Smart Economy

Altering the model of use and throw with repair-reuse-recycle and ultimately reduce

Looking beyond the current take-make-waste extractive industrial model, a circular economy aims to redefine growth, focusing on positive society-wide benefits. Underpinned by a transition to renewable energy sources, the circular model builds economic, natural, and social capital based on three principles: design out waste and pollution, keep products and materials in use, and regenerate natural systems.

It entails gradually decoupling economic activity from the consumption of finite resources, and designing waste out of the system

In the Indian context, it implies not only design innovation and new technology but also, recovering traditions that are being increasingly forgotten. They could range from the ubiquitous neighbourhood cobbler to rafugaars (those who repair clothes), to women who use otherwise ‘useless’ parts of fruit and vegetables to cook. Most of all, the Circular Economy requires the middle class and above to simply have less and make it last more.