Business Tools for a Circular Economy

Finite resources, energy and disposing of waste are becoming increasingly expensive. With ever greater focus in business to reducing cost and improving environmental performance, the benefits of moving to a circular economy have never been greater.

What is a circular economy?

The Ellen MacArthur Foundation (EMF) defines the circular economy as an industrial economy that is restorative or regenerative by value and design.

The circular economy is a model of production and consumption that - in contrast to the traditional linear, take-make-use-dispose model of consumption – aims to keep materials and products in a closed-loop system by reusing, repairing, and recycling them.

This reduces the use of resources and the creation of waste, pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. This closed-loop system mirrors the nutrient cycles found in natural regenerative ecosystems.

Plastic, packaging and the circular economy

By 2050, we can expect there to be more plastic than fish in the ocean. Plastic packaging has rapidly become one of the top sustainability issues for consumers, governments and other key business stakeholders. Meanwhile materials extraction and production can make up to 75% of the energy used to make goods, as well as being responsible for 90% of biodiversity loss.

Reductions to the use of plastic and packaging are possible through the traditional linear model of consumption. In many instances there are suitable and more customer-friendly alternatives available, such as light-weighting packaging or using certified pulp-based materials as an alternative to plastic.

The circular economy approach takes a holistic view, considering packaging waste as a cost to be managed out entirely by changing the system design. In a circular economy, materials should re-enter the economy at the end of their use.

As part of this shift, more countries are introducing product stewardship schemes that hold the producers or retailers of products and packaging responsible for the costs associated with their disposal.

Tools for reducing business reliance on plastics and packaging and moving to a circular economy

For businesses making reductions to plastic and packaging, WRAP leads the UK Plastics PACT and provides several resources free of charge, including a Roadmap to 2025.

Circulytics is a free tool provided by Ellen MacArthur Foundation to help businesses measure their circular economy performance.

The Packaging Recycling Evaluation Portal (PREP), provided by On-Pack Recycling Label (OPRL), enables UK-based businesses to test recyclability of their packaging in line with current UK collection and reprocessing infrastructure. Note that access to the portal is restricted to OPRL members.

For businesses preparing for the Deposit Return Scheme due to be introduced in Scotland in 2023, further details can be found at Zero Waste Scotland (for general information), Scottish Environment Protection Agency (for regulations, responsibilities and registration) and Circularity Scotland (to register with scheme administrator).

Good Business Sustainability

At Good Business Sustainability we pride ourselves on helping to make being green easier.

We provide a broad range of sustainability consultancy services tailored to small businesses, entrepreneurs, and start-ups.GB Sustainability provides consultations, projects, and retainers across a range of sustainability topics and business sectors.

If you would like support to reduce the plastic and packaging across your business, set up a free initial exploratory call with one of our sustainability professionals today.