What is Circular Economy?

A circular economy is an economic model that keeps products and materials in use for as long as possible through reuse, repair, remanufacturing and recycling, instead of sending them to landfill after one use. Canada needs this shift: the country ranks #8 among countries with the highest municipal waste production, and Canadians produce more waste per person than South Korea and Denmark.

Each year, our nation generates over 25 million tonnes of waste. To put that into perspective, that's equivalent to about 72,000 fully loaded commercial airplanes. Most of this material ends up in landfills without being reused or repurposed.

This is why effydesk, along with many forward-thinking Canadian companies, is committed to supporting a circular economy in everything we do. Our clearest example is the Terra Standing Desk, whose tabletop is made from recycled chopsticks.

What Is a Circular Economy?

A circular economy differs from the linear economy because used materials loop back into new products instead of flowing one way from extraction to landfill.

Since the early 1950s when plastic products became common, most supply chains have followed a straight path: companies extract natural resources, make products, we use them, and then throw them away. Everything moves in one direction, which is straight to the landfill.

This approach isn't sustainable long-term. Our planet has finite resources, and if we continue with these consumption patterns, we'll eventually run out, while creating mountains of unnecessary waste in the process.

A circular economy changes this pattern by getting maximum value from resources before disposal. This happens through reusing, repurposing, repairing, or recycling products, all of which minimize waste creation while supporting a healthier environment for productive work and living.

What Are the Core Principles of a Circular Economy?

The circular economy rests on three principles promoted by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation: design out waste and pollution, keep products and materials in use, and regenerate natural systems.

1. Design out waste and pollution: Create products that can be easily reused, repaired, or recycled
2. Keep products and materials in use: Extend product lifespans through better design and maintenance
3. Regenerate natural systems: Return valuable nutrients to the soil and protect biodiversity

Materials move through two main cycles in a circular economy, technical and biological:

Cycle Type	What It Involves	Examples
Technical	Products designed to be reused, repaired, remanufactured, or recycled	Office furniture, electronics, packaging
Biological	Natural materials that can safely return to the environment	Food scraps, wood, natural fibers

When we apply circular economy principles to economic activity, we create business models that benefit both the environment and the economy. This approach reduces resource extraction and creates new economic opportunities in repair, resale and remanufacturing.

What Are the Benefits of a Circular Economy?

A circular economy lowers carbon emissions, cuts pollution, creates repair and recycling jobs, and conserves forests, soil and water by reducing how much raw material is extracted.

"Amidst all the upheavals today, we need to keep a calm eye on the road ahead and invest in the economy of the future," said Frans Timmermans, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission, at the World Circular Economy Forum. "An economy that is sustainable, resilient, climate-neutral, and nature-positive. That economy is a circular economy."

• Reduces Carbon Footprint: Circular approaches limit greenhouse gas emissions by reducing the need for virgin materials. According to the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, the way we make and use products accounts for 45% of global emissions, the share that circular strategies can tackle alongside clean energy.
• Prevents Pollution: By keeping materials in use, we reduce plastic pollution in our oceans and waterways.
• Creates Business Opportunities: The shift to circular models creates new jobs in recycling, remanufacturing, and repair. According to the Government of Canada, managing plastic waste through a circular economy could create about 42,000 jobs by 2030.
• Conserves Natural Capital: Circular activities help preserve forests, soil, water, and air quality by reducing material extraction and waste.

How Is Canada Moving Toward a Circular Economy?

Canada is moving toward a circular economy through a federal goal to eliminate single-use plastic waste by 2030 and through business networks such as Circular Economy Leadership Canada.

Plastic waste is a key focus, as Canadians throw away over 3 million tonnes of plastic waste each year, with only 9% being properly recycled. That gap is why the government made single-use plastic its first target.

The Circular Economy Leadership Canada and the Circular Innovation Council are helping businesses adopt circular approaches. These organizations provide resources and guidance for companies looking to reduce their environmental impact while creating sustainable growth.

Several industries are leading the way:

• Furniture industry: Companies like effydesk are creating products from recycled materials
• Construction sector: Using recycled building materials and designing for disassembly
• Automotive industry: Remanufacturing parts and developing better recycling methods
• Fashion industry: Creating clothing from recycled fibers and implementing take-back programs

Digital technologies also support the circular transition by tracking materials, connecting buyers and sellers of recycled materials, and optimizing resource use.

