The Linear Economy : our current economic model
Before introducing you to the notion of a circular economy, we must first present the concept that opposes it: the linear economy, our current economic model. The linear economy is the economy as we know it today and has been prevailing since the first industrial revolution. It consists of « extracting, producing, consuming and disposing ».
The Linear Economy : our current economic model
Before introducing you to the notion of a circular economy, we must first present the concept that opposes it: the linear economy, our current economic model. The linear economy is the economy as we know it today and has been prevailing since the first industrial revolution. It consists of “extracting, producing, consuming and disposing”.
Today, this model has reached its limits and is not sustainable for the environment and human societies. Indeed, it is based on the intensive use of fossil fuels (oil and coal); energy extracted from our non-renewable subsoil. The rapid growth of our consumption over the last century has led to the depletion of our resources (metals, organic matter, fresh water, etc.). For example, in France, between 2000 and 2006, 120 km² of soil was artificialized each year**, the equivalent of 12,000 rugby fields, which has dramatic consequences on biodiversity.
On the other hand, this economic model has irreversibly changed the state of the Earth. Indeed, scientists have identified 9 planetary limits that must not be exceeded to avoid a change in the state of the Earth system. Since 2015, 4 limits have been exceeded: change in the chemical composition of the atmosphere (i.e. climate change), erosion of biodiversity (in terms of number of species and populations), disruption of the biogeochemical cycles of phosphorus and nitrogen, and change in land use (notably caused by deforestation)**.
Finally, society is accumulating more and more materials, preventing them from being recycled. Even if recycling has been anchored for decades in certain sectors (such as the paper and steel industry), it is not sufficient as a sustainable solution to our over-consumption. For example, in 2017, a French person produced an average of 514 kg of household waste per year and only 43% of this waste was recycled*.
The Circular Economy : a sustainable model
Thus, we need to change our economic model and take concrete actions, beyond recycling, to reduce the environmental and social impact of our consumption patterns. The circular economy is a solution that more and more businesses, communities and citizens are turning to in order to produce and consume in a more sustainable way.
The Circular Economy : a sustainable model
Thus, we need to change our economic model and take concrete actions, beyond recycling, to reduce the environmental and social impact of our consumption patterns. The circular economy is a solution that more and more businesses, communities and citizens are turning to in order to produce and consume in a more sustainable way.
The ADEME (the French Environment and Energy Management Agency) defines the circular economy as :
Through more efficient management of resources, the circular economy makes it possible, in particular, to limit waste and the environmental impact of human activities. It is therefore opposed to the linear economy, which does not take these two criteria into account, and is largely inspired by natural ecosystems. The stakes and interests of a circular economy are multiple, particularly concerning food production capacities. Indeed, one of the long-term effects of climate change is the weakening of our capacity to produce field crops (corn, rice, wheat, etc.). By 2050, wheat production is expected to decline by 42%**.
Faced with growing demographics, it is therefore absolutely necessary to develop more efficient and sustainable production methods.