Circular economy, what is it like?
The circular economy is a model of production and consumption that aims to extend the life cycle of goods. According to the definition of the European Parliament, the circular economy is the borrowing, sharing, repairing, reusing and recycling of existing products and raw materials for as long as possible. In practice, the circular economy means that when a product reaches the end of its life cycle, the waste and raw materials used to produce it remain in circulation. In other words: they do not immediately end up in the trash. The circular economy is associated with concepts such as recycling, upcycling, zero and less waste, i.e. activities that allow the extension of the life of everyday objects.Circular economy: it pays off
The circular economy is one of the key elements for the sustainable development of all industry on Earth. No wonder, since such a model of production and consumption brings only benefits.Closed loop stimulates the economy
According to the Deloitte report “Closed circulation - open opportunities ”, reducing the use of materials and energy in all sectors by even 1% will allow for the achievement of added value for the Polish economy at the level of PLN 19.5 billion. Thanks to the closed circulation, the company saves materials and the energy needed for their processing. Additionally, reuse and tight circulation of goods develop innovation. They affect economic growth and increase the security of raw material supplies and competitiveness.Circular economy and the environment
According to the same report, we consume 1.6 times more resources than the environment can regenerate. If everyone on Earth lived at the same level as people in high-income countries, we would consume 4 times more resources than we should. That is why the most important thing is that nature will benefit the most from a circular economy. A closed-loop production system reduces greenhouse gas emissions, the use of natural resources, the production of toxic substances and waste. To put it simply, a circular economy is our chance to slow down the progressing global warming and get rid of ubiquitous plastic.Circular Economy in Practice: Examples from the Fashion Industry
The assumptions of the circular economy can be applied in various branches of business - from the fashion industry, through FMCG, to the beauty industry. This is good news for all of us! Thanks to this, we can actively support environmental protection and reduce our carbon footprint. In the beauty industry, the closed cycle is such an important issue that a separate concept was created: circular fashion.
What is circular fashion?
Circular fashion is the reuse of clothes and materials from which they were sewn. It involves searching for innovative, sustainable methods of production and processing of fabrics. Circular fashion assumes that consumers are active participants in the fashion industry. Therefore, their purchasing decisions and conscious use of clothes and accessories are important. On the other hand, it is the responsibility of manufacturers to conduct sustainable production. To this end, they reuse raw materials and materials, reduce the carbon footprint and invest in the development of research departments for new technologies.Circular fashion, or fashion in the service of the environment
The fashion industry is responsible for 10% of the Earth's CO2 emissions, and as much as 85% of all textiles end up in landfills every year. These data are alarming. Therefore, changing the way we produce and the habits associated with buying and using clothes is necessary. To quote the pioneer of circular fashion, Stella McCartney: "The future of fashion is circular. It has to be." It is clear that the industry is starting to look for new solutions that will allow it to stop the process of environmental destruction for which it is responsible. Taking responsibility was the first step towards the creation of a new, large segment in the clothing market. The circular fashion market, which according to the "Circular Fashion Summit" report from 2020 is worth up to $ 5 trillion. The sector responsible for the production of ecological fabrics alone is worth $ 40 billion. Circular fashion is developing quite well.Closed loop in the fashion industry
Clothing companies are looking for new recycling methods to reduce the production of fabric waste to a minimum. That is why many well-known brands, including Adidas (with whom Stella cooperates) and Nike have created special laboratories, where scientists develop new ways of producing fabrics using the assumptions of the circular economy. On the other hand, clothing manufacturers are trying to extend the life of individual products, allowing customers to return used clothes for repair, like the Patagonia brand. Other brands buy used clothes and deal with redistribution or recycling. In Poland, VIVE Textile Recycling is conducting similar activities, which has developed an innovative textile composite, which has applications in industry. GLOV used the solution developed by VIVE, processing used reusable cotton pads and make-up removal gloves into the material from which benches were made. The fruits of the cooperation between the two companies are currently located in Gdynia and serve its residents, as well as tourists, who visit the Tri-City in large numbers every year.
Circular economy in the beauty industry as exemplified by the GLOV brand
Research conducted by the British The Pull Agency shows that 87% of local consumers do not know the term referring to an economic model that allows for waste reduction. Despite this, as many as 88% of them pay attention to products made as part of sustainable production when shopping in drugstores. Interestingly, 100% of respondents believe that cosmetic brands should be more transparent in communicating their efforts to protect the environment. GLOV has taken this direction, focusing on education and active search for a way to dispose of used products with the involvement of the brand's customers. The search was successful, and used GLOV products did not end up in the trash, gaining a second life.REUSE, REMAKE, RECYCLE
The idea of less waste has accompanied GLOV since the idea for the first product. The founders of the brand emphasize in talks about the future of the company that their search for sustainable products has not come to an end. The brand is introducing more and more products made of 100% natural fabrics, such as the new GLOV Moon Pads Pro . At the same time, it is looking for solutions that will allow for the maximum reduction of waste production, such as recycling microfibers. Therefore, cooperation with the aforementioned VIVA Textile Recycling seems to be a natural consequence of the brand's previous activities. Similarly, the use of the presence in SEPHORA. With almost 100 salons throughout Poland, the drugstore chain is a place available to many GLOV customers. " The idea of less waste is visible not only in our brand's offer, which is dominated by ecological products, but also in other promotional and educational activities. One of such projects was cooperation with VIVE Innovation Group dealing with fabric recycling and the SEPHORA drugstore, " says Monika Żochowska, CEO of the GLOV brand.
Recycling microfibers is the future of the beauty and fashion industry
In addition to converting used GLOV Moon Pads and On-the-go make-up removal gloves into functional benches, the harmful impact on the environment was reduced to a minimum. Thousands of GLOV users were involved in the campaign conducted in SEPHORA drugstores and through the brand's own channels. As a result, 45,000 used reusable pads and over 8,000 make-up removal gloves using only water were collected. The used products did not end up in the trash, but in VIVE plants. There, they were recycled and converted into the aforementioned benches. Each of the benches means that the brand and its customers have managed to reduce waste production, counting in millions of disposable pads and thousands of plastic packaging. “ Producing 1 bench reduces the consumption of 4 million disposable cotton pads, 18,000 plastic bottles and 36,000 liters of cosmetics with chemical composition. ” - comments Ewa Dudzic, Co-Founder GLOV. The culmination of the project was the seaside event Eco Baltic Sea Event. Participants of the event took part in a sailing cruise, combined with workshops on water protection and coastal cleaning, and in the ceremonial unveiling of recycled benches on one of Gdynia's boulevards.LESS WASTE, MORE GLOV
The brand encourages customers to put used GLOV products in special cardboard boxes, available in SEPHORA drugstores, but also to reuse them in line with the REUSE idea. " Cotton pads and makeup removal gloves can be used without cosmetics for 3 months. But the microfibers they are made of can last longer. They can be used in other ways, e.g. for wiping a computer screen. " - comments Ewa Dudzic. And this is precisely the closed loop: you buy, use, change the application and continue to use. Or you give them for processing and maybe use them in a similar way. We and our wallets will benefit from this. And above all, the Earth, which we need to let breathe.
