As the end of 2024 approaches and we barrel into the middle of the most decisive decade for climate change, it’s time we took stock. Can you peer beyond the catastrophic storms and political tension? What do you see? A refillery in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, opening for business to serve local community members without packaging waste. A school teacher in Halifax, Nova Scotia, teaching students about the intertwined nature of people, planet, and our livelihoods. Monthly repair cafés in Vancouver, British Columbia, helping locals learn how to fix their things for free. Local initiatives like the Reuse Pilot in Ottawa, Ontario, working with grocery chains to implement circular business models, stimulating a major reduction in plastic waste. What do all of these stories have in common? The circular economy – a framework beyond living sustainably.
Moving from a take-make-waste philosophy, the circular economy redesigns waste before it’s made by putting stronger emphasis on reducing our consumption, taking care of what already exists, and designing products for longevity and repair – the opposite of planned obsolescence. Imagine if it made sense to maintain our electronics like we maintain our cars, if we valued secondhand clothing enough to pay a tailor to repair it, and if we could use sustainable public transportation that was fast, cheap to use, and reliable! The circular economy is more than fiction — it’s a real way of life that many countries in the EU have already adopted with great success for businesses and the wellbeing of communities. Here in Canada, progress is being made by hardworking organizations to advocate for a circular economy.
Circular Economy Month is Canada’s national campaign leading in circular economy education that amplifies individual, municipal, and corporate circular actions. Building on 20+ years of history as Waste Reduction Week, the campaign evolved in 2022 beyond its focus of waste reduction into the larger concept of circularity. Key themes of the campaign include the benefits of a circular economy on the environment, the economy, and community wellbeing. This year, individuals can submit a Pledge online to share what actions—big or small—they’ll take to contribute to a circular economy, and governments and organizations can Declare their support for a circular economy in Canada, amongst other ways to engage.
Last year, Canadians like you contributed to over 100+ registered circular events and thousands joined the conversation on social media. Over 50 municipal, provincial, and federal Canadian governments declared their support for the circular economy movement. Will you participate this year? To get started, visit us at CircularEconomyMonth.ca to learn more about how it works. This year, take part in the campaign and help drive change. As Johan Rockström, climate impact scholar, concluded in his talk, The Tipping Points of Climate Change – and where we stand: “[…] if we implement [sustainable solutions], we get a more healthy, stable, secure future with the jobs and the economies that can compete and provide livelihoods into the future. This means, dear friends, that solving the planetary crisis is not only necessary, it is possible, and we all win if we succeed.”
Circular Innovation Council is a not-for-profit registered charity that develops and operates pilot programs across food waste diversion, procurement, and reuse sectors, and delivers education and engagement programming related to the circular economy. If you’d like to support our efforts to educate and engage Canadians about the circular economy, please consider sponsoring the program or making a donation. Get in touch with us to learn more: info@CircularEconomyMonth.ca