Building Blocks of a Circular Economy

Across our planet, the consumption of finite natural resources is placing a large strain on the environment, with changing geopolitical dynamics adding new dimensions to the challenge.

- CHANDRAJIT BANERJEE

Waste accumulation is an equally significant challenge and a search for solutions has led to an increasing interest in and a move towards the principles of circular economy.

Where plastics are concerned, there is a fine line to be traversed, because they are valuable and extremely useful materials, but easily accessible and low-priced enough to be poorly managed at the end-of-life stage. Municipal solid waste generation is predicted to almost double by 2050 from 2.1bn tonne in 2023, with an associated direct cost of waste management estimated at $252bn (UNEP Global Waste Management Outlook 2024).

Projections suggest that adopting a circular economy model, in which waste generation and economic growth are decoupled could help manage this waste. Strategies such as avoiding waste generation, sustainable business practices and full waste management underpin circularity and bring added economic and social value by creating livelihoods and employment opportunities.

A Persistent Problem

Circular approaches include bans, such as those on single-use plastic, which the Government of India has put in place, or targets for recycling and use of recycled content, such as those notified in the Extended Producer Responsibility Guidelines of the Plastic Waste Management Rules. Backed and complemented by the Swachh Bharat Mission, these are commendable first steps towards building a circular economy for plastics in India.