The circular economy is a way of thinking about how we use resources in a more sustainable and efficient manner.
In a traditional linear economy, we take resources from the earth, make products out of them, use those products, and then throw them away as waste. In a circular economy, we aim to keep resources in use for as long as possible by reducing waste and reusing materials.
It's like a big loop where things keep going around and around - instead of being thrown away when you’re done with them, you find creative ways to reuse, repair, or recycle them. It's like giving them a new life.
Basically, you want nothing to go to waste and for everything to get a second chance.
Instead of the traditional ‘take-make-waste’ approach, the circular economy focuses on three main principles:
- Reduce, reuse, and recycle You aim to reduce the amount of waste generated by using resources more efficiently. You prioritise reusing products or materials rather than throwing them away, and you promote recycling to recover valuable resources from waste.
- Design for durability and recyclability Products are designed to last longer and be easily repaired or upgraded. They are also designed to be easily disassembled so that individual components and materials can be reused or recycled.
- Regenerate natural systems The circular economy aims to work in harmony with the environment. It promotes renewable energy sources, minimises pollution and waste, and supports the restoration of ecosystems.
So by adopting these principles, we can create a more sustainable and resilient system that maximises resource use, reduces waste, and minimises environmental impact. It's all about moving towards a more circular and sustainable way of living.
And so how does Solmates fit into the circular economy?
☀️ Solmates promote reuse The applicator is designed to be reused multiple times creating a product that is reused over and over again for a long period of time.
☀️ Solmates reduce waste By reducing the need for single-use sunscreen bottles, - waste that often ends up in landfills or pollutes ecosystems such as oceans and waterways.
☀️ Solmates have an extended life cycle This helps to maximise the value and use of the applicator while minimising the resources required to produce new ones. A Solmate is made from durable and high-quality materials ensuring it stays functional and reliable for a long time.
☀️ Solmates reuse existing plastic waste We use recycled ocean bound plastic in our production! Plus our packaging is also made from 100% recycled materials.
And what’s more - we want to reuse any old Solmates back into our production process …… when it comes time to say goodbye to your Solmate (hopefully after lots of fun adventures), we would love you to send it back to us. We can then put it back into the production process or recycle it properly. (Find out more about that here).
