This week’s study has made me think about the circular economy in a new way. It seems that the idea of a circular economy is very appealing, reducing waste through the recycling of resources while achieving sustainable development, but the idea is not that simple in practice. This week’s discussion focuses on how to look at the concept with a critical eye, including the assumptions behind it, as well as the potential problems in practice.

At the heart of the circular economy is the idea of “closing the loop”,  but is it really possible to fully realise this? It makes me wonder if we have been overly optimistic about the circularity of resources. In particular, when we talk about ‘reusing waste’, we tend to overlook the complexities involved, such as energy consumption and the cost of recycling. Some key questions were raised: Who is primarily responsible for recycling in the resource flows? Can this model really be replicated on a global scale? These questions made me realise that the circular economy is not as “perfect” as the name suggests.

During the discussion, I also came across some vivid examples, such as a set of cartoons on LinkedIn, which point out the common problems of the circular economy in a humorous way. These cartoons show the gap between people’s expectations and the reality of the circular economy, such as the high costs and complicated steps that many times can confuse people about the idea. These simple images reveal the problems more visually than lengthy text and made me look at the limitations of circular economy in a different way.

In addition, we discussed some larger topics related to the circular economy, such as capitalism, ownership, and colonialism. For example, does recycling of resources and waste management on a global scale exacerbate inequality? Capitalism emphasises growth, but does this growth contradict the sustainability goals of the circular economy? These questions have made me realise that the circular economy is not just a technical or managerial challenge, it is an integrated social and economic issue.

Through this week’s study, I feel that critical thinking does not negate a certain concept, but helps us to see more comprehensively and deeply. Through questioning and discussion, we can gain a deeper understanding of the limitations and potential of the circular economy. It may not be a perfect system, but through such critique and exploration we may be able to find ways to make it work better. Like the cartoons and theoretical frameworks discussed, all of these tools ultimately point to the same goal – to help us understand the complexities of the circular economy more clearly and find better ways to promote sustainable development.

Blog from Lecture 2: Not Perfect / Xizhi Zhang / Circular Economy: KIPP and Futures Project by is licensed under a