Circularity for sustainability

By S R Ranjan: Thinking of sustainable goals, then talk of circular economy! As the world walk past 2020 to rebuild the future ground for life and hopes of tomorrow, we need to changeover practices from the earlier concepts of development to sustainable models of growth, innovative strategies and progressive work. We cannot afford to go back to our old ways.

The world stands exposed as COVID-19 has wide-opened the drawbacks of the linear economy and has given an opportunity to shift gears. It’s time, we put the theory of circular economy — circularity — to practice and implement and integrate it into our socio-economic systems and developmental functions. The transition from a linear economy to circular economy is more pertinent today and holds a promising future to achieve the sustainable development goals.

Circularity, as a concept, has been broadly defined as ‘an economy in which waste and pollution do not exist by design, products and materials are kept in use, and natural systems are regenerated’. Contrary to the 'take-make-waste' linear model, circular economy employ developing possibilities in circular design to implement product reuse, repair, re-manufacture and recycling as economic growth model. The circular economy strives to form a symbiotic relation among economic, social and environmental functions through sustainable practices of production and consumption of resources. It develops circular modes and processes to produce goods and services by ‘optimization of resources and the use and waste’.

In today’s new normal challenging times, a one-approach solution of circularity or circular economy has gained prominence among governments, economists, policymakers, businesses and industries. Learning from past economic debacles, global health crisis, social distress and environmental misadventures, reportedly, there’s a growing common understanding among leaders, stakeholders and people from all walks of life to accept the circular path of growth to achieve the 'needed' economy goals by thoughtful sustainable solutions.

In the new normal way, the economies and societies need to find solutions that are in tune with the nature. For this, circular economy provides best options and scopes that can be explored and applied in various sectors through policy changes, technology modifications and economic viability. We need to develop a larger global consensus, platforms, workable tools and public-private partnerships to support implementation of the circular economy.

(Singh Rakesh Ranjan)

Freelance Journalist

(Representational images: source)