Economy of waste is no longer viable. Is it time for The Circular Economy?

Resource supply disruptions and rising prices spell trouble for companies that rely on scarce natural resources — unless trends change, says Mark Twomey.

ALTHOUGH consumers may be familiar with the environmentally-aware concept of “reduce, reuse, recycle” in a effort to use less of the planet’s finite resources, a similar concept is gaining traction throughout Europe that could be the basis of a €3bn per annum industry employing 174,000 people by 2020 across the continent.

The Circular Economy is one which according to the Ellen MacArthur Foundation “aims to keep products, components and materials at their highest utility and value at all times.” Whether this be computers, white goods like fridges and washing machines, or even mobile phones.