Chances are, most things that currently surround you have been produced following the principles of the linear economy. From the clothes that you wear to the phone you carry and the packaging of your groceries - all of these were likely produced with just one life cycle in mind, from the moment that you bought them to the moment of their disposal.
Granted, reusable products are becoming more accessible and models for refurbishing, recycling, and reusing certain products are popular. However, the growth paradigm still abounds and is sustained by ongoing mass production and consumption on a global scale.
Prices are kept low for both manufacturers and consumers due to the high production volumes as well as the factoring out of negative externalities, including the enormous environmental impact of waste, pollution, and carbon emissions that are baked into the system.
Our current legal frameworks were developed to ensure that manufacturers internalise profits and externalise the cost of risks during the use of objects to the buyer, and end-of-life costs to society, namely the taxpayer , explains S ren Bauer, head of the Vienna-based NGO REVOLVE Circular.
Such a system can function as long as we do not overstretch the extraction of resources and do not manufacture objects made of synthetic materials, which are - quantitatively and qualitatively - outside nature's absorption capacity. But that is exactly what we have been doing for decades.
The circular economy aims to keep resources in play for as long as possible by focusing on higher resource efficiency. It's been heralded as holding the promise for systemic transformation of our society and the way to ease climate change, resource depletion and waste.
The European Commission has incorporated a circular economy action plan as one of the main building blocks of the European Green Deal. Many national governments - including China, Nigeria, and Ecuador - are developing their own strategies and roadmaps.
For journalists across several beats and in particular in relation to sustainability, the circular economy is likely something they have had to wrap their heads around.
Explainers on the overall concept are plentiful (and risk taking you down a rabbit hole), yet editors in particular prefer specific examples of the circular - or not so circular - economy in action.
Having covered the blue economy and marine environment extensively, Wanjohi Kabukuru, editor-in-chief at the Indian Ocean Observatory and an environmental reporter based in Kenya, sees a role for the media in storytelling and bringing the intellectually ambitious concept to life:
The circular economy has too few successes, and it is too shy on its narratives of triumph - the critical elements that secure front pages and build narratives. For the blue economy movement, the case of Rodrigues in the Mauritian Archipelago, where well-structured community initiatives turned the devastated flora and fauna of the small island into a biodiversity hotspot, tells such a powerful story.
The circular economy has too few successes, and it is too shy on its narratives of triumph - the critical elements that secure front pages and build narratives.
Wanjohi Kabukuru, editor-in-chief, Indian Ocean Observatory
Others contend that companies and non-profit organisations may well be piggybacking off the concept of a circular economy for profit or political gain. Effectively covering the circular economy means connecting the dots of closed loops rather than repeating marketing lies, says investigative journalist, Benedict Wermter.
Benedict has spent several years researching the recycling efforts of the packaging industry and has uncovered the lobbying power of Green Dot companies in Europe among other stories. His journalistic approach to the circular economy story has been to hold large companies and brands accountable to their marketing claims. Covering circular economy means uncovering greenwash. As a journalist, I hold those responsible who suggest to move towards closed loops.
But it isn't just the industry juggernauts from the Global North that should feature in the discourse on circularity.
This beat is a very interesting one to cover. But it also includes pitfalls, as people with different agendas are using the same discourse as the true change-makers.
Sarah Vandoorne, investigative journalist Sarah Vandoorne, a Belgian investigative journalist, has focused on the textile industry since the collapse of the Rana Plaza factory building in Dhaka, Bangladesh. In her reporting, she has combined an investigative approach into the labour rights of garment workers as well as environmental pollution from textile dyeing with a more solutions-based lens, highlighting good practices and questioning dominant narratives.
Covering aspects of both the linear and the circular economy in the textile industry have led her to contemplate on her role as a journalist in a world with resource scarcity: I became a journalist out of idealism. In this light, this beat is a very interesting one to cover. But it also includes pitfalls, as people with different agendas (industry related or not) are using the same discourse as the true change-makers. So how do I tell the difference? And how do I remain unbiased? While at the same time realising, as an idealist, of course I'm biased. The thing is: my only bias is saving our environment (trying to, at least) and challenging structural inequality.
Effectively covering the circular economy means connecting the dots of closed loops rather than repeating marketing lies.