How Can You Join the Circular Economy?

Individuals join the circular economy by reducing waste first, extending product lifespans, buying from circular businesses, and closing the loop at home through composting and recycling.

You don't need to be a business owner to participate. Here are practical ways to create a more sustainable cycle of products in your daily life:

Reduce Your Waste First

• Decline single-use plastics like straws and bags
• Use reusable containers for your lunch and leftovers
• Sign up for e-statements and e-receipts to reduce paper waste
• Choose products with minimal packaging

Extend Product Lifespans

• Repair items instead of replacing them
• Buy quality products designed to last longer
• Share, borrow, or rent items you don't use often
• Consider buying used or refurbished products

Support Circular Businesses

• Choose products made from recycled materials
• Buy from companies with take-back programs
• Look for certified sustainable products
• Shop at businesses that offer repairs or refurbishment

Close the Loop at Home

• Start composting food scraps to return nutrients to the soil
• Learn which items can be recycled in your area
• Set up separate bins for different recyclable materials
• Find specialty recycling programs for electronics and other hard-to-recycle items

These small changes in your daily habits add up when combined with the efforts of others. Recycling should be your last option, not your first. The most effective circular economy strategies focus on reducing consumption and reusing items before recycling them.

How Does effydesk Support the Circular Economy?

effydesk supports the circular economy mainly through the Terra Standing Desk, whose carbon-negative tabletop is made from 10,854 recycled chopsticks in partnership with ChopValue.

At effydesk, we apply circular economy principles to create high-quality, sustainable office furniture that helps you work better while minimizing environmental impact.

Our flagship sustainable product is the Terra Standing Desk, a carbon-negative standing desk that stores more carbon than its production creates. Each Terra tabletop keeps 10,854 used chopsticks out of landfills.

Key Circular Features of Our Products:

• Recycled Materials: Terra tabletops turn used restaurant chopsticks into a durable butcher block surface, giving that material a second life as office furniture
• Carbon Storage: Each Terra tabletop stores about 20,020 g of carbon, more than the process to make it creates
• Durable Design: Every effydesk standing desk carries a 20-year warranty on the frame, motors and electronics, which keeps materials in use longer

Beyond our products, we're constantly looking for ways to improve our circular practices across all aspects of our business. We believe that creating a more sustainable workspace shouldn't mean compromising on quality, comfort, or productivity.

FAQ About Circular Economy

How does a circular economy differ from recycling?

A circular economy is much broader than recycling. Recycling processes waste after it exists. A circular economy aims to prevent waste in the first place by designing better products, extending their use, and finding new ways to reuse or repurpose them before recycling.

Can circular economy principles save money for businesses?

Yes, adopting circular approaches often reduces costs. Businesses can save money by using fewer raw materials, extending product lifespans, and creating new revenue streams from previously discarded materials or through service-based business models.

How do circular systems impact workplace productivity?

Circular office products are built to last, so they usually use sturdier parts and adjustable designs. A comfortable, adjustable workspace makes long workdays easier, and one durable desk replaces several cheaper ones over its lifetime.

What role do consumers play in the circular economy transition?

Consumers drive demand for sustainable products and services. By choosing circular products, repairing items, sharing resources, and properly disposing of materials, consumers can accelerate the shift toward a circular economy.

Ready to Create a More Sustainable Workspace?

Taking steps toward a more sustainable workspace helps the environment and creates a healthier, more productive place to work. By choosing circular economy products like our Terra Standing Desk, you're investing in both the planet's future and your own wellbeing.

At effydesk, we design, build, and deliver Electric Standing Desks for professional or personal use. Our products help eliminate discomfort, tackle unhealthy habits, spark creativity, and inspire your best work-life, all while supporting circular economy principles.

Our ergonomic office chairs protect against desk job damage and help maximize efficiency and focus in your workspace, wherever that may be.

Browse our signature Standing Desks, Office Chairs, and Monitor Mounts designed to boost workplace productivity, so you can get more done, more comfortably, while supporting sustainable practices.

To learn more about effydesk's products and services, check out our FAQ page or browse our ergomindfulness blog for more helpful articles on ergonomics and sustainability in the workplace.