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Why go
circular?

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It is becoming abundantly clear that the existing take — make — waste economic model is unsustainable.

With increases in human population and wealth, we have reached record levels of production, consumption, and waste. This has placed significant pressure on our natural systems, our biodiversity, and our future. Waste from this linear approach is visible in our oceans, soils, cities and communities.

We need to radically redesign our systems to -

Design out waste.

Keep materials in use and inflow.

Regenerate our living systems.

by unlocking our human potential.

 
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The circularity gap—

 
 
 
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80%

of the environmental impacts for everything we make and consume are estimated to be determined at the design stage.

 
 
 

Less than 9%

of the resources we use to make products and the world around us is cycled back in for reuse.

Source: The Circularity Gap Report

Circularity waste audit capture

Circularity waste audit capture

 
 
 

45%

of global carbon emissions are associated with making products - the cars, clothes, food, and other products we use every day. Today’s efforts to combat climate change have focused mainly on the critical role of renewable energy and efficiency measures. However, meeting climate targets will also require tackling this remaining 45%. A circular economy offers a systemic and cost-effective approach to tackling this challenge.

 
 
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Source: adapted from Circular Economy - Master Circular Business with the Value Hill 2016

Source: adapted from Circular Economy - Master Circular Business with the Value Hill 2016

Redesigning the impacts of BAU with a circular economy.

The Circular Economy is a compelling, prosperous business model that will help us manage our resources to achieve growth without environmental degradation. New circular business models turn waste into value and design it out in the first place. This opportunity is estimated to be worth $4.5 trillion globally in 2030 and up to $8.8 billion in economic activity in Auckland. It is a lens by which we can view product creation, waste disposal and will create growth economies where everything that is made can be unmade. Aligning value creation, with our value for the future. One that’s more resilient, regenerative and restorative by design.

 
 
 

This is the new narrative for innovation and progress.

 
 
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XLabs Gallery
Designing a 'Cultural Nutrient Cycle' at XLabs

How might we decolonise the circular economy?

This is the all-important question raised at XLabs by The Western Initiative, a place-based initiative that works to find radical solutions to some of West Auckland’s most pressing social and economic challenges.

Redesigning our water transport

“For us at EV Maritime, XLabs has helped us to see that there are many deeper ways in which a circular economy lens can help us contribute. It’s given us more multi-dimensional ways of solving deep, systemic challenges - and ultimately - unlocking a path to the better future we want for our city, our country, and more broadly, all the harbour cities of the world.”

— Michael Eaglen, EV Maritime

Read more stories of circular transformation created at XLabs

Working towards a regenerative future for growing our food

Team LeaderBrand came into XLabs LIVE to find a solution for this challenge, asking how they might reduce environmental impact across 2500 ha of vegetable crops by minimising surplus/leachable nitrogen and regenerating living systems?

Creating the best shoes for a new generation of sharing

At XLabs, Bobux explored how they might find a solution for the 1 million pairs of children <7 shoes that go to landfill every year.

Designing a bio-based economy for materials used in agriculture processing

While ‘PPE’ has become synonymous with facemasks, shields, and gloves during the pandemic, the team from Silver Fern Farms that came to XLabs LIVE has a different view. To them, PPE represents the thin plastic line that protects workers, products, and customers in their meat processing plants around the country.

Closing the loop on waste by reimagining how we build our homes

Fletcher Building demonstrated industry leadership at XLabs by tackling the challenge of MDF waste streams.

 
 
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"The global economy is consuming a 100 billion tonnes of materials per year, this has a significant impact on our living systems and resources. We unlock your agency as an organisation to regenerate the living systems you operate in. Be it a ski mountain, a forest, an ocean or a city we are all part of a living system and are reliant on its health. What will be your legacy?"

- Circularity