What Is The Circular Economy?
The circular economy is a business model designed to minimise waste, and make the most out of the resources we already have. Instead of a "take-make-dispose" pattern which is commonplace in our current linear economy, resources are continually reused in a closed-loop system.
Defining The
Circular Economy
A circular economy refers to the process of designing out waste, where products are made focusing on their recyclability from the start.
A circular economy is also based around keeping materials in use for as long as humanly possible, generally through continuous remanufacturing or reuse - which is particularly relevant to the waste tyres we process at Big Atom.
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The final principle that defines a circular economy is that of regenerating nature, making sure that extraction of new raw materials is limited, and does not harm our natural ecosystem.
The circular economy model works by employing a 'closed-loop' system where materials are recycled and reused as much as possible. When initially manufactured, products in a circular economy are specifically designed to be durable and easy to repair or upgrade, thus extending their lifespan as long as possible. Commercial tyres are retredded to extend the life of truck tyres as long as possible.
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When the tyre has reached the end of its usefule life, Big Atom will collect and mechanically process them, to turn the recycled material into feedstock for the circular economy. Chemical recyclers can then turn the recycled rubber into tyre pyrolysis oil and recovered carbon black that enables the tyre manufacturer to make new tyres from the old.
Advantages Of Adopting A Circular Economy
Environmental - A circular economy massively reduces waste and the need for new resource extraction.
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Economically - Companies save money on harvesting and manufacturing new goods, and fosters innovation which can create a wealth of jobs in the recycling industry
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Socially - Sustainable living standards become more present, affordable and commonplace amongst the public as a whole.
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Businesses and communities are already benefitting from the work carried out by Big Atom; we have saved over 90,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions to create healthier living standards on both a local and global scale.
Overcoming Barriers To The Circular Economy
Implementing the circular economy in the UK does face certain regulatory, financial and cultural barriers. There are complex regulations regarding how much responsibility tyre manufacturers or wholesalers have over the lifecycle of their products, the actual cost of recycling waste tyres in great amounts, and deeply embedded customer behaviours. Many vehicle owners might not think about where their waste tyres go, and are likely to select the cheapest disposal option. Regulatory changes and education initiatives are needed to overcome these barriers, allowing for the growth of the circular economy model in the future. Investment funds, financial incentives and stricter governmental policies would also support a shift in behaviour towards a circular economy. ​
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Thankfully, the UK is expected to implement more robust policies that would hold manufacturers accountable for the entire lifecycle of their products, not just when they're sold.
Help Us Build a Circular Economy
If you want to help us build a circular economy for waste tyres, we'd love to talk to you!​
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Whether you're already involved in the tyre industry (as a wholesaler, manufacturer, recycler or otherwise), or whether you want to invest and help Big Atom build a circular economy in the UK, we're very happy to chat about how we can work with other people or companies to improve sustainability in the tyre industry. ​​