In light of finite resources and the discussion of climate change, the buzzword "circular economy" is often thrown around. But what exactly is it? In this article, we'll explain what this alternative to the throwaway society is all about and where NIKIN is already taking a "circular" approach.
The term "circular economy" has increasingly attracted public attention in recent years, especially as industry and consumers become increasingly aware of the impacts of growing consumption. The European Parliament estimates that the production of everyday goods accounts for 45% of CO2 emissions. But what exactly is a circular economy?
What is circular economy?
A circular economy refers to systems in which products are not simply consumed and disposed of . Instead, products are maintained or repaired as often as possible and, at the end of their lifespan, disassembled into their components and recycled. Such an economy requires a paradigm shift in several areas compared to the linear economy.
Circular economy affects all areas
For a circular economy to be worthy of its name, different standards must apply right from the design stage. Currently, the lifespan of most consumer goods is limited. From cars to hand mixers, many things break down within a certain period of time – so that the customer buys a newer model. A shift towards goods that can be modified and repaired is needed here. Community use via sharing concepts, such as car or bike sharing, is also part of the circular mindset. While this presents challenges for entrepreneurs, it also means foregoing global supply chains and their potential disruption later on. Even the perceived loss of revenue due to the lack of new product offerings can be compensated for by other services – software providers have long been leading the way in this.
What seems new today was once normal
In fact, with a willingness to rethink, a circular economy is probably easier to implement than advocates of linear economics would have us believe. One example is plastic bottles and their recycling. It used to be common practice for beverages to be sold in reusable glass bottles and crates. Those who needed drinks on the go used a multipurpose bottle .
Circular economy in the fashion world
A few decades ago, the fashion world was even more circular. While today "disposable fashion" is consumed and replaced within a few weeks, people used to buy durable, high-quality items. Clothes lasted for years, occasionally repaired or adjusted. Some department stores had their own tailoring services. A good pair of shoes would be resoled by a cobbler, but never thrown away. But this "re-usable" mentality is resurfacing. For example, the German startup Circular.fashion has created a Circularity.ID so that customers know where best to return their old clothing in the future. NIKIN is also striving to achieve more circular production and better use of resources on several levels.
We do that
We're not perfect, but we're moving in the right direction. We've already established processes and measures for a circular economy at various levels, including sales, design, collection, reuse, and repair. For detailed information, see the graphic above. Our newest collection, the Reuse Collection, which goes online on September 14, is also partially made from recycled waste materials from older production processes, symbolizing a more conscious use of our resources and goods.
You can find the Reuse Collection online in our webshop starting Tuesday, September 14, 2021. Stay tuned: next week, you'll also find an interview with expert Prof. Dr. Tobias Stucki on the circular economy in the blog, as well as an article with tips and tricks on how to make your everyday life more circular.
