The Circular Economy (CE) embodies a comprehensive strategy for advancing socio-economic prosperity by optimizing resource efficiency and advocating sustainable production and consumption methods. It seeks to foster economic growth by extending the lifespan of products, materials, and resources within the economy, consequently mitigating the societal and environmental impacts associated with the linear economic model.
Context
The old way of 'take, make, and throw away' is not sustainable in a world with finite resources. In 2022, at the United Nations Environment Assembly, a resolution focused on 'Enhancing the Circular Economy' was adopted. It stressed the need to change how we manage resources, consume, and produce goods. The shift to a circular economy, which promotes reusing and recycling, is seen as a way to support sustainable consumption and production. This concept is now part of a global strategy aimed at achieving international goals like the Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Agreement. In Mauritius too, we need to adopt a circular economy model to conserve resources, reduce environmental impact, and rethink our approach to economic growth. This means finding ways to keep the value of products and materials for as long as possible. It operates at different levels, from individuals to governments, and involves:
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Key sectors driving circular economy adoption include:Construction sector: A major driver due to its large environmental footprint and resource consumption. Circular design, modular construction, and material reuse are key strategies here. Focused on reducing waste, resource consumption, and promoting deconstruction and reuse of building materials. Manufacturing sector: Particularly consumer electronics, packaging, and industrial goods manufacturing, focused on reducing waste and boosting resource efficiency. Textile sector: With regulatory incentives and increasing market demand pushing circular practices like recycling and sustainable production. ICT and electronics sector: Embracing digital technologies enabling circular models and resource management. Agriculture and food sector: Targeting reduction in food waste and sustainable production techniques. Energy sector: Central to powering a circular economy with sustainable energy sources. Focusing on renewables and efficient resource use. Waste management and environmental services sectors: Acting as enablers for circular processes through recycling and recovery. Mobility and transport: Shifting towards sustainable and shared transportation models. These sectors are among the main drivers for transition, supported by regulatory frameworks, innovation, and increasing market opportunities.They are interconnected with strategies such as sustainable design, re-use, recycling, and new business models enhancing resource efficiency and reducing waste across industries. | ||
Definitions - as per the Waste Management and Resource Recovery Act 2023“circular economy” means an economy in which natural resources are conserved and the environmental load is reduced as far as possible by –
“circulative resources” means resources which can be extracted from waste materials for the purpose of recirculating them in the economy through the process of reduction, reuse, recycling or recovery; | ||
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