The circular economy: a step towards a responsible economy

The circular economy is a model that emanates from a fight between the desire to preserve the environment and the prioritization of profit. The circular economy combines the two by offering economic gains while protecting the environment.

To understand the circular economy as a whole, you have to distinguish it from today’s economy, which is a linear economy. A simple scheme that translates into the use of materials, to make products that will be consumed and then discarded. In linear economy, waste has no value. The circular economy, on the other hand, tries to ensure that this waste in question becomes resources.

According to calculations by the Global Footprint Network (GFN), humanity is using 74% more than the planet’s ecosystems can regenerate, the equivalent of the resources that “1.7 Earth” would produce in a year. July 29, 2021, corresponds to the day when humanity will have used as many biological resources as the Earth can regenerate in a year, estimates the NGO.

The only solution that will be able to respond to this problem is to adopt the circular economy model, thus relying on the recycling and reuse more of the materials that generate the most emissions (steel, plastic, ‘aluminum and cement …)

A new plan has been adopted by the European Commission with new perspectives and with the main objective of carbon neutrality by 2050. This plan, which is part of the Green Deal for Europe launched at the end of 2019, continues and strengthens the action of Brussels in favor of the circular economy. 

1 – Basic migration to this new economic model

The circular economy is a concept that emerged at the start of the 21st century; it appears as a model for implementing sustainable development. The circular economy is the very basis of the new operating model of our economies for the future. It aims to increase the efficiency of resource use and decrease pollution and our impact on the environment. To implement this new approach, it is elementary to completely redesign the products, services and offers. Products must be able to be repaired, disassembled and recycled, in order to extend their lifespan. The promises of this economy are to reduce environmental impacts and create economic wealth through lower cost production.

The circular economy remains an ideal alternative, but far from being unrealistic.

The complexity of the latter lies in its implementation on a large scale and yet leading manufacturers have joined in, such as Renault and Suez Environment.

In a Renault subsidiary, 350,000 end-of-life vehicles are dismantled each year and 95% of them find a second life.  

The Michelin Company is also part of a circular economy approach in order to develop sustainable mobility to meet the challenge of climate change. The circular economy is at the heart of their strategy; they reuse materials, recycle all end-of-life tires and integrate renewable materials into their production. The goal is to save fuel and limit CO2 emissions into the atmosphere. 

2 – Industrial ecology and circular economy

The essence of industrial ecology is “zero pollution”, making more money while generating growth. The principle is to use our industrial waste as raw material deposits and to consider them as opportunities. The goal is to revolutionize industrial chains and make one factory’s waste, another’s purchases. This is the whole basis of the circular economy.

Today, manufacturers must review their entire purchasing behavior by turning to recycled products rather than new products. Or by injecting parts intended for disposal into recycling and reuse circuits. The interest of this economy is to link economic development and sustainable development. To integrate into this approach, manufacturers must create processes so that their waste can be reused and / or recycled. 

3 – EcoSpare in the circular economy

According to ADEME: “The extension of the duration of use by the consumer leads to recourse to repair, second-hand sale or donation, or second-hand purchase in the context of reuse. “Today it is in exceptional cases that we use industrial waste as a resource, and at EcoSpare we want this exception to become a rule in the modern economy.

This is the mechanism that we try to apply in the industrial world. This is already a reality on our “Spare-Place.com” Marketplace. It allows manufacturers to buy and sell their electrical, control and automation spare parts easily, simply and quickly. The aim is to limit the waste of immobilized components, regardless of their phase of life: in progress, at the end of the commercialization, or in obsolescence. Below is the diagram of this process, according to the “4Rs” of EcoSpare.

Circular economy model according to Ecospare’s “4Rs”

1 – Recover 

Obsolete or used equipment constituting unused or dead stock is collected directly by us or by our professional sellers.

2 – Refurbish 

The recovered products are tested and refurbished by us or by our professional sellers. A guarantee is assigned to each product.

3 – Upgrade

The products are sold on the marketplace by professional sellers or directly by manufacturers.

4 – Reuse 

The products are sold for reuse and to live a second life.

Extending the duration of use is part of this notion of circular economy. Spare-place is part of this approach by giving industrial parts a second life. Its mission is to guarantee the availability, reliability and accessibility of these products, thus allowing manufacturers to make a financial gain while strengthening their ecological commitments.

To conclude, the circular economy wants to achieve a new economic model. Better consumption of resources and better management of our waste would lead to more growth while reducing the impact on our environment. Each company must unite and get involved in this circular economy approach for the next generations and the future of our planet.