Benedict Wermter, investigative journalist
Join us online as we discuss in more detail the role that journalists can and should play in covering the circular economy together with REVOLVE Circular and investigative journalist, Benedict Wermter. Our joi
Most recent headlines
19/10/2021
Nokia supports ARC in deploying data center interconnect across the Middle East
Press Release
Nokia supports ARC in deploying data center interconnect acros...
19/10/2021
Nokia modernizes State of Vermont Department of Public Safety communications net...
19/10/2021
JETS - The Film Initiative that takes you beyond Round 6
Call for Entry 2021
Deadline: 10th December 2021
JETS stands for Junior Entertainment Talent Slate a...
19/10/2021
HarperCollins Publishers Commits to Becoming Carbon Neutral in Direct Emissions ...
19/10/2021
Back to All News
Director Kyohei Ishiguro Takes You Behind the Scenes of Bright...
19/10/2021
Back to All News
A Beginner's Guide to Manifest: Everything You Need to Kno...
19/10/2021
AWARD-WINNING CURIOUSCAST ORIGINAL PODCAST
CRIME BEAT LAUNCHES SEASON FOUR TODAY For Immediate Release
TORONTO, OCTOBER 19, 2021 - Corus Entertainment's p...
19/10/2021
We're all used to ads promoting the latest pay-TV offerings. In return for our hard-earned dollars, major operators will provide us with a seemingly endless...
19/10/2021
Aiven's existing investors increase capital investment to double down the company's exponential growth and global open source innovation
Helsinki, Finl...
19/10/2021
On August 26, a front in the Caribbean developed into a tropical depression, which organized further and ultimately became Tropical Storm Ida. Amid favorable co...
19/10/2021
GSMA Intelligence research shows how collaborative efforts practiced by Asia Pac...
19/10/2021
MONTREAL, October 19, 2021 - Grass Valley today announces the appointment of Jan Lange as Chief Revenue Officer. In this new role, Lange will report to Tim Shou...
19/10/2021
Press release | October 18 2021
TechnipFMC and Talos Energy Enter Strategic Al...
19/10/2021
BACKAWARD WINNING IMMERSIVE CONTENT STUDIO SECRET LOCATION LAUNCHES SECOND SEASO...
19/10/2021
Wow! For the 10th straight year we've made Streaming Media's list of Top 50 companies in online video technology, and we couldn't be prouder. Develo...
19/10/2021
News Summary:
Cisco launches Webex Go - a new phone system that connects to any mobile device
Advancements in Webex Customer Experience journey data services ...
19/10/2021
Avid (Nasdaq: AVID) today announced the interoperability of Sony and TVU Networks IP-connected devices with MediaCentral | Stream to dramatically expand the p...
19/10/2021
7de Laan: What is happening Tuesday 19 October 2021 - E208 S22Don't miss out on what's happening on tonight's episode!
by SA TV and Soapies
19-10...
19/10/2021
Skeem Saam: Tonight's episode, E337 S9 - Tuesday 19 October 2021Find out what's going on tonight on Skeem Saam!
by SA TV and Soapies
19-10-2021
in ...
19/10/2021
TONIGHT'S EPISODE: Scandal - Tuesday 19 October 2021 (E3935 S13)Get to know what's happening on tonight's episode!
by SA TV and Soapies
19-10-202...
19/10/2021
Gomora: What's happening tonight Tuesday, 19 October 2021 - E128 S2Don't miss out on what's happening on tonight's episode of Gomora!
by SA TV...
19/10/2021
Tuesday's Episode: Generations - The Legacy, E237 S30 (19 October 2021)Keen to know what's happening on the latest episode of Generations: The Legacy?
...
19/10/2021
Uyajola 9/9' defeats Gomora': The reality show is number one on DStvThe Moja Love' cheating reality show pulled impressive numbers with a total vi...
19/10/2021
The River: what is happening E182 S4 - Tuesday 19 October 2021On tonight's episode of The River .
by SA TV and Soapies
19-10-2021
in SA TV and Film
Th...
19/10/2021
TONIGHT'S EPISODE: Diep City E142 S1 - Tuesday 19 October 2021We've got you covered on what's happening tonight.
by SA TV and Soapies
19-10-2021
...
