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Global Recycling Day 2026: What Recycling Means for the Circular Economy.
- Mar 18
- 5 min read
Today, Global Recycling Day, is a celebration of the power of recycling and the specific ecological, economic and social values of reusing our planet’s resources. But more than a reflection, it is time for action.
Global Recycling Day (GDR) was created nine years ago by Ranjit Baxi, president of the Global Recycling Foundation. He was on a mission to tell world leaders that recycling is too important to ignore, and to ask people to come together and see the power of recycled goods.
Ranjit invites us to see ‘more than waste’ when we consider recycling. He sees recycled goods as the world's ‘seventh resource’ after the six major natural resources: water, air, coal, oil, natural gas and minerals.
Earth’s seventh resource.
Recycling saves over 700 million tonnes in CO2 emissions every year, which is double the annual emissions of the UK ! This reflects just how much ‘stuff’ there is in circulation today – enough clothes, cars and books to use for generations – as well as manmade materials like plastic or cement. This seventh resource is almost limitless; metals can be remoulded, glass can be reformed and plastics can be reprocessed. Every time materials finds a new life, it reduces the need for the extraction and manufacturing of new products.
This seventh resource helps us to conserve the earth’s six precious resources. Since 1970, humanity has been using Earth’s natural resources at a rate faster than the planet can regenerate. For example, cutting down trees at a faster rate than reforestation can grow them. Earth Overshoot Day marks the date when humanity has used a years’ worth of Earth’s resources, which in 2025 was July 24th. Each year, Earth Overshoot Day occurs a little earlier in the year.
This is why recycling is so much more than managing waste, it gives us a chance to redesign the way we consume and produce, speaking to the circular economy’s ‘reduce, reuse, recycle’ principles which are forming an active part of how to mitigate environmental risk.
What is the circular economy?
The circular economy is a model of production and consumption which minimises waste by keeping products in use for as long as possible. The aim is to decrease waste and pollution by focusing on sharing, repair, reuse, redistribution and redesign of products and materials – leading to a circular lifespan for goods.
Our current linear system – “take-make-waste” is causing huge carbon emissions and environmental degradation; by depleting natural resources to make products that might end up thrown away, after even one use. A recent report by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation found that applying circular economy strategies to five areas (cement, aluminium, steel, plastics, and food) can “eliminate almost half of the remaining emissions from the production of goods”.
As well as helping towards net zero emissions by 2050, circular economy principles allow for innovation and social development through distribution of second-hand products and resources. Specific industries and sectors are already working strongly on reuse or remodelling initiatives – with for instance some car manufacturers creating new lines of remanufactured engines, and the paper industry on track to be 75% recycled by 2030. Many of these efforts for circularity are driven by CAFA members such as the British Metals Recycling Association, Recolight, UK Sustainable Flooring Alliance, Charitable Retail Association, and Charitable Reuse Australia. Industry and sector representatives such as the Association of Manufacturers of Domestic Appliances and the British Coatings Federation are also tackling the challenge head-on.
Recycling and Food
Food is different to other ‘waste’ products in that it physically deteriorates and becomes not fit for purpose. Nearly a third of the food produced worldwide is not consumed - which leads to environmental impacts up to £700 billion every year. However, there are many natural circular solutions to turn surplus food and organic waste into accessible and useful products.
Starting at production, regenerative farming practices like soil cycling and natural composting can increase the health and lifespan of food products. Then, at the distribution point, thinking more carefully about volume and demands can prevent huge wastage at wholesalers and retailers. Organisations like Spoiler Alert prevent edible food waste by coordinating distribution of edible food as well as organising alternative uses like livestock feeding or biogas.
The edible-food waste system has increased massively in the last decade, with new business models like Too Good to Go, and Fairshare, which both redistribute surplus food to consumers, charities or community groups. UK Harvest collects surplus food to help provide for families in need and often runs community kitchens and food banks.
Looking at one sector shows just how far-reaching circular solutions can be. Teaching better farming practices, reducing overconsumption and redistributing surplus leads to a better and fairer society, while meeting our environmental goals.
Policies for the Circular Economy.
At the national and international level, change seems to be on the horizon. The European Commission adopted the circular economy action plan in 2020, and the European Investment Bank has committed €3.4 billion to co-finance 118 circular economy projects in various sectors. These projects have already led to new job markets in circular business models, repurposing and redistribution networks.
The UK’s recycling industry prevents 18 million tonnes of CO2 emissions annually. This is a solid foundation, and progress is going in the right direction. Later this year we can expect the first report from the Government’s Circular Economy Strategy for England. DEFRA Secretary of State Emma Reynolds has outlined textiles, transport, food and plastics as priority areas where they hope to “make reuse and repair the norm”.
Take away
The Global Recycling Foundation invites us to think big, and strive for a wholly circular waste system. For individuals and teams, this starts with removing waste before it is created; choosing not to use plastic packaging, buying food you know you will use. Once a product does enter the system, it should be kept in use. This means relying less on ‘throwaway’ practices, and more on sharing, repairing and reusing, e.g. using reusable water bottles, repairing old laptops, sharing or donating books.
For organisations, the same principles apply – associations and businesses can implement takeback schemes, increase the repairability of their products or even design their business model and operations around repair as illustrated by AMDEA members.
Finally, both individuals and organisations can coordinate around policy engagement to advocate for repair and reuse policies, as illustrated by AMDEA’s policy recommendations e.g. on VAT incentives for repair costs. When a product can’t be shared, remodelled or reused any more, then recycling can be the last step.
We need to look beyond waste and make lasting changes as part of a circular economy. Businesses and trade associations have huge power to lead change – and some are already taking that lead. Whether this comes in the form of individual behavioural changes, using waste as a resource, designing repairable products or advocating for enabling policies, there are multiple ways we can move closer to a circular economy.
CAFA provides the tools and resources membership organisations need to navigate the transition to sustainable practices, supporting associations in understanding climate-related risks, identifying practical sector solutions and guiding members towards more sustainable and resilient practices. By joining our free membership, you can access the frameworks and support to guide members into leaders. Join us today.