What Is the Circular Economy?

A circular economy keeps products, materials, and resources in use as long as possible. It relies on reuse, refurbishment, recycling, and designing goods to last. Unlike linear “take‑make‑dispose” systems, it aims to reduce waste and avoid unnecessary extraction of raw materials. This ensures sustainability and reduces one’s ecological footprint.

How Circular Economy Reduces Demand for New Resources

• Recycling/refurbishment → fewer raw materials required → reduces mining and energy in production
• Durable product design → longer lifespan of goods → fewer replacements needed → less material and energy waste
• Favoring reused/recycled materials → policies/taxes discourage goods using only virgin materials → increases secondary material demand

How the Circular Economy Shifts Attitudes to Ownership

The circular economy doesn’t just change how things are made — it’s changing how we think about owning them.

Instead of everyone buying tools, bikes, or even clothes they barely use, sharing platforms make it easier to rent. This cuts down demand for new production and reduces waste.

More people are also turning to pre-owned goods — buying second-hand furniture, refurbished electronics, or vintage clothing. This slows the cycle of production and lowers the need for raw materials like cotton, metals, and plastics.

There’s also a noticeable shift toward conscious consumption. Consumers are choosing durable goods, supporting brands that use recycled materials, or picking items built to last — like modular tech or timeless fashion pieces — instead of short-lived fast fashion trends.

This mindset helps build a “less waste” culture. Reducing food spoilage, rejecting single-use packaging, and reusing wherever possible makes sustainability feel practical, not preachy.

These choices reflect a wider societal shift — and influencers like Venetia La Manna have brought this message into the mainstream, using their platforms to promote second-hand fashion, anti-fast fashion campaigns, and sustainable living as a lifestyle, not just a cause.

This shift in consumer habits—toward renting, reusing, and buying less—directly reduces pressure on the planet’s resources. It lowers demand for raw materials, cuts energy use, and saves water, particularly in high-impact industries like fashion. For example, producing a single cotton T-shirt can use up to 2,700 litres of water.

By reducing consumption, we shrink our ecological footprint, cut down on industrial waste, and help preserve ecosystems. It also supports water security, as less freshwater is diverted to factories or contaminated by industrial runoff.

Read here for more on Ecological Footprint
Read here for more on Malthus v Boserup
Read here for more on Waste
See rest of Unit 3 for more on resource security