19/10/2021
UZALO: Tonight's episode, Tuesday 19 October 2021 - E162 S7Don't get left behind, catch up on Uzalo now!
by SA TV and Soapies
19-10-2021
in SA TV a...
19/10/2021
MUVHANGO: Tuesday's Episode - 19 October 2021 E205 S22Don't miss out on the latest drama in Muvhango!
by SA TV and Soapies
19-10-2021
in SA TV and ...
19/10/2021
Tonight on Imbewu: Tuesday, 19 October 2021 - E917 S4Catch up on what's going on tonight!
by SA TV and Soapies
19-10-2021
in SA TV and Film
Tuesday...
19/10/2021
The esteemed & highly regarded Sally Debonnaire prepares to retire from full-time production management after a forty year career
Four Heads of Production also...
19/10/2021
LOS ANGELES The mobile video game company Scopely has announced it will acquire GSN Games, a division of Game Show Network, which is owned by Sony Pictures Ente...
19/10/2021
Viz Mosart 5 includes a story recorder function that lets producers pause, revisit an element or rectify a mistake while recording a live-to-tape show
By Jenny...
19/10/2021
Co-founder Giampiero Rinaudo to retire and move to non-executive chairman role
By Jenny Priestley
Published: October 19, 2021
Co-founder Giampiero Rinaudo t...
19/10/2021
The Estate': Drama unfolds at Sindi and Ayanda's traditional weddingFrom the traditional wedding to the white wedding, a look at Ayanda and Sindi's ...
19/10/2021
Skeem Saam' Review: John Maputla wants Meikie to serve timeJohn secretly wants to move on with someone else and only cares about his newfound son, Kwaito Ma...
19/10/2021
Delisile Malinga rises from playing Khapela and Brutus's wife to a lead roleMalinga has finally scored a lead role, MaMzobe, in Mzansi Magic's series, U...
19/10/2021
Shure Rolls Out Third-Party Integration And Control With Aaton Digital And Sound...
19/10/2021
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. Dish has filed a complaint with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) against Tegna accusing the station group of bad faith during failed...
19/10/2021
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. Telemundo Nuevo M xico/KASA-TV is launching local Spanish language newscasts at 5 p.m. and 10 p.m. (local time) on weekdays on October 18, mak...
19/10/2021
WASHINGTON, D.C. Earlier this year NAB president and CEO Gordon Smith announced he would be stepping down at the end of 2021. TVBEurope caught up with Smith to ...
19/10/2021
NEW YORK ViacomCBS Inc. and Altice USA have announced a comprehensive agreement for the continued carriage of ViacomCBS' broadcast, entertainment, news and ...
19/10/2021
BURBANK, Calif. The Hollywood Professional Association (HPA) Awards Committee has announced that veteran media technology executive Darcy Antonellis will receiv...
19/10/2021
CHICAGO, Ill. In a move that Redbox is describing as the largest addition of new free streaming channels in its history, the streaming service has announced it ...
19/10/2021
Thorsten Kurth still remembers the night he discovered his team broke the exascale barrier.
On the couch at home at 9 p.m., he was pouring over the latest resu...
19/10/2021
Introducing M1 Pro and M1 Max: the most powerful chips Apple has ever built posted: 18/10/2021
Powering the all-new MacBook Pro, new chips feature up to a...
19/10/2021
Finalists have been announced in the WRAL Voters Choice Awards presented by M&F Bank in over 130 categories. See who made the list and vote now for the Triangle...
19/10/2021
ViacomCBS and Altice USA said they reached a new carriage deal that includes the media company's streaming services as well as its broadcast stations and ca...
19/10/2021
Sinclair Broadcast Group said its operations were disrupted by a cyberattack over the weekend....
19/10/2021
The Country Music Association and ABC announced that Luke Bryan will host the 55th annual CMA Awards....
19/10/2021
Dish Network said it filed a complaint with the Federal Communications Commission charging that Tegna is not negotiating a new retransmission deal in good faith...
Chances are, most things that currently surround you have been produced following the principles of the linear economy. From the clothes that you wear to the phone you carry and the packaging of your groceries - all of these were likely produced with just one life cycle in mind, from the moment that you bought them to the moment of their disposal. 
