Nature is the ultimate Closed-Loop system. There is a purpose to everything nature creates. Leaves grow to provide energy for a tree, fall off in autumn, blanket and insulate the ground in winter, and rot in spring to create nourishment for plants and organisms. When life ends in one capacity, it is changed to a different form. Nature and its systems have been long-time inspirations for me when living Zero Waste.
As I was living a Zero Waste lifestyle, inspired by Bea Johnson’s 5 R’s of Zero Waste (Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Rot), I slowly adapted the principles to what I call Closed-Loop Zero Waste (see diagram). I use this version to align my actions to materials and systems that the earth is more aligned with. The R’s of Closed-Loop Zero Waste consist of two main differences from other Zero Waste versions:
- Prioritize the use of materials that align with nature and its systems: when a material is no longer usable, it can be given back to the earth and add value to it.
- Rely less on the recycling industry. Fundamental pieces like repair and repurpose have their own space in the primary set of Rs to allow for this.
The earth is our material home and in essence is a Closed-Loop, so it is used in the diagram to represent this idea of a Closed-Loop lifestyle. Living a Closed-Loop Zero Waste lifestyle is about living more in alignment with the earth and its natural systems, using materials that, in the end, can be given back to the earth, reducing the resources you use and in general the negative effect you have on the environment. This diagram speaks to how you can choose and manage materials in your life in a more Closed-Loop way.
There are 7 R’s: refuse, reduce, reuse, repair, repurpose, recycle, rot.
- Refuse materials that do not align with nature.
- Reduce to what you need, use and love.
- Reuse materials as is; choose reusable items instead of single use.
- Repair what can be fixed.
- Repurpose what can’t be fixed.
- Recycle acceptable materials.
- Rot compostable materials to nourish and support the earth in creating more resources.
Ideally, we would choose to use items made with materials that can go through the entire Closed-Loop and be returned to the earth through composting, those materials being 100% natural fabrics, wood, stone, etc. Compostable materials can enrich the earth. The arrow is moving in a clockwise motion to demonstrate that we start at refusing items and move clockwise through the other Rs when accepting and managing materials.
Starting at refuse will help align our actions to prioritize materials that can move through the whole closed-loop system and be returned back to nature. Do this as best you can. The goal is to have a shift in mindset and to become more intentional and aware of what you are consuming and how it affects the environment. Perfectionism to refuse every item that is not aligned with nature would not be sustainable for your mental health, as this can be quite tricky with certain items. Just get creative and have fun with the process!
Reducing to what we need, use, and love is next. When we reduce the items in our lives, there will be significant less waste because we are reducing our need for those resources in the first place. When we accept a material into our lives, we then have to reuse, repair, repurpose, recycle, or rot that material.
When we use materials, like petroleum-based plastic, they won’t be returned to the earth through composting, and therefore exit the Closed-Loop system. This can happen when plastic is recycled until downcycling has occurred to the point that the material is landfilled. Non-recyclable plastics go directly to the landfill once they no longer can be reused, repaired, or repurposed. For this reason, recycle also has a space on the outside of the earth diagram. It is the catch-all for those materials that cannot be refused, reduced, reused, repaired, repurposed, and are not given back to the earth through composting. These materials and the way we currently use them do not quite fit into the Closed-Loop, as these types of plastics break into microplastics, which can be contaminates to our environment and living species. (Read more about this here and here.)
Did you know 10-15% of residual waste during the recycling process is sent to the landfill? Not so Closed-Loop, is it? This residual waste can be made up of tapes, staples, glues, and other materials that cannot be part of the recycled product. The landfill is also represented on the diagram, not as part of the Closed-Loop system, but as a tumor on the earth that we are creating with many different types of materials: synthetic, and in reality, compostable materials as well, unfortunately. The recycling facility adds to that landfill waste.
This is not to say that I, or anyone else, can do this perfectly. Perfectionism is not conducive for our mental health or ability to maintain a sustainable life. I feel this applies to any changes you make within your life, not just regarding a low-waste lifestyle. This lifestyle guides my decisions when managing the materials I bring into my home, but that isn’t to say I never send a material to the landfill or recycling facility, although those times have been significantly reduced. Holding myself or the people around me to the standard of perfectionism isn’t inspiring or motivating for anyone. Rather, I focus on creating a love and curiosity for learning, harnessing creativity, and taking small steps during this process. I invite you to do the same as you start considering the materials in your life and how they fit into nature’s amazing, Closed-Loop system!
A HUGE thank you to my talented cousin, Aili Juusola at Design by Aili Juusola, who helped me make this Closed-Loop Zero Waste diagram look cohesive and engaging!