Blog post by: Karun Tyagi

As environmental sustainability issues continue to expand, people are becoming more conscious of the need to decrease trash and improve recycling. Yet, recycling may not be sufficient to ensure a sustainable future. This is where the circular economy notion comes in. This article will discuss the distinction between recycling and a circular economy, as well as why the latter is a more comprehensive approach to sustainability.

Recycling is the conversion of waste goods into new products. It involves the collection and sorting of materials, their transformation into new materials, and the production of new goods from these materials. Recycling is a crucial component of waste management since it helps to limit the quantity of trash that is sent to landfills and incinerators. Unfortunately, there are limitations to recycling. It is a linear process in which trash continues to be generated and resources continue to be used. In addition, the quality of the recycled material may deteriorate with time, resulting in a decrease in the amount of material that may be recycled.

In contrast, a circular economy offers a more holistic approach to sustainability. In a circular economy, resources are utilised for as long as feasible and waste is reduced to a minimum. The objective is to develop a closed-loop system in which items are created to be reused, mended, and recycled at the end of their life cycle. This strategy necessitates a fundamental shift in how we design, manufacture, and consume items.

There are various benefits to a circular economy. It can aid in waste reduction, resource conservation, and greenhouse gas emission reduction. It can also generate new economic possibilities and jobs and strengthen supply chain resilience.

The fashion industry is one of the most polluting industries in the world, with a significant environmental impact due to the high consumption of resources, production of waste, and greenhouse gas emissions.

Growth of clothing sales and decline in clothing utilisation since 2000. Source: Ellen MacArthur Foundation. Image: Ellen MacArthur Foundation

In the fashion industry, recycling entails transforming waste materials such as textiles, plastic, and metal into new items. For instance, old clothing can be recycled into new fabrics, and plastic bottles into polyester fabric. Recycling is essential to minimising waste and saving resources. Yet, it has limitations. Recycling is a linear process, and the recycled material’s quality may diminish with time, resulting in a decrease in the amount of material that may be recycled.

Circular fashion is a innovative approach to the fashion industry that focuses on waste reduction, resource conservation, and environmental impact reduction. The first key point of circular fashion is to design products with durability and recyclability in mind. The fashion industry can drastically reduce its environmental impact by using fewer materials, reducing waste, and designing products that can be recycled. The second critical point is to remove non-recyclable and polluting materials from the supply chain. This includes finding environmentally friendly alternatives to traditional materials and avoiding the use of toxic materials. Another important aspect of circular fashion is capturing and reusing all resources. The industry can reduce waste and conserve resources by repurposing materials and keeping them in use for as long as possible. Implementing collection schemes and repurposing materials ensures that materials are used and reused for as long as possible, including restoring recycled materials to “good as new” condition. Finally, any unavoidable waste must be returned to nature in a safe manner that does not harm the environment or natural ecosystems.

The concept of “cradle to cradle” design is one of the core principles of a circular economy in the fashion industry. This indicates that products are designed to be 100 percent recyclable and created from renewable resources. For instance, a product may be constructed so that its components can be disassembled and reused or recycled. This not only decreases waste, but also the demand for new materials.

“Closing the loop” is another principle of a circular economy in the fashion business. Creating a system in which waste from one process is used as the raw material for another process. Textile waste, for instance, can be recycled into new fabrics, and old clothing can be reused into new goods. Not only does this eliminate waste, but it also conserves resources.

There are various benefits of a circular economy in the fashion sector. It can aid in waste reduction, resource conservation, and greenhouse gas emission reduction. It can also generate new economic possibilities and jobs and strengthen supply chain resilience.

Finally, while recycling is an important part of waste management in the fashion industry, it is insufficient to ensure a sustainable future. A circular economy is a broader approach to sustainability in the fashion industry that reduces waste and keeps resources in use for as long as possible. We can create a more sustainable future for ourselves and future generations by designing clothes that can be reused, repaired, and recycled and by developing closed-loop systems. Consumers may influence the fashion industry by demanding sustainable practises and supporting circular fashion.