Circular Economy

Question 1

Linear Economy Definition

Answer 1

A linear economy is when items are taken, made, and disposed of. This leads to waste growing and growing

Question 2

What is a Circular Economy

Answer 2

A circular economy involves, manufacturing, the item is consumed and used, before it either goes into waste, or gets recycled to then be manufactured again.

Question 3

What is the Linear Economy and How does it work

Answer 3

The linear economic model works on the principles of take, make, and dispose.

• Resources and energy are often finite resources
• Products are not made to be recycled, reused, or repurposed
• Products are simply disposed of at end of life often in landfill
• This model has been in practice for the last 150 years since the Industrial Revolution

Question 4

How does Nature (the Nature Economy) Work?

Answer 4

Nature does not work like like Linear Economy, instead it works in a circular way for example.

• A plant grows from a seed
• Animals feed on foliage or fruit
• Seeds are spread in droppings
• Predation enables the supply of energy from animal to animal
• When an animal dies, it’s body decomposes where the minerals and nutrients go back into the ground.

Question 5

What is the Circular Economy and How does it work

Answer 5

To build a circular economy we must re-think the way we make and use products to re-balance our consumption.

• Designing products that can be maintained and mended
• Manufacturing using renewable or alternative energy
• Using sustainable or recycled materials

Question 6

Who are 5 Responsible Stakeholders for ensuring a Circular Economy can be created with Products

Answer 6

• Governments
• Designers
• Manufacturers
• Retailers
• Consumers

Question 7

How can Governments contribute to more sustainable products and a Circular Economy

Answer 7

• Governments could enforce rules to hold manufacturers and retailers responsible to make products more sustainable.
• Governments could be more active in ensuring that companies are sustainable (spot-checks e.c.t)

Question 8

How can Designers contribute to more sustainable products and a Circular Economy

Answer 8

• Designers could design products that can be more easily re-made and recycled
• Designers could make biodegradable products

Question 9

How can Manufacturers contribute to more sustainable products and a Circular Economy

Answer 9

• Manufacturers could use more sustainable methods in order to create products (using renewable energy)
• Manufacturers could to try be efficient as possible and produce as little waste as possible
• Manufacturers could make their products closer to the source of the materials

Question 10

How can Retailers contribute to more sustainable products and a Circular Economy

Answer 10

• Retailers could refuse to sell products that aren’t focused around sustainability

Question 11

How can Consumers contribute to more sustainable products and a Circular Economy

Answer 11

• Consumers could refuse to buy products that aren’t sustainable
• Consumers could also decide to try to repair items that they’ve broken, rather than just buy a new one

Question 12

Companies that use a Circular Economy and how do they do it

Answer 12

• Starbucks and McDonald’s started a reusable cup program in 2020 to try to avoid single-use waste.
• IKEA began a furniture buyback and resale program in 2020 to ensure parts of products can be re-made and/or re-used.
• Dove are trying to develop a refillable packaging to reduce/eliminate single use plastic in their packaging.

Question 13

What are Fairtrade about and how do they help

Answer 13

Fairtrade is about better prices, decent working conditions and fair terms of trade for farmers and workers in less economically developed countries
• The Fairtrade Foundation also provide a premium to farmers to invest in their communities

Question 14

What do the Organisation ‘Little Sun’ do

Answer 14

• 1.1 billion people live without access to grid energy
• Little Sun was founded in 2012 with the objective of brining solar energy to those who are without electricity

Question 15

What are the 6R’s

Answer 15

• Reduce
• Reuse
• Rethink
• Recycle
• Repair
• Refuse

Question 16

Do people often decide to repair and maintain their products. If not, why?

Answer 16

In recent decades we have become a nation that would rather throw away a broken product and replace it than repair it.

• Many manufacturers build obsolescence into a product which makes it
hard or impossible to repair

Question 17

What did new Legislation released in June 2021 allow for, and how does it help

Answer 17

Manufactures now have to make spare parts available for washing machines, washer-dryers, dishwashers, refrigerators, and TV’s for the first time. Repair also need to be possible using everyday tools.

Question 18

What makes a product Suitable for Recycling

Answer 18

A product can be made with materials that are able to be recycled

• To company benefits they may get a better reputation
• The customer benefits as they can recycle their products rather than throw it to landfill
• The planet benefits as there will be less landfill as a result

Question 19

What makes a product Suitable for Re-using

Answer 19

A product can be made where different parts are made easy to remove so individual parts can be reused easily. They also need to be made of materials that are long lasting.

• Benefits for the company are that they may become more trusted. They could also re used and remake the products with the same materials.
• The customer benefits as it make products easier to repair and reuse
• The planet benefits as there is less unnecessary waste

Question 20

Who are Cradle to Cradle and what do they do (how do they contribute to a circular economy)

Answer 20

Cradle to Cradle or C2C is a new approach to design and manufacture that fits into the ethos of the circular economy.

• Reuse if any waste created
• A holistic approach to design
• Reduction of carbon footprint
• Cleaning any waste water for reuse it
• Eliminating the use of toxic materials

Question 21

Who are Smile Plastics and what do they do (how do they contribute to a circular economy)

Answer 21

Addressing the problems of the waste disposal and the cost of raw materials, Smile Plastics use 100% recycled plastic waste to produce new materials

• Materials come in sheet form ideal for creating a range of products
• A wide range of patterns and colours are available
• Sheets can be cut and machined
• Other companies are recycling plastics in different ways – for example one million Robbie Williams CDs were sent to China
and used in road surfacing and street lighting!

Question 22

What is M&S ‘Plan A’ and what does it do (how do they contribute to a circular economy)

Answer 22

In 2007, Marks and Spencer introduced an initiative called ‘Plan A’ which included these aims:

• Zero waste to landfill
• Recyclable packaging

• Sustainably sourced products
• Reduced energy consumption
• Reduced greenhouse gas emissions
• In 2012 they announced that they were carbon neutral
• How could they quantify this?

Question 23

Schemes and Initiatives introduced to help create a Circular Economy

Answer 23

Other well known high street brands are also taking steps towards sustainability by:
• Giving money off vouchers or trade in services of old clothes
• Offering to buy back electronic products, refurbishing and grading them for resale
• Buying used books, CDs and DVDs

Question 24

How are Batteries being developed to have a better effect on the environment

Answer 24

Battery technology and electronic products are gradually developing in ways that reduce impact on the environment.

• There is a drive to use fewer rare earth elements (REEs) in electronics manufacturing
• Rechargeable battery power source are slowly replacing disposable batteries
• Many batteries still require an enormous amount of energy and REEs to produce and correct battery disposal is still a major issue.

Question 25

How can Packaging be made more sustainable to help a Circular Economy

Answer 25

It’s one thing to create sustainable products, but we must consider the type and amount of packaging used to contain them.

• Many electronic items are packaged in die cut or moulded internal inserts. What function do these serve?
• Many products are sold with an additional layer of plastic wrap - why do you think this is?
• How many of the products you buy arrive packaged and what type of packaging is used?

Question 26

How can making product so that it can disassemble help a Circular Economy

Answer 26

New products should manufactured in a way that makes them easy to dissemble

• Integrated packaging uses mixed materials, often combined in a way that they cannot easily be separated