Abstract:

Issues related to the need to protect our environment and climate are permeating into the space of public discourse with increasing intensity. Although only a dozen or even several years ago, such voices calling for changes in attitudes were treated as calls to act in an undefined future, now they find their materialization in real actions. They relate to virtually every area of life, because every action directly or indirectly affects the widely understood natural environment. The common denominator for changes implemented in various areas of human activity (including the functioning of enterprises) is the pursuit of such a state that would not have negative effects on human life or the natural environment. The essence, therefore, is to limit the intensity of anthropopressure, by leading to the minimization of consumption of materials and raw materials used in manufacturing processes and individual consumption, reduction of the amount of waste generated, as well as reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. The linear economy model, which has been widely applied so far, has failed the test. Focused on the use of available materials without reflecting on their availability for future generations, and without taking into account its impact on the natural environment (e.g. air quality or progressing climate change) both now and in the future, it often caused irreversible changes. The linear economy assumes that resources are abundant, available and easy to acquire, and can be removed at low cost. It can be said that this model does not recognize the issue of resource depletion. In a linear economy, waste is treated as the last stage of the product life cycle. An alternative is to move towards a circular economy, the idea of which is to take measures that reduce the consumption of resources (both materials and water or energy). In addition, waste can once again become a valuable element of a new production process.