INGENIEUR
for much longer making it possible for long distance transportation , catering to population growth in expanding cities . Plastics made land transportation more economical due to its lightweight and durable properties making cars and trucks lighter , therefore saving fuel . Plastics replaced expensive glass bottles as the container of choice for fast-moving consumer goods ( FMCGs ) companies selling soft drink beverages and water to bring down the cost to consumers . Plastics transformed the packaging industry making it cheaper to transport manufactured goods . Unfortunately , when it comes to managing the disposal of post-consumer plastic materials , it is much easier to resort to the cradle to grave approach rather than applying the circular economy approach .
In essence , the circle economy or circular economy is more aligned to natural processes where almost no material is left without a purpose upon its expiration and is either returned to nature in one form or another or reformed to serve a new purpose .
The circular economy concept as promoted by the Ellen McArthur Foundation , a charity organisation based out of the UK , encompasses the wider aspect of the economy , not just the usual 3R — reduce , reuse , and recycle activities that we are all familiar with [ 6 ]. This is crucial to the key idea that valuable hard-earned materials extracted from nature for various purposes do not become waste and are kept in use for as long as possible if not indefinitely . This feat is achieved , among others , through reuse , repair , refurbish , repurpose , regenerate , and recycle [ 7 ]. The material and energy flowchart ( Figure 1 ) depicts the general idea of the circular economy .
PLASTIC WASTE MANAGEMENT TRANSITION TO CIRCULAR ECONOMY
The key enablers for the transition from a linear economy to a circular economy ( Figure 2 ) includes ( i ) policy and regulation , ( ii ) waste prevention and optimisation , ( iii ) technology and expertise , ( iv ) renewable energy utilisation , ( v ) market creation , ( vii ) stakeholders ’ engagement , ( vii ) financial support and ( viii ) data management [ 8 ].
( i ) Policy and regulation Policy and regulation are crucial in changing the linear economy mentality which can only be achieved when the components of the circular economy are acknowledged as a legal mandate by the governing bodies or local authorities . This is a ‘ stick approach ’ to boost the circular economy and can take place in several dimensions such as having several circular economy related directives or laws , that mandate systems , disposal bans or landfill bans , and mandate a take back system .
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Figure 2 : Framework of the transition to a circular economy [ 8 ]