The “circular economy” offers a different approach: instead of the linear “take-make-waste” model, we could reuse, repair and recycle materials. Over the past decade, the idea of a circular economy gained significant traction, inspiring some to aim for a zero-waste lifestyle. This raises the question why – with all the enthusiasm for a circular economy – are we still struggling to make meaningful progress towards it? The concept of a circular economy assumes that materials can be reused indefinitely without any degradation. While circular economy efforts often fall short, there are ways to move forward.