Sustainability is a frame of mind. It’s a whole-system view of life on this earth and the intersection of social equity, economic vitality and the environment. 

It is achieved not just by incremental changes on an individual level, but as a whole-system, earth-wide switch in how we use and consume products, and what we do with them when they reach the end of their lifespan. 

It’s a cradle-to-cradle concept and is fundamental to how we create the products we need. 

Reducing waste

According to the U.S. EPA, the total generation of municipal solid waste in 2018 was 292.4 million tons or 4.9 pounds per person per day. (2018 is the most recent set of data that has been analyzed.)

According to the European Parliament, the European Union produces more than 2.2 billion tonnes of waste every year. A tonne equals approximately 1.1 U.S. tons. 

The population of the E.U. is 448 million, and the population of the United States is 333.3 million.

The United States is considered to have the highest average generation of waste in the world. But here, the European Union reports 2.2 billion tonnes of waste produced annually while the U.S. reports that it produced 292.4 million tons. 

Either way, it is a heck of a lot of waste. So much so that the European Parliament is currently updating its legislation on waste management to promote a shift to a more sustainable model known as the circular economy, with a target of 60 percent of its waste included by 2050.

What is a circular economy?

The circular economy is a model of production and consumption. It involves sharing, leasing, reusing, repairing, refurbishing and recycling existing materials and products as long as possible. In this way, the life cycle of products is extended. (See graphic at right.) 

In the production of products, it imagines and designs an after-use. This is the opposite of planned obsolescence and a departure from the current linear economic model, which is based on a take-make-consume-throw away pattern. 

The linear model relies on using an abundance of raw materials and endless space to throw products away. 

In a circular economy, waste is reduced to a minimum. When a product reaches the end of its life, its materials are kept within the economy wherever possible by recycling. These can be productively used again and again, thereby creating further value. 

Going beyond waste

Changing the paradigm of take, use and throw away, and moving toward a circular economy, is a transformation of mindset, the intention to use less, creative product design and effective recycling.

Additionally, moving toward a more circular economy increases competitiveness, stimulates innovation, boosts economic growth and creates jobs. Consumers are provided with more durable and innovative products that increase the quality of life and save money and landfill space in the long term.

In this section, we explore the fundamentals of recycling in the area and a growing awareness of the systemic changes needed to make this switch.

Resouces:

www.europarl.europa.eu/topics/en/topic/circular-economy

multimedia.europarl.europa.eu/en/video/v_V007-0034 

www.epa.gov/facts-and-figures-about-materials-waste-and-recycling