How to apply the circular economy at home?

Water bottles, cloth bags, washable wipes or menstrual pants: reusable products continue to win us over. As ecological as they are economical, they have found their place in our daily lives. Adopting these alternatives is a gentle first step towards more responsible consumption.

Compost is a perfect example of the circular economy. Composed of kitchen and garden waste, it enriches the soil by providing essential resources. Composting reduces waste production, limits greenhouse gas emissions and cuts down on the use of chemical fertilizers. All benefits!

Before throwing away an unwanted item, it’s now customary to resell or donate it. Numerous platforms, such as Leboncoin, Vinted and Emmaüs, facilitate this approach. In addition to making someone else happy, you reduce waste production and the consumption of new resources.

A broken electronic device may only need a few taps with a screwdriver to get it working again. Thanks to online tutorials and repair cafés, you can give them a second life. Repairing your products can also save you a considerable amount of money, while reducing the consumption of raw materials.

Preparing your own household products is as good for the planet as it is for your health! Just a few natural, harmless ingredients, such as white vinegar, baking soda or black soap, are all you need to create versatile products that combine ecology and effectiveness to perfection.

Buying in bulk is the ideal way to limit single-use plastic. Dry foods (cereals, pasta, nuts, etc.) are packaged in recyclable kraft bags or glass jars. This method of consumption also allows you to choose the exact quantity you need, thus reducing food waste.

Recycling has two major positive effects: it reduces the volume of waste and preserves natural resources by reusing materials. Now a reflex for many of us, selective sorting is based on instructions that can vary from town to town. So it’s important to find out what you need to know to ensure effective recycling.

To limit food waste and better manage your purchases, there’s nothing like planning your meals and drawing up a precise shopping list. Buying only what you need also helps you eat more healthily and resist impulse buying at the supermarket.

Also known as value recycling, upcycling aims to transform old objects or clothing into products of superior quality or with a different purpose. An old T-shirt with a hole in it can be reborn as a bag, while an empty can becomes an original flowerpot. Creative and ingenious, this approach gives new life to materials.

Today, it’s commonplace to find all kinds of products sold without packaging, including soaps and solid shampoos. The zero-waste approach is encouraging brands to reduce the use of plastic and adopt recyclable alternatives that are more respectful of the environment.

After being meticulously repaired and cleaned, reconditioned appliances are put back on the market. Often just as efficient as new models, they also cost less. Opting for a second-hand smartphone or computer limits the demand for new products and saves you money.

A pillar of the circular and solidarity economy, donations prolong the life of objects that are no longer useful to their owners: books, toys, children’s clothes… There are many ways of circulating them, such as the book boxes that are springing up everywhere, or the boxes containing various items that invite passers-by to help themselves for free.

Why invest in a device that’s only going to be used once a year? To answer this question, applications have been designed to encourage mutual aid and the sharing of goods. In addition to strengthening ties between neighbors, sharing and bartering avoid the purchase of new equipment that is not always useful.

Water is a precious resource that should not be wasted. A simple solution exists to preserve it: recover and use rainwater. You can use it to water your garden or wash your car – uses that don’t require drinking water.

Promoting the circular economy means passing on the values of sharing, solidarity and respect for the environment. By disseminating best practices, mentalities evolve and consumption habits gradually change. Even when applied on a small scale, this model has significant positive effects that we need to promote in order to build a more responsible world.