Circular economy is a system of production and consumption with the goal of extending the life cycle of products, materials and resources through their reuse, renovation, recycling and sustainable management, thus reducing waste and negative impact on the environment.
To achieve the goals (economically and environmentally sustainable systems) of a circular economy, emphasis is placed on innovative thinking in all processes of production, systematic thinking, extending the lifespan of products, as well as the recycling process.
The five principles of circular economy (5R concept)
| Meaning | In practice | |
| Rethink | Think again how you use and create consumption | Change the approach: choose a sustainable lifestyle, create products with less waste and a longer shelf life. |
| Refuse | Refuse something you don’t need or that generates waste | Refuse single-use plastics, unnecessary packaging, promotional materials that are waste. |
| Reduce | Reduce the amount of waste and resources you use | Buy less, choose products with less packaging, save energy and water. |
| Reuse | Use something multiple times instead of throwing it away | Use bottles, bags, clothes and other items multiple times, repair damaged items instead of buying new ones. |
| Recycle | Reprocess waste and turn it into new products | Select waste (paper, plastic, metal), hand it over for recycling and support the production of products made from recycled materials. |
- Rethink
Rethinking means to rethink our habits and choices when it comes to consumption and waste generation. Instead of automatically buying new products or accepting everything that is being offered to us, we should think whether we really need it, and whether there are more sustainable alternatives.
For example, instead of changing our phones or clothes every year, we can use them longer, repair them, or buy quality products that last. In companies, rethinking can also mean optimization of processes to reduce waste during production, choosing materials that are less harmful to the environment, and planning products so that they have a longer lifespan. This step is the basis for sustainable development and circular economy.
In practice, we can reduce consumerism and accumulation of items we don’t need if every time we are about to leave the house we ask ourselves:
- What do I really need today?
- How will my choice affect nature, my place of living?
Translated by: N. Cvetkovska
The content is part of the CIVIL / GREEN Civil project “Give Me Five!”, within the framework of the great regional initiative to mark the Western Balkans Circular Economy Week (May 26- June 1, 2025) under the motto “From Local Fixes to Regional Impact”, implemented by the regional network LogEx, of which CIVIL is a member, upon the initiative of the reputable think tank organization Balkan Forum from Kosovo, and with the support of the Rockefeller Brothers Fund from the United States.
