There should always be a way to re-use and recycle things
Here’s what needs to change
The world’s resources are limited.
But we are living as if they weren’t. Global demand for resources is increasing every year.
Our consumption and waste in Europe is unsustainable
We consume too many resources in the form of everyday products, plastics, wood or metals, which we are too quick to discard. We then consume new materials to replace what we have thrown away, generating ever more waste.
Our lifestyle has a major impact on the environment
But there is huge economic potential if we change the way we do things
Think of the precious metals in your phone and how they could be re-used instead of thrown away
Moving towards a circular economy
Instead of the make – use – throw away model which began with the Industrial Revolution, we can move to a circular economy where materials are continuously being re-used and recycled. To do this, we have to design our products so that they last longer, and are more repairable, re-usable and recyclable.
Increasing how much we re-use and recycle will reduce the amount of material we send to landfill or incineration and move us towards a zero-waste society.