The circular economy is the foundation of everything we do at 5REDO. Our firm is built around this principle, and our core goal is to help move businesses, organizations, and our world toward it. It’s important not only for our clients and partners to understand this concept, but we believe everyone could benefit from learning about the circular economy.
What is the circular economy?
“What will it take to transform our throwaway economy into one where waste is eliminated, resources are circulated, and nature is regenerated?”
This is a question posed by The Ellen MacArthur Foundation, a group that works to accelerate the transition to a circular economy. It captures the essence of the concept on a broad level: to change the way things currently work, and create something better.
To understand the circular economy, we first need to grasp the structure of the current one, which still dictates the majority of businesses and production cycles around the world. The very notion of ‘circular’ indicates regeneration; something that sustains and replenishes, where each piece is connected. The opposite of this would be something linear: a cycle that starts at one point and ends at another. This is the basis on which our economy since the Industrial Age has been formed: an item is produced, used, and thrown away, either becoming garbage, or in some cases recycled or composted (but often not entirely). In any case, waste is generated to some extent. This is commonly referred to as the take-make-dispose system, and it defines many current production and supply chains.
An economy that is circular, then, is based on a sustainable system that prioritizes extending the value and life cycle of products, and reducing or refusing waste. In a circular economy, we produce with value, intent, and innovation, and make decisions based on protecting the environment.
What does the circular economy look like?
There are already many innovators, business owners, and everyday people across the globe incorporating principles of the circular economy into their lives. At 5REDO, we focus on helping businesses adopt and shift to circular economy principles, but you don’t have to be a corporation to take on the values associated with it.
By reusing, repurposing, or extending the life of everyday items you own, you’re participating in the circular economy. Repairing clothing or tools, using scrap materials to build furniture, or reducing the amount of single-use items you own are all examples of how to incorporate the circular economy into your everyday life.
An example of the circular economy on a larger scale looks like restructuring the types of materials used in production, and extending this across the whole supply chain. For example, a company that makes tires may look at using recycled or upcycled materials for new tires, and extending the life of used tires by repurposing the components for construction of new materials (our firm conducted a study about this, showing how it’s been effective in Europe and could translate to the North American market).
What are the impacts of a circular economy?
Transitioning to a circular economy does not have to equal loss of jobs or a dip in economic productivity. Rather, it prioritizes protecting our planet while also fostering innovation and encouraging a more global mindset, where resources are shared and we put more care and thought into our everyday practices.
Canada has explicitly identified the circular economy as a priority, and each day, innovators are finding solutions to outdated, environmentally harmful methods across many industries. The circular economy is the way of the future.
Resources & further reading
Originating from Barcelona, Laia’s educational journey led her to pursue secondary studies in the south of France. Her Bachelor’s degree in Economics and International Management allowed her to develop an analytical mindset. During her Master’s in International Business and Management, she engaged in numerous research study cases and actively participated in the creation of different business plans. This helped her develop an ability to critically analyze and address the strategic challenges that companies encounter.
Andre has over 5 years of industry experience in project management, polymer and composite processing, materials characterization, and product development. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering from the Federal University of Santa Maria, Brazil, and a Ph.D. in Materials Science and Technology from the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, where he focused on Polymer and Composite materials. In 2012, he founded a design and manufacturing company specializing in biocomposites made with natural fibers, which he successfully sold in 2015.
As an expert in sustainability, life cycle assessment, circular economy, and green chemistry, Nicolas possesses valuable skills and knowledge that can assist companies in developing and implementing sustainable and environmentally-friendly business models. They can achieve this by utilizing eco-friendly materials, improving manufacturing processes, reducing waste and hazardous chemical use, and advocating for the use of safer and more sustainable alternatives.
Karan is an experienced professional who has worked in multiple geographies and roles along his career. He holds a total of 10+ years of experience in manufacturing operations, and has focused his efforts towards finding solutions for waste recovery and making recovery economical for industries. 
With several years of research experience in France and Canada, Fabien lends his expertise and passion for enzymology and microbiology to 5REDO’s sustainability innovation plans. 
With her significant hands-on experience in developing and characterizing biological and chemical systems, Vicky plays a key role in 5REDO’s efforts toward developing novel products and technologies that offer improved circularity and sustainability to the industry and society. 
As a recent graduate of chemical engineering from the University of Waterloo, Kyle brings his passion for impactful innovation and his experience with novel recycling processes to 5REDO to support our technology development initiatives. 
As our Senior Research Scientist, Hormoz draws on his eight years of industrial and nine years of academic research experience in the areas of polymer science and engineering to develop new solutions for advancing circularity and sustainability.
Shauna is a freelance journalist that covers a wide range of topics, including health, education, the environment, travel, lifestyle trends, and more. She holds a Master of Journalism from Carleton University, and a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Global Development from Queen’s University.
By leveraging her expertise in life cycle analysis and process engineering, Ophela helps 5REDO to take a holistic approach to the development of circular solutions and technologies. 
As the co-founder of 5REDO, Forough brings her expertise in supply chain management, business operations, inventory control, and revenue management to support the implementation of circular solutions within different industry sectors.
With a passion for driving change and creating impact, Mahdi co-founded 5REDO to promote circular economy principles in Canada. He’s an alumnus of the 2021 Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s ‘From Linear to Circular Programme.’ Mahdi played a pivotal role in developing and managing the University of British Columbia’s (UBC) Circular Economy Seed Funding program, fostering partnerships between companies and academic researchers to co-create circular solutions.