The Resource Revolution: What it is and why we should care

Business Recycling

With floods and heavy rains quadrupling since 1980, wildlife populations dropping by 60% in 40 years, and carbon dioxide levels at a 3 million year high, planet earth is clearly in the midst of a crisis.

Circular Economy - Resourceful RecyclingIt’s running out of water, land and oil (plus a whole host of other natural resources) at the same time as our population continues to age and grow. In business terms, this means supply is unable to meet demand, and we’re putting a huge amount of pressure on our planet’s finite resources and the environment. There really is no planet B, so we need to take urgent action to change things and protect the world we live on. Welcome to the resource revolution.

What is the resource revolution?

Essentially, the resource revolution is about changing the way we think about waste. At the moment, a lot of waste material is going to landfill and just sitting there. But much of that waste actually has a huge amount of potential and can be used over and over again. Considering we’re running out of resources on earth, this is very good news. Our waste is basically an untapped resource. And, by thinking of and using it this way, we can create a circular economy, where we use materials, recycle them and then use them all over again. To make this work effectively, and as outlined by WRAP UK, we need to:

  • Re-invent the way we design, produce and sell products
  • Re-think how we use and consume products
  • Re-define what is possible through re-use and recycling

How does this work in practice?

Let’s take clothing as an example.

  • Firstly, we need to re-invent how clothes are designed and produced to reduce carbon, water and waste.
  • Secondly, we need to re-think how we value clothing, moving away from a throwaway culture to using and keeping clothes for longer.
  • Thirdly, we need to re-define what is possible when we utilise re-use and recycling to their fullest.

What are the benefits?

By thinking carefully about how we produce products, using them sustainably, and reusing or recycling them, we can create a circular economy, which will:

  • Reduce greenhouse gas emissions and pollution
  • Reduce pressure on the environment
  • Conserve the earth’s raw materials
  • Create healthier air, soil and water systems
  • Protect wildlife and human health
  • Avoid environmental damage caused by resource extraction
  • Help to reduce climate change

And those are just the environmental benefits.

So, are you joining us? #ResourceRevolution

SHARE:

Previous Post
How to turn litter on a beach into endless cups of tea
Next Post
8 reasons why responsible recycling is good for business