This week is no ordinary first week of the month… It’s Circulair Economy Week! From Monday, February 3rd till Friday, February 7th, we’re focussing on a very important aspect of our present and future: circularity. Of course, with the environment being in a dangerous state, subjects such as sustainability become more and more important. We need to make sure that we stop wasting, over-purchasing and polluting the planet. And one of the solutions lies in the circular system. But what exactly does this mean, and is it hard to achieve yourself? Today we would like to tell you some more about this wonderful system, and even give you some tips & tricks to try out at home.
What Is a Circular Economy?
As the name suggests, a circular economy is a system that eliminates waste and using limited (re-)sources. This can be anything that creates a closed-loop - from recycling furniture from person to person to creating your own herbal garden watered by drained water from your houseplants. One thing that is essential is that it produces zero waste. Or to put it more bluntly: the waste becomes food for other means. For example, take the plastic industry - which is known for its unsustainable and disposable image. What if we could use all that waste, and recycle them into products with long lifespans again? It is all about thinking in solutions, and this process starts small, in the comforts of your own space.
What are we doing at The Conscious Club to help?
At The Conscious Club, we work closely with sustainability. As the first climate-neutral canal house in Amsterdam, we constantly work hard to do better and keep on improving. That is why we use solar power to generate electricity and heat and constructed a hybrid system to control the indoor climate. And maybe you already spotted it, but all the furniture we use are antiques and upcycled gems that were discarded. Refashion!
We’re also very serious about the food we serve at The Conscious Club. As a fully seasonal, biological & vegetarian venue, we work towards good composing, waste separation and waste reusing. In addition, in 2020 we’re going to be the first homegrown & vegan venue, as we’re transitioning into a dairy-free space and installing systems to grow our own ingredients. We also use our food waste for our ‘wormhotel’ so we create good compost to fertilize the soil of our homegrown herbs and veggies. As we said, it’s all about turning waste into food for other purposes. :)
What are easy steps you can take to make your own home more circular?
Now, we all understand it’s not always possible to install the latest hybrid systems and solar panels - but there are little things everyone can do to get more circular in our usage of food, materials and more.
Waste. Sort out your waste and separate it. Your organic waste can be turned into great compost for your garden or indoor plants.
Furniture. Need a new cupboard? Go second hand or check out some local bulky waste locations. A lot of furniture is being thrown out - but with some nice paint or new stuffing, you can create something unique and sustainable.
Fixing. If something breaks, try fixing before replacing it. It might be less time consuming to just order something new, but fixing saves money (& the planet!). Rethink and relearn how you view your own items and get creative!
Fashion. Got bored with your wardrobe? Host a swapping event with your friends and switch it up without having to buy anything new. Also, some fashion brands are starting to experiment with renting occasionwear. Less consumption and more fun!
Food. Go local. Organic, seasonal and local foods make Mother Earth happy.
Go Package-free. In addition to the previous tip, going to your local markets for bread and vegetables also reduces the amount of pre-packaged products you buy. Bring your own bags & fill them up! For example, The Little Pantry Shop in Amsterdam really knows what’s good.
Want to know more about how we can save the world through circularity? Check out this interesting mini-docu:
Come to our Conscious Talk next week
In an era described as the Anthropocene, current generations seem to have lost touch with Nature. In this Conscious Talk, we will inspire you to look at Nature differently. We will talk about how the Rights of Nature have manifested in different legal systems around the world and how this practical approach can provide a tool to confront the biggest ecological challenges in this era.
