The economy is key to fighting climate change. That’s why we must continue the shift from a linear to a circular economy to make sure society progresses in a way that is environmentally-friendly. 

The planet’s resources are finite, so it’s crucial that people, governments and companies work together to use them more responsibly. Enter the circular economy, a new model that offers an alternative to the traditional linear economy. 

What’s the linear economy? 

The traditional model where raw materials are collected and transformed into products that consumers use until discarding them as waste, with no concern for their ecological footprint and consequences. It prioritizes profit over sustainability, with products made to be thrown away once they’ve been used.

What’s the circular economy?

Production that has as little impact as possible on the environment by leaving less of a footprint. To make it sustainable, it must follow these three principles: reduce, reuse y recycle.

Design, production and consumption are all based around sustainability. Production must keep energy consumption to a minimum, using renewable sources and non-polluting raw materials. Products must not have a limited shelf life and be built so they can be repaired or recycled.

The key difference is that the linear economy focuses on profitability, irrespective of the product life cycle, whereas the circular economy targets sustainability.