Every year, 30 billion tonnes of goods are produced. We dispose of 13 billion tons of goods as waste, or about 2 tonnes per person. The European Union alone produces more than 2.5 billion tonnes of waste every year[1].
Very little of this waste is reused. A third of goods we throw away were purchased in the same year. The extraction, use and disposal approach creates a significant environmental burden, through depleting minerals and the destruction of forests and biodiversity.
The situation continues to deteriorate. By 2050, it is estimated that 3 planets will be needed to meet the needs of humanity[2].
Faced with these challenges, the circular economy offers an alternative to limit pollution of the sea, air and land and reduce the overexploitation of natural resources