They say one woman’s trash is another woman’s treasure. And yet, we dispose of things without utilizing them to their optimum. Is there an alternative? Enter a circular economy or lifestyle. An economy or lifestyle that translates to reusing, recycling, lending or borrowing, or sharing our possessions — a circular economy is a dependable solution to tackle excess wastage, pollution, and biodiversity loss.
As per Ellen MacArthur Foundation, globally, we dump good-conditioned clothes worth $460 billion each year, and the same report states that most households use 80 percent of items less than once a month. A massive opportunity to reuse most goods, whether it’s clothes or gadgets is being squandered. We have been conditioned into devaluing products with time and changing trends. We toss things out without a second thought when we no longer find them beneficial, leading to wastage and under-utilization of precious resources. The circular lifestyle is about addressing this concern. It is about circulating and deriving maximum benefits and utility from items, instead of rushing to purchase new things.
Why Go Circular?
Source: Nat Geo Kids
“A shift towards a circular approach is necessary, inevitable, and a superior source of value creation.”
— Jamie Butterworth, Partner at Circularity Capital
For the last several decades, the linear economy has glorified the ‘take, make and waste’ form of production, resulting in overconsumption, over wastage, and, inevitably, fewer resources to meet our needs. Recently, the world was taken aback by the images of mountains of unsold clothing at the Atacama Desert of Chile. The World Bank’s study establishes that we produce 2.01 billion tonnes of waste annually. At least 33 percent of waste isn’t managed in an environmentally-safe manner. Posing a great threat to the wildlife, environment, and our health — this state of living isn’t sustainable. It pollutes the planet and every aspect of our lives. With a circular economy, the onus isn’t on the consumer alone; it’s also on businesses to be more mindful of production and post-consumption lifecycle.
At COP26, the need for the circular economy was widely discussed, and it was established how this economy can meet global demands and needs with fewer virgin resources. The conference brought together various circular economists, including Circle Economy, Ellen MacArthur Foundation, Platform for Accelerating the Circular Economy (PACE), ReLondon, and World Economic Forum. Together, the economists declared if not now, it would be too late to act.
Source: We Forum
The Ellen MacArthur Foundation reports that more than half of global emissions occur due to our production and consumption style. Not limited to fashion alone, circular economy applies at large, to food, industries, electronics, and every facet of our life. When businesses adopt a circular economy, they’re building for the future.
How to Adopt a Circular Lifestyle?
Adopting a circular lifestyle begins with conscious and mindful living. We have bought into the myth of obsolescence that is fundamental to the model of overconsumption, and have allowed ourselves to be persuaded by the fashion, electronics, and other industries to keep upgrading to new products based on technology, seasons, trends, colours, silhouettes, etc. There is also the scourge of instant gratification that sees us buying ephemeral “use and throw” items. The starting point then is to question our assumptions, impulses, and the urge to buy new things. There’s no replacing the classic 3Rs – Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle – so, upcycling, repairing, and extending the life cycle of our possessions is a good route to take.
We have bought into the myth of obsolescence that is fundamental to the model of overconsumption, and have allowed ourselves to be persuaded by the fashion, electronics, and other industries to keep upgrading to new products based on technology, seasons, trends, colours, silhouettes, etc.
Source: The Ellen MacArthur Foundation
These are some of the tried and tested lifestyle changes that can help kickstart the journey to go circular:
Reduce shopping from fast-fashion brands: Shopping from fast-fashion brands is a toxic relationship that contributes to environmental damage and burns a hole in the wallet. Less than one percent of fast fashion outfits are recycled and McKinsey reports that three out of five outfits end up in landfills. The business model of fast fashion brands, predicated on frequent purchases, is contradictory to a circular economy. Decreasing fast-fashion consumption is fundamental to the circular economy. It helps to read the labels, learn about the brand, know if it is transparent about its sourcing and supply chain, and what are its practices, before shopping from one.
To know more about fast fashion, read our article: 10 Things You Probably Didn’t Know About Fast Fashion.
Rent or give refurbished pieces a shot: While we recommend you reconsider before giving up on what you already have, if you no longer find your devices useful or want to upgrade to higher versions of the gadgets, online stores offer plenty of options of refurbished models. Whether you’re looking to sell or purchase, sites such as Olx, TechEnclave, JJMehta Forums (only for cameras) are quite reliable.
Another way you can reduce consumption of clothing, that is often worn only for a few special occasions and then sits at the back of your closet, is through renting outfits from Fashion Rentals — from bridal wear to designer wear, online stores such as Rent It Bae, Style At Ease offer a vast collection. And, what’s not to love? Without denting your wallet, you can still look chic.
Try old-fashioned exchanges: Perhaps a friend or an acquaintance is comfortable taking what you don’t need? Whether you’re bored of your closet or see no use in a beauty product, check if your circle needs it. With access to social media, it’s fairly straightforward to exchange or sell unwanted items. Several Instagram thrift stores such as With Chavyu also accept products in good condition to sell them on your behalf. You can also sell and buy preloved clothes on online platforms like Poshmark India, Spoyl and Etashee. Exchanging and selling aren’t limited to clothes or small-sized possessions alone; if you’re looking to upgrade your electronic devices, wait till you really need an upgrade. If you own a vehicle that you barely use, check if you can share it with your friends or family.
If you’re not keen on exchanging or selling, you can also donate them. NGOs and organizations like Clothes Box Foundation, Happiee Souls, Share At Door Step and Goonj accept toys, clothes, furniture, bags, and even stationery.
Source: Business Insider
Invest in functional and timeless goods: Practical fashion is here to stay! So, instead of shopping for products that don’t withstand trends and time, invest in high-quality items. Shop from brands that value quality and slow production. Another rule to follow: always buy pieces that are versatile and have a repeat value, so stick to basics, layer and accessorize them in creative ways, and you’re good to go. We mean, even Carrie Bradshaw swapped her Fendi bag for a tote bag in And Just Like That — the latest reboot of Sex and The City, proving functionality trumps trends.
Can’t resist the urge to shop? Unsubscribe from brand emailers (sales, new launches, and all things alluring) or ask your loved ones to keep a tab on your purchases.
Considering a zero-waste lifestyle is another way to be mindful; you can shop from zero-waste brands or recycle or learn to manage your waste better. Embracing a zero-waste lifestyle even for a week makes a difference. While you’re at it, check out Refillable — an online store that adopts a milkman style of working by offering reusable and refillable products to its users, for handwashes and disinfectants to all forms of bathroom cleaners and more. This Bombay-based start-up refills your bottles at your doorstep as soon as you run out of them.
Keep plastic at arm’s length: Folks, we already know there’s no greater evil than plastic. So, call quits with single-use plastic and look for sustainable options such as products made from bamboo, hemp, and wood which are long-lasting too. You can also favour brands that use recycled plastic or raw materials.
The Shift
This is not to suggest that shifting to a circular economy is a cakewalk. But neither is it unattainable. Communities and businesses have to step up, and as individuals, we have to commit to consuming less and better. Building the future is a collective effort — and, without a circular economy, there may be no hope of a meaningful future.
