UNEVOC Connect

A systems solution framework that tackles global challenges like climate change, biodiversity loss, waste, and pollution. It is based on three principles, driven by design: eliminate waste and pollution, circulate products and materials (at their highest value), and regenerate nature. It is underpinned by a transition to renewable energy and materials. Transitioning to a circular economy entails decoupling economic activity from the consumption of finite resources. This represents a systemic shift that builds long-term resilience, generates business and economic opportunities, and provides environmental and societal benefits.

A model for sustainability in resource use and consumption which supports moving away from an extract–manufacture–use–discard model and embraces the recycling, repair, reuse, remanufacture and longer durability of goods.

The circular economy is an economic model based on sharing, leasing, reusing, repairing, refurbishing and recycling materials and products in an (almost) closed loop. The aim is to maintain the utility and value of products, components and materials for as long as possible, minimising waste.

The circular economy is a system solution framework that looks beyond the current economy and its linear process of taking materials from the Earth, making products from them, and throwing them away as waste. Underpinned by a transition to renewable energy sources, the circular model is based on three principles: 1) Eliminate waste and pollution, 2) Circulate products and materials, 3) Regenerate nature.