Look to the circular economy for ‘new’ answers

Repair cafés are just one way to keep items in use for longer.

Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. So in striving to boost flagging economic growth, we should not simply revert to the economics of deregulation; of free trade in a world that has strikingly changed; of productivity gains from automation. Instead, we need to look at new economic models that are sustainable.

The incredible power behind the idea of a circular economy is that it would effectively separate economic growth from resource usage, by reducing our dependency on extracting raw materials and burning fossil fuels.

Turning the linear economy around

We know that our linear ‘take-make-consume-dispose’ way of life is unsustainable. In a circular economy, we would not necessarily need to consume more stuff for the economy to grow and, conversely, could stop consuming stuff without fear of economic decline.

What’s the magic? Industries and cities would redesign the way they work on circular principles by reducing materials, waste and pollution during the upfront stage of product development and infrastructure design; companies would create new revenue streams by remanufacturing and offering services instead of selling products; organisations and individuals would seize the possibilities to reduce, repair and reuse, profiting from making more from less.

A circular economy would be a boon for new, secure jobs too. Given all the interactions that can prolong the useful life of products and materials, being resourceful inevitably involves more people and creates new opportunities that cannot easily be automated.

Repair

As the Ellen MacArthur Foundation outlines, the quest to remake the places where we live would also support existing urban policies by encouraging more innovative urban economies and new forums for sharing and exchange. One vision for these new forums is captured by the Re-Action Collective: Alternative High Street is a space that champions repair, reuse, repurposing, sharing and upskilling. In the words of co-founder, Gavin Fernie-Jones:

“We reimagine public spaces as vibrant hubs of community interaction, building connections between individuals, promoting sustainable living practices and bringing life back to our high streets. Moving beyond the consumer towards the citizen.”

Even the biggest operations today are only scratching the surface of what’s possible. The Renew Hub is the country’s largest re-use operation: it’s a joint initiative between R4GM and SUEZ which takes items donated at recycling centres across Greater Manchester for repair before reselling them. As Dr Adam Read, Chief Sustainability at SUEZ UK, sees it:

“I’d like to think that in the next ten years or so we can get 50% of households doing reuse and repair on a regular basis so that it’s the norm. I think you’re going to see a huge swell of interest.

There’ll be far fewer items being discarded and shops like our Renew Hubs won’t just be at the recycling centre – they’ll be filling up empty spaces in the high street, providing people with skills and training opportunities and paying proper money for repair and upcycling work. This will be the economy of the future.”

What’s so exciting is that we have the potential of repairing something much bigger than a broken gadget. Together in our community, through our employers or in our role as public service providers, we can also help in mending our torn social fabric and in bringing our high streets back to life. Like the circular economy itself, ultimately making this happen is in our hands and comes back to us.

For more ideas, visit the big local action about repair and reuse.