Circular Economy

Circular Economy is one main value and ideology of Fashion Catalyst because it is a regenerative system in which the use of resources and production of waste, emissions and waste of energy are minimized by slowing down, reducing and closing energy and material loops. (Jackson, 2016).

The fundamental idea is to keep resources in use for as long as possible by taking into account the entire life cycle of a resource – from extraction, product design, production and consumption to waste management. The aim is to minimize both the use of materials as well as the generation of waste through resource-conserving product design (eco-design) and the recycling and reuse of products and materials. Waste thereby becomes a resource again: Secondary raw materials are obtained from disposed material through recycling. By increasing resource efficiency, companies are primarily aiming at lower manufacturing costs, waste avoidance and environmental protection through resource conservation. So far, only a few companies are striving for a true circular economy or networking with partners along the value chain. (Jackson, 2016) The focus in companies is still on using fewer resources through classic optimization measures. Raw materials represent a significant cost factor for companies. This is why it is very important for companies to address the issue of resource efficiency. (Reike et al., 2018)