A circular economy is an economic model that replaces the traditional “take-make-waste” linear system by designing out waste, keeping products and materials in use, and regenerating natural systems.

Core Principles

According to frameworks from organizations like the Ellen MacArthur Foundation and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the model operates on three main goals:

• Eliminate waste and pollution: Treat waste as a design flaw and remove it at the very beginning of the product creation process.
• Circulate products and materials: Keep materials at their highest value through sharing, leasing, reusing, repairing, refurbishing, remanufacturing, and recycling.
• Regenerate nature: Return biological nutrients safely back to the earth to rebuild soils and natural ecosystems.