Living Lighter:
What if we created a positive, inspiring narrative on living and participating in a circular economy?
This page is work in progress - a scribble page to spark discussions - and will evolve through iterations and conversations over the coming months.
This emerging narrative is meant as a complementary sibling to
-
the circular economy narrative focusing on the macroeconomy and businesses
- circular design which focuses on our role as co-creators
The intention is to co-create a narrative on a citizen level that is positive and inspiring.
Why a new narrative?
Today, most narratives about our way of living and our role as citizens & consumers focus on negatives, problems, and ‘shoulds’. They focus on ‘doing less bad’. It’s like someone is raising a finger. Understandably, that isn’t very inspiring and leads to resistance.
What I personally found powerful about the circular economy narrative on the macro-scale is how it inspired the imagination of creatives, business people, policymakers, and groups across the spectrum of politics and society.
It gave us a positive vision and direction. A 16th-century map that we could explore and refine together over time.
The circular economy narrative also didn’t bark at the problem but focused on new, exciting possibilities. It recognised the importance of the current system dynamics (e.g. by putting ‘economics’ right into the name). It drew inspiration from powerful, timeless principles from natural systems such as the timelessness of circular flows and built on insightful schools of thought and the great work of others: Cradle to Cradle, Performance Economy, Biomimicry, Industrial Ecology, Regenerative Design, and Blue Economy1.
What if we co-created an inspiring narrative similarly for us as citizens & consumers?
1 Ellen MacArthur Foundation, https://ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/schools-of-thought-that-inspired-the-circular-economy, accessed on 20 April 2023.
Essentialism and circularity as inspirations
Essentialism, a “disciplined pursuit of less” as Greg McKeown describes it, builds on the realisation that less often is better and that some things have an over-proportional impact. This principle of ‘less but better’ is also deeply embedded in many design philosophies, such as Dieter Ram’s 10 principles for good design. What if we see essentialism as a way to create more space for what we love? To increase quality of life, through decluttering and focusing on what matters to us?
In a broader sense, circularity, as evident in natural systems, inspires us to think in nutritious flows, cycles, and ecosystems. To see all (material, information, value, energy) flows in their respective context and shape their ability to be useful, valuable and life-friendly. More specifically, circular economy, as an economic solutions framework, encourages us to address our true needs decoupled from linear material flows with the associated negative effects.
Benefits of living lighter
- Quality of life. More space, peace. Less noise. More focus on what we love. Every item we own takes some headspace. We come across it - it triggers thought processes or pulls our mind into a direction. Some things we own, such as cars, also lead to paperwork and admin such as insurance, repair, service, etc.
- Responsible lifestyle. Living lighter and embracing a ‘circular lifestyle’ has positive effects on our surrounding ecosystems. We use fewer resources, we generate less waste and pollution.
- Freedom. Often embracing essentialism and circular economy principles also helps us to become more financially independent. Owning fewer but high-quality, durable and multi-purpose things that we love and use regularly can help us save money in the longer term and gain more freedom and abundance.
Questions
- Could living lighter be more attractive as a lifestyle, than wasteful, extractive consumption? Think: low-quality products that break quickly, short use cycles and quick disposal, products designed for obsolescence, things that are rarely used, things that are not deeply loved and valued?
- Is decoupling of economic activity from material flows possible - can we earn and spend more in a circular economy (on a business or individual level) without having a larger negative impact? Are higher income and macroeconomic growth necessarily leading to negative environmental impacts? What if I earn more and spend more on services like yoga? Do we need growth (and what kind of)? How can we live abundantly, and what could an exciting vision look like?
- Is there a shift towards experiences away from buying stuff? What % of the economy of tomorrow might be material consumption vs experiences, services etc?
Drawing inspiration from circular economy principles, when it comes to consumption on a individual level
1 Eliminate waste
and pollution
Broader: Letting go
Letting go of burdens. Selling or giving to another person anything that doesn’t get used & loved much
Letting go of complexity. Living a simpler, more local life.
Letting go of materiality.
- What can I let go of? What is non-essential and frees up space for what I really love?
- Can I enable another life and incarnation for this product or material? Can I give it into the good hands of someone who really loves and appreciates this? Can it be repaired, repurposed or recycled?
Letting go of complexity. Living a simpler, more local life.
- Can I find nourishment and exploration in my local ecosystem?
Letting go of materiality.
- What experience or service could address my real underlying need (instead of buying one more product)?
2 Circulate at
highest value
Broader:
Enabling flow
Among the things I own and that are in my circle of influence: How could I circulate, use and value this better?
Enabling flow: How might I share or get access to things I don’t need often
- How can I be a respectful, caring owner of this creation?
- How can I use this more and enjoy it more?
- What could I value, love and maintain more?
Enabling flow: How might I share or get access to things I don’t need often
- Can I share the joy of a thing with someone, by lending it?
- What do I want to use (get access to) - without the burden of ownership?
3 Regenerate
natural systems
Broader: plant
and grow
What could really ‘regenerate’ and be valuable?
When buying something: what seed do I intend to nourish?
- What could I learn or receive from nature?
When buying something: what seed do I intend to nourish?
- Do I love this item and will I be a good owner and caretaker of this?
- Will I use this item often - or could I rent it?
- Is it durable, reusable, multi-purpose, high-quality?