A term that has been circulating more and more frequently lately—especially if you’ve followed Pable’s journey—is circular economy, especially in discussions about the sustainable economy. What exactly is circular economy?
Circular economy is a model of production and consumption that involves extending the lifespan of products as long as possible (recycling, reusing, repairing, and repurposing) (EU, 2023). In practice, the objective of circular economy –being the counter of a more traditional linear economy– is to reduce waste to a minimum. Even when a product is considered to have reached its maximum lifespan, it will continue to be involved in the economic process as much as possible, by being recycled, repaired, or transformed into other goods. This ensures that the product retains its value. Because we’re talking about an economic system, this process has to be adapted into a structure that allows for recycling, repair, or transformation into other goods to be carried out communally, within binding regulations and on a large scale.
The urgency of this circular economy practice is, of course, the environmental aspect. Circular economy faces challenges in that it aligns with the traditional economic model, which tends to interpret a product’s value in terms of a single use: made-consumed-discarded. This traditional model relies on cheap capital, which allows for large-scale production. Furthermore, this model also relies on what’s known as planned obsolescence, a phenomenon where products are intentionally poorly designed to have a short lifespan, which encourages consumers to buy new ones and generates greater profits for producers. From the brief explanation above, we can predict that three problems will arise: waste, human resource exploitation, and natural resource exploitation. Circular economy exists as an effort to address these issues.
Earth-saving mission
Circular economy results in a longer product lifespan because it uses more than a single cycle, which in turn reduces the exploitation of raw materials. Furthermore, when production processes prioritize efficiency and product sustainability, resource and energy consumption are reduced. Ultimately, waste is reduced because products are recycled, repaired, or transformed into other goods.
Circular economy = more for us
According to research from the European Parliament, 700,000 jobs will be created by 2030 if circular economy is implemented, as it will increase business competition, stimulate innovation, and boost economic growth. Furthermore, planned obsolescence will be reduced because consumers will be presented with more durable products, which will prevent overconsumption and unnecessary waste due to poor-quality materials.
So, how does circular economy work in the fashion world? It’s important to remember that the goal of circular economy is to extend the lifespan of products, thereby reducing waste and reducing dependence on raw materials. Some steps that can be taken to practice circular economy in the fashion world are:
- Producing quality textile. This will extend the lifespan of products, and the materials will maintain their quality even after being recycled, repaired, or transformed into other products.
- Stopping the destruction –or, the disposal altogether– of “reject” or “return” textile products. Companies often have specific operating standards that require defective products to be destroyed or disposed of. Instead of being destroyed or thrown away, these products —along with offcuts— are classified as pre-consumer waste, which can be recycled, repaired, or transformed into other products.
- Requiring transparency of recycling processes for large textile companies, of course, with support from local or national governments and recycling manufacturing actors like Pable, is a must.
The explanation above sounds a bit complicated and requires significant effort, but it’s not utopian. Now, you shouldn’t be confused when Pable brings up circular economy narrative, right? We can make it true if all levels work together and unite to protect the planet we inhabit. In essence, human life is designed to be circular, so let’s return to our original design. We are circular.
