“There is no such thing as ‘away’. When we throw anything away it must go somewhere.” – Annie Leonard
Hello, eco-warriors! ?? Welcome to the 8th edition of Maverick Musings.
Ever bought a shirt and then another, only to forget the old one exists?
Imagine if your wardrobe had a magical rule: for every new shirt you get, the old one transforms into something else useful - maybe socks or even a tie.
That's the circular economy for you; a world where nothing goes to waste and everything gets a makeover!
Our home, Planet Earth, is at a tipping point. For over two centuries, our "extract-use-discard" economic formula has boomed our world's wealth, but it's like binge-eating sweets - feels great now, but the health bill is looming.
See, our planet's pantry isn’t endless. We've already overstretched her resources and the trash we’ve piled up in the process is alarming. It's not doomsday yet, but the #countdown has begun.
Circular Economy, it's not just a posh phrase for recycling. Imagine a economy, where instead of tossing things, they get reintroduced, rejuvenated, and repurposed.
Circular economy according to the Ellen MacArthur Foundation means:
- No More Waste: Nature isn't a trash can. The circular economy seeks to mimic this ‘zero-waste’ approach by redesigning products, systems and services.
- Maximize Use: Throwing away something still useful? Think again. We're shooting ourselves in the foot. Extending the life cycles of materials and products for as long as possible is the way.
- Regenerate natural systems: If we play our cards right, Earth can recover. It’s about harmonizing with the environment and aiding its natural healing process. Working in unison with nature to build sustainable and sensible products is the need.
First stop, mastering Green skills
- Skill 1: Waste Auditing By understanding what's being thrown away, you can identify opportunities to reintroduce items back into the economy. For instance, turning waste fabrics into handicrafts or accessories. The next big design could be lying in your bin! Here's a simple way for you to do it: Gather a small team and pick a day to examine the waste from a few households or a local event. Using gloves, sort the trash into categories like 'plastic,' 'organic,' 'paper,' and 'others.' Tally up the items in each category. This will show what's being wasted most. With these insights, the community can then think of ways to reduce certain types of waste, like starting a segregation project for recycling. This skill is a must to work with communities in building awareness and reducing plastic waste.
- Skill 2: Eco-designing Design products that last longer, can be recycled, or easily refurbished. Think of the last phone you discarded. What if it was designed to upgrade individual parts rather than replacing the whole thing? Time to think, design, and repeat!Take the example of eco-designing for event decorations. Could be a skill you could have. For a community program, consider using biodegradable or reusable materials. Start by collecting fallen leaves and branches to create rustic centerpieces. Instead of plastic banners, use cloth or jute as a backdrop and paint event details using water-based paints. Light up the area with LED candles or solar-powered lanterns to save energy. Tables can be draped with fabric made from organic cotton or bamboo fibres, and chairs can be adorned with bows made from natural twine. For seating markers, paint on smooth stones or write names on large leaves with a fine-tip marker. Mastering this skill can be helpful to show off your amazing skill sets as an eco-warrior.
Keep an eye on these opportunities to make your mark.
- The CO2 Foundation is offering an exciting opportunity for leaders dedicated to climate change education and resilience. With grant funding ranging from $25k to $100k, the initiative aims to amplify efforts that elucidate the ties between extreme weather events and climate change. It seeks to support projects that address the distinct risks faced by various global communities, championing endeavours that lay out strategies for both effective response and bolstering resilience. Applications are open internationally until the 15th of October 2023.
- The Nature Conservatory's 2023 Global Photo Contest is now open until September 29! Calling all environment-loving photographers: Here's your chance to share your unique perspective with a global audience.
- Fairphone - The nostalgia of Nokia phones from the late '90s is undeniable. Their durability and long-lasting battery life meant they remained in users' hands for extended periods. However, the emergence of the iPhone and its aesthetic appeal soon overshadowed Nokia's robustness, rendering it obsolete in public perception. The rapid progression of newer models ignited a global trend of discarding phones prematurely, leading to over 50m tonnes of electronic waste in 2019 alone. Enter Fairphone, the sustainable solution to electronic waste. Conceived by Bas van Abel, Tessa Wernink, and Miquel Ballester, Fairphone is an example of environmental consciousness and ethical manufacturing. Distinguishing itself with a modular design, Fairphone ensures that its users can easily repair their devices, replace particular parts of the phone, and upgrade with new features thus extending their lifespan.
- OLIO Saving food from reaching landfills Each year, the world witnesses the alarming wastage of 1.3 billion tonnes of food, which amounts to a third of all global production. Recognizing this disturbing disparity in a world with persistent hunger, Tessa Clarke and Saasha Celestial-One co-founded Olio. This ingenious app, born from Clarke's personal dilemma of discarding usable food, offers a platform where users can list and share surplus food items. Through Olio, community volunteers then step in to redistribute these items, not only curbing food waste but also fostering community bonding and reducing carbon footprints associated with additional grocery trips.39 innovations bringing circular economy solutions
- Ellen MacArthur Foundation Launches Database of Circular Startups. The Index is searchable by geography and industry, and features startups that are part of the Foundation’s global community. Each has been selected for incorporating one or more principles of a circular economy into its business proposition.
- China's electric car surge, initially fueled by subsidies, has resulted in numerous city lots overrun with unused and obsolete battery-powered vehicles, turning them into unintended green graveyards.Read here.
A few insights from our CEO
Have you heard about the centennial light bulb? It's a light bulb turned on in 1901 and still works today! But in contrast, the products we use today are designed to have a limited lifespan. This practice is known as planned obsolescence ............
Click the link to read more!
The Circle of Life isn't just a catchy song; it's a philosophy. By building a circular economy, we're ensuring a brighter, sustainable future.
Every little change in your life counts. Start by reusing more, buying products made to last, and always thinking twice before tossing something away.
As we close this edition, remember - our world doesn't need more 'stuff'; it needs more stewards. Until next time, keep the cycle going!
Until the next swirl of eco-inspiration, The SUSTERA Team
