Circular economy is an approach to be adopted which, when applied, eliminates waste and reuses resources cyclically. With this in mind, how can businesses utilise the circular economy for the benefit of people and the planet?
As part of a study published in 2015 with the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, McKinsey discovered that adopting a regenerative approach such as the circular economy could boost Europe’s resource productivity by 3 percent by 2030, generating cost savings of €600 billion a year and €1.8 trillion more in other economic benefits.
Certainly, the circular economy has shown significant prospects in recent years, no doubt for these tangible economic advantages and other benefits including reduced pressure on the environment, greater innovation and lower emissions.
When it comes to the construction industry, the circular economy is an alluring method that will displace the current ‘throw it away’ culture for a long-term solution that offers ample value. According to DEFRA’s (Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs) 2018 edition of the 2014 UK Statistics on Waste, the UK generated 202.8 million tonnes of waste. Construction, demolition and excavation (CDE) was responsible for 59% of the UK’s 202.8 million tonnes of waste.
Be realistic
Many businesses are starting to take important steps to be more sustainable. But, in order to continue on this trajectory and maximise productivity, efficiency and innovation are key. Tarkett is committed to changing the game with circular economy and has implemented an eco-innovation strategy based on Cradle to Cradle® principles, fully aligned with a Tarkett Human-Conscious Design™ approach. Circular products are a cornerstone of Tarkett’s ‘Recyclable. Endlessly’ strategy, a focused campaign that illustrates the positive impact recyclable products have on nature.
This strategy has been filtered down to product innovation. The DESSO Serene & Serene Colour Carpet Tile collection provide a truly sustainable answer. They are made with 100% regenerated ECONYL® yarn, and at the end of their lifecycle are 100% recyclable in Tarkett’s own carpet recycling centre – the first of its kind in Europe. The tiles also come with Tarkett’s EcoBase® backing as standard, which contains upcycled chalk sourced from local water providers and has achieved a Cradle to Cradle Certified™ Silver level. A recent paper ‘Climate benefits from recycling of floor waste fractions’ published by Tarkett Nordic has quantified the tangible benefits of recycling. From recycling 1 sqm of Serene Carpet Tiles, around 10.kg of CO2 eq/sqm can be saved.
Many businesses across individual construction sectors can utilise a long-term solution, such as the circular economy, to be greener – for their benefit and the planet’s. The key ingredients when it comes to adopting circular economy are creativity, collaboration and efficiency. Moving forward, these aspects will be crucial to making its implementation a reality.