular economy.
The circular economy: more value, less waste.
Get involved in the circular economy
Explore circular economy initiatives
World Circular Economy Forum 2021
Learn about the circular economy
Both businesses and individuals can save money and create opportunities in a circular economy. For example, businesses can launch product buy-back programs that recover usable materials, or create new materials from product waste—like turning pulp-and-paper-mill waste into renewable plastics or textiles.
As individuals, we can use circular economy principles to cut our waste and save money by reusing or repairing items, or by using sharing services like tool libraries or car sharing. This movement has been building momentum as governments, businesses and individuals embrace more circular approaches.
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Canadian businesses are rethinking the way they work to help save the planet.
Imagination and innovation, go a long way.
These businesses are finding new ways to recycle valuable metals and alloys and reuse materials, (like plastics) parts, and components while also increasing their bottom line.
It’s called the circular economy. And the best part? It’s having a positive impact on industries in Canada and around the world.
Transitioning to circularity has the potential to generate $4.5 trillion in global benefits. (according to Accenture Strategies)
In Canada, if we improve how we manage plastic waste through the circular economy, by 2030, we can
- reduce 1.8 million tonnes of carbon pollution
- generate billions of dollars in revenue
- and create approximately 42,000 jobs.
In the circular economy, nothing is waste. It’s about keeping valuable resources and materials in the economy—and it just makes sense.
The circular economy, more value less waste.
Transcript
The equivalent of one garbage truck of plastic waste enters our oceans from land every minute. And it’s getting worse.
If trends continue, by 2030 Canadians will have thrown away 11 billion dollars worth of plastic materials!
That’s a lot of waste.
The circular economy provides a solution.
It’s a new way of doing things that improves the way we manage waste.
But it’s so much more than that too!
It creates business opportunities and protects the environment, by keeping valuable resources and materials in the economy.
Nothing that is made in a circular economy becomes waste!
Everything from clothing, to electronics, to toothbrushes!
In Canada, if we improve how we manage plastic waste through the circular economy, by 2030, we can
- reduce 1.8 million tonnes of carbon pollution
- generate billions of dollars in revenue
- and create approximately 42,000 jobs.
In a circular economy, nothing is waste. It’s about keeping valuable resources and materials in the economy and out of the environment—and it just makes sense.
The circular economy, more value less waste.
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