Start thinking with a ‘circular economy’ mindset. Every purchasing decision you make should start with an assessment of whether the item is really necessary. Ensure you understand the entire life cycle of every product you provide or purchase.
You may see a couple of terms mentioned in relation to the life cycle of products. The first of these is circular economy. A circular economy is one where the life cycles of products are maximised, with materials being reutilised at the end of their life.
The second term is product stewardship. Essentially this refers to managing the environmental impact of a product responsibly, at all stages of its life cycle.
Video: What a circular economy means for New Zealand and our environment