Celebrating Circular Economy Month & Sustainable Living
Isabelle Bujold
In honour of Circular Economy Month, we dove into the world of sustainable living and explored how we can shift from a "take-make-waste" system to a circular economy. Throughout October, we shared shocking facts, tips, and innovative ways to reduce waste, reuse materials, and keep resources in use for as long as possible, all of which will be discussed below.
The circular economy has the potential to enhance the value of natural resources, reduce carbon emissions, and eliminate waste, benefiting the environment—and humanity—on multiple fronts. Here’s how:
🌱 Tackling Climate Change
To meet Canada’s climate goals, we need to go beyond traditional solutions. Embodied carbon from the products we use daily makes up about 45% of our carbon emissions. A circular economy addresses this by promoting efficient production and consumption.
💧 Cleaner Water & Conservation
With Canadians discarding 3 million tonnes of plastic each year (only 9% gets recycled), we can combat water pollution by keeping plastics in a closed loop. This not only improves water quality but also reduces the amount of water needed for production.
🏡 Increased Resource Recovery
By extending product life cycles, we lessen the need for new resource extraction. Recycling electronics reduces harmful mining, while demand for recycled paper helps protect our forests—vital for our air quality.
💰 Expanding the Definition of Wealth
Natural capital—everything nature provides—underpins over half of the world's wealth. Incorporating ecosystem services into economic models enables better decision-making for sustainability.
🌿 Boosting Biodiversity
Biodiversity is crucial for resilience and health, yet over 90% of its decline stems from resource overuse. The circular economy helps preserve habitats, enhancing biodiversity while capturing carbon.
🗑️ Less Waste
Extending the life cycle of products minimizes landfill waste and environmental pollution.
Did You Know?
Plastic pollution is found in drinking water and natural water sources worldwide.
Transitioning to a circular economy for plastics could prevent 1.8 megatonnes of CO₂ from entering the atmosphere each year.
It takes 2,700 liters of fresh water to produce the cotton for just one t-shirt.
Vertebrate species populations have declined by about 68% since 1970, with freshwater species suffering the most.
Embracing a circular economy also means building a more sustainable and equitable future. By promoting the continuous use of resources through innovative circular business models, we unlock numerous social and economic opportunities:
✨ Job Creation & Skills Development
The circular economy demands new business models, technologies, and infrastructure, potentially creating 7 to 8 million new jobs globally in recycling, repair, and refurbishment. This shift fosters meaningful work and new training opportunities!
💰 Increased Affordability
Durable and repairable products mean longer lifespans and fewer purchases. Reuse and food rescue programs make essentials more affordable. Smart consumption and rental options lower costs, giving consumers more financial freedom.
🏘️ Prosperous & Healthy Communities
Minimizing waste and reducing greenhouse gas emissions improve public health and quality of life. By sourcing materials locally and promoting local production, we can strengthen community economies and reduce reliance on imports.
🤝 Community Engagement & Empowerment
The circular economy champions sharing, repairing, and collaborating. Local initiatives like repair cafes and swap events not only reduce waste but also build social connections and empower individuals to embrace a circular lifestyle.
Did You Know?
In 2019, six circular industrial sectors in Canada created 371,000–379,000 jobs and avoided 1.6 million tonnes of CO2-equivalent emissions annually!
The value retention processing market generated about $56 billion in Canada in 2019.
A global circular economy could create 7 to 8 million new jobs by 2030!
Transitioning to a circular economy for plastics in Canada could generate billions in revenue and create around 42,000 jobs by 2030!
Additionally, on Thursday, October 24th, we celebrated Plastic Thursday for Waste Reduction Week in Canada.
Since the 1950s, a staggering 8.3 billion tonnes of plastic has been produced globally, yet only 23% has been recovered or recycled. By 2050, it’s estimated that an additional 12 billion tonnes will end up in landfills.
Plastics Thursday emphasizes how the circular economy can help reduce plastic use and waste, improve recyclability, and enhance the value of recycled plastic through better product design and end-of-life management.
💡 Facts & Stats:
The circular economy can prevent plastics from entering our environment while enhancing their recyclability and overall value.
Making simple changes in our daily lives can significantly reduce our plastic footprint. Every action counts!
Everyone has a role to play—governments, companies, and individuals—together, we can shift from a linear take-make-waste model to a circular and regenerative one.
Approximately 40% of all plastic produced annually is used for single-use packaging.
Sadly, only 9% of the 3.2 million tonnes of plastic waste generated in Canada each year is recycled.
Every minute, one garbage truck's worth of plastic ends up in our oceans, totaling about 8 million tonnes each year.
At Nets for Net Zero, we're dedicated to contributing to the circular economy by removing ghost fishing gear from our oceans and repurposing it into new products. Circularity is one of our core values, guiding us toward a more sustainable future.
We believe that circular economies present an unprecedented opportunity to create a world that respects our environment and uses resources more wisely. By promoting circular ecosystems, we can provide strong solutions for the health of our oceans while benefiting both the blue and green economies.
Join us on this journey towards a circular future! 💚♻️ Happy Circular Economy Month!
Source: https://circulareconomymonth.ca/
