A circular economy could reduce emissions and industrial waste up to 99%

Think twice about manufacturing industrial products. Treating them at the end of life could generate significant environmental, social and economic benefits, according to a new report of the International Resource Panel of the UN Environment.

Once the products have been rebuilt, reconditioned, repaired and reused, the quantity of new raw material needed could be considerably reduced: 80-98% for the manufacture, 82-99% for a complete restoration and 94-99% for the repairs.

According to the report published as part of the World Circular Economy Forum being held in Yokohama, Japan, the adoption of these "value retention processes" could also reduce emissions from greenhouse gases in 79 and 99%.

The retention of value at all times of products, components and resources is at the heart of the so-called "circular economy", that is, an economy that places zero waste. On the contrary, the linear economy consists of "take, produce, throw".

The sectors examined in the Panel Report are auto parts, heavy duty machines (eg, excavators) and industrial printing equipment. But there is also considerable potential beyond these sectors.

Today, two-thirds of us live in cities and we take from nature the materials we need to build homes, schools, hospitals, roads, transportation systems and factories. Urbanization, combined with the growth of the middle clbad, has increased the demand for consumer goods. In the 20th century, we excavated, cut, drilled or harvested 34 times more building materials, 27 times more minerals, 12 times more fossil fuels and 3.6 times more biombad than in previous years.

"We use the planet's resources faster than they can be replaced, while contaminating our seas, our air and our landscapes with the waste from our consuming habits," said Erik Solheim, director. United Nations Executive Secretary for the Environment

The adoption of value retention processes can be beneficial for governments, the sector and customers. Governments would have less waste to manage and could generate green jobs and stimulate economic growth; the industry could reduce production costs, avoid resource limitations in business growth and open up new market segments; while customers could benefit from lower prices for refurbished products.

Although there is no single recipe for all, applied strategically and systematically, the adoption of value preservation process can accelerate a country towards a circular economy: increased production, without negative impact on the environment.