A lot of information about sustainability and how it is tied into our capitalistic society. Enjoy the detail and examples!

I work within the Zero Waste retail sector so I was really looking forward to reading this title. The discussion points within the book appeal to a range of readers - from simplistic theories to understanding the more complex aspects of moving towards a waste-free world.

THE WASTE-FREE WORLD by Ron Gonen seeks to describe "How the Circular Economy Will Take Less, Make More, and Save the Planet." Gonen, an experienced and recognized authority on recycling and sustainability, looks first at "Defeating Take and Waste" where he argues that "transitioning to circular methods of production, distribution, consumption, and reuse of products and materials will not only heal the planet; it also holds enormous economic opportunity." Subsequent chapters advocate for action in more detail by exploring "A Wealth of Circular Solutions" that deal with areas like forests, greener groceries, and the sustainable closet. Gonen provides an historical overview; for example, he notes trends from the Scott Paper Dress of the late 1960s, through fast fashion to more sustainable clothing, employing technology to promote resale (like ThredUp or ShopThrilling) and on to newer innovations such as using micro algae to produce cloth. An extensive set of notes (including references that span several decades) comprises roughly thirty percent of the text which offers numerous ideas for both producers and consumers.

WASTE-FREE WORLD

The trouble with many books about environmentalism is that they often come across as the work of bleeding heart tree-huggers out to save the world.

Small wonder, therefore, that climate change remains a hotly contested subject in spite of the overwhelming scientific consensus that it’s real. If material on the topic isn’t too technical for a mainstream audience, it will most likely chronicle feel-good initiatives of groups for whom the environmental activism is an advocacy.

On that note, Ron Gonen’s book, The Waste-Free World: How the Circular Economy Will Take Less, Make More, and Save the Planet falls right in the middle of these extremes. As a policy wonk, he is sufficiently versed in environmental science and economics and has no qualms citing relevant statistics to make a case for some climate activism or other. As an investor and observer of “green” initiatives, he’s enough of an insider to talk about the innovations that both old and new businesses are implementing to have a neutral or even positive environmental impact.

It’s this unique combination of traits that makes The Waste-Free World a valuable resource for anyone curious about the circular economy. While the term has been bandied about for years in reference to production and consumption patterns that are less wasteful than those of society today, the “circular” concept is sometimes likened to a fringe ideal achievable only by those who choose to go off-grid and commune with nature. Not so, Gonen points out: commercial and scientific developments have made it such that an increasing number of people can undertake economic activity that is not just more circular—renewing the environment rather than using it up—but even profitable.

The wonderful thing about The Waste-Free World is that it is not only prescriptive but also descriptive: Gonen does not only talk about the things that are wrong with our lifestyles that we should correct, but he cites numerous examples and trends of how things can be and are getting better, whether in terms of recycling/upcycling, carbon sequestration, or simply making farming more circular (as it was in the first place). Even though some of the technologies or business models he highlights are still early stage, it’s enough to get people thinking about how they can bring their lifestyles more in line with circular principles, and thereby imagine that a healthier relationship between people and the environment is already possible today.