Building a Circular Economy for Our Region
A circular economy keeps materials working in our communities instead of throwing them away. It’s about making products last longer, fixing what breaks and creating good-paying jobs right here at home.
How It Works
In a circular economy, products and materials circulate. The circles can be small or large and is often depicted in the butterfly diagram (see below) from the Ellen MacArthur Foundation. The size of the circle makes a difference. The bigger the circle, the more time, materials, margin and effort it takes to return a product to a value stream.
- Reuse: Finding new users for existing products
- Repair: Fixing products to extend their life
- Refurbish: Updating products to like-new condition
- Remanufacture: Rebuilding products from used parts
- Recycle: Breaking down materials to make new products
- Renew: Using materials that can be regrown naturally
What This Means for Our Region
Instead of shipping waste out and buying new materials from far away, we keep resources local. This creates manufacturing jobs, reduces costs for businesses and builds a stronger, more self-sufficient economy. Companies save money on materials while workers gain skills in emerging industries. The result? More jobs, less waste and a manufacturing sector that’s built to last.