The circular economy is an economic and social model, inter-related with sustainability. In practice, it involves the effective use of resources and a minimum use of raw materials; among other actions, it involves re-using, repairing, renewing and recycling materials and products as often as possible.

The circular economy can thus be defined as a model of production and consumption that relies on the optimisation of materials and waste, devising products from their very conception to have a second life, by designing them to be reused and recycled. In short, it is a system of production that seeks to minimise extraction of raw materials, dependency on these materials, energy consumption, wastage of material and waste generation.

It requires a cultural change way the production and consumption system as we know it are devised and understood.