ABSTRACT
In the UK, the Waste Resources Action Programme estimates that 540 million tonnes of resources entered the economy in 2010, and nearly half of that is left to be managed as waste, with only half of that being recycled. Businesses and industries that move to a more circular economy should reap important benefits if they embrace the concepts fully: careful management of materials and resources will help to save money through closer links with the supply chain and a better understanding of resource risks. The shift to a more circular economy is happening, with manufacturers seeing the benefits and offering new products and services, including some within the construction industry. Consumer products are also relatively short-lived, so designing them for remanufacture or reprocessing will pay back in a few years, and new financial models can help to secure longer-lasting relationships with customers.
