How the Circular Economy can tangibly benefit society

While the circular economy is typically thought of in terms of companies optimising operationally, finding ways to reuse and further monetise materials, thus accruing ecological and financial benefits - we are finding it can have a clear, tangible impact on society as well. It’s all interconnected. 

We recently had the pleasure of interviewing Michael Cook, the infectiously energetic CEO of Circular Communities Scotland, whose organisation is helping support that potential, in a variety of ways. Many of which can easily be replicated in your corner of the world. It was a podcast full to the brim with inspired ideas, insights and examples, which we invite you to listen in, read the full transcript and glean the further resources to follow up on here. 

There were several aspects that left us keen to discuss further, something we will be doing in future episodes of HappyPorch Radio. 

Meanwhile, here are some of the key moments: 

Michael, whose organisation serves to connect, activate and support third sector organisations, that is those in the charitable, social enterprise and community group space, is noticing an interesting evolution taking place in Scotland. One which we can imagine is happening elsewhere as well: Organisations beyond those of an explicitly environmental orientation are being drawn to play their part in addressing climate change, often using circular approaches. 

And as pointed out, doing so via resale and reuse can also have the knock on effect of funding the broader initiatives of said organisation.

While he’s finding there is increasing momentum behind reuse and repair facilities, he recognises the broader public isn’t quite there yet:

"…if you ask the average person on the street in Scotland, and I think elsewhere as well, you know what's the best thing you can do with your old clothes, computers, furniture?

I think they might say, recycle it. And our view would be, well, that's better than landfill and incineration, but it's not as good as reusing it. It's not good as repairing it, if it's broken for either people or planet. And so we've come some way on that, but there's a need to go further."

Beyond the ecological benefits, the financial was made stunningly clear when he shared that RReuse, an international network representing social enterprises active in re-use, repair and recycling, found that for every 10,000 tonnes of waste products and materials, 1 job would be created if incineration were used compared to 6 jobs in landfill, 36 jobs in recycling, and up to 296 in refurbishment and re-use.

Illuminating the twin benefit to economy and society, Michael makes a link worth noting:

“If you think about an incineration job or a landfill job versus a repair and reuse job, those jobs are more skilled, higher up the waste hierarchy. They're more local, as in, they're more likely to be in the local high street that has suffered in recent years. A Repair Cafe would be there.

Manufacturing jobs are more likely to be abroad. So it keeps it in Scotland. It's a totally false choice to choose between the environment and people.”

Michael doesn’t mince words when he says,

“You can't solve climate change without people. It's our collective behaviours that have caused it.”

But he doesn’t leave it merely at that. Circular Communities Scotland, started 20 years ago as primarily a recycling oriented organisation, has evolved to encompass a social and circular aspect. In the process the last 5 years has seen their membership more than double, from 115 to 262 organisations. 

This isn’t just happenstance, according to Michael:

“…there's much more awareness about climate change in society at the moment…the story of the last five years has been a growing consensus, until maybe more recently, on climate change, a desire that people have to do something locally about it, and not just see it as a global problem out there, but actually something (happening here), what can we do about it? And the circular economy is one response.”

One of the potent areas we as individuals can reduce our impact is in the amount of things we own, which could be collectively used to much greater effect, thus reducing the resource and energy use of manufacturing products that largely go unused by a single owner. The famous example of this being a drill, which Michael shared research has shown gets used an average of 13 minutes in its lifetime. While there is the direct impact of that same drill being put to use in a lending library, perhaps 100 times a year, there is a further, social impact that he sees:

“Then as well as getting what I need, we're also going into a place where they might have some expertise on DIY. They might be able to help me if I'm lonely or new to the area. A lot of people are putting shelves up when they move to an area. There's some social benefits of connecting with my community, and having that tool library in that area, it's actually going to give some resilience against climate change.”

In another example of how circular initiatives can have far reaching, varied impacts, he shares about Bikes For Refugees: 

“Bikes are fantastic in so many ways, and the reused bike is even better than a new one, because, on the one hand, it is a method of transport, but it is also something that's good for your physical, mental health. It's also something that might help you keep a job, get to an interview, keep the job when you're getting there.

During COVID, lots of people wanted to use bikes instead of public transport, for example. And there were bikes given to carers and people like that. 

But what starts off as a conversation about one material, one product, a bike, can quickly become a conversation about, again, networking within your community, how to stay fit and look after your mental health.”

A key aspect of activating your local impact as Michael sees it is community visits among member organisations. This allows those that are further down the line than others to support them with their knowledge, insight, successes and failures. 

“We have a bias for hosting events at one of our member (organisations). Then, you're not just talking about it, you also can go do a tour and walk around and see the work that they do. While a picture paints 1000 words, a visit paints 10,000.”

Michael drives home the necessity of transitioning to a circular economy as much as possible when he shares that Zero Waste Scotland found that 82% of the country’s carbon footprint comes from, in effect, consumption - the things and services we buy. 

What does he see as a potent, direct way to stem that tide? 

“That means a repair project on every high street. It means a sharing library on every high street. It means a reuse shop within driving or public transport from where you are or to collect. Make the collections really easy.”

In a nod to the turbulent times we find ourselves in, he sounds a cautious but optimistic note:

“I think we can't really afford, the planet can't really afford climate change to be a left/right thing. It can't. And sadly, I think that is a real risk at the moment, seeing as what's happening over the Atlantic and things like that. It’s everyone's home, and the science is pretty irrefutable. 

So we need to get beyond what we disagree on, think about what we do agree on, and make sure that we are making changes with a pace and an ambition that is commensurate with the size of the crisis and the problem. 

And I do think the circular economy can help with that, because it is also so self-evidently good for people.”

Sound advice indeed.

Finally, while Michael’s organisation is Scotland focused, he himself is by no means solely domestically focused - actively inviting those of you from elsewhere in the world to come see what they’re doing, getting inspired, motivated and full of resources to make a tangible impact on numerous levels in your country. 

There is so much more to be gleaned from this conversation. We invite you to visit the episode’s dedicated page.