Linear vs Circular Explained

Two Different Ways to Use Resources

To understand the circular economy, it helps to first understand how we’ve traditionally operated: through a linear economy. This “make it, use it, bin it” approach has been the standard model for decades – but it’s no longer sustainable.

Let’s compare the two.

The Two Models at a Glance

Example: An Office Chair

Linear:
A company buys 50 new office chairs for a 5-year lease. When they relocate, the chairs are thrown away – even though they’re still usable. They end up in landfill.

Circular:
A company leases 50 refurbished chairs. After five years, the supplier collects them, refurbishes them again, and passes them on to the next client. Nothing goes to waste.

Why the Linear Model No Longer Works

• Resource depletion:  We’re running out of raw materials.

• Growing waste problem:  Office furniture is bulky and hard to dispose of responsibly.

• Rising costs:  It’s more expensive to keep buying new.

• Environmental damage: Linear systems contribute heavily to carbon emissions and pollution.

Circular: A Smarter Way Forward

Circularity isn’t just about recycling – it starts much earlier:

• Designing products to last

• Choosing sustainable, safe materials

• Creating systems to reuse, repair and recover

• Supporting businesses that follow circular principles

By applying this to office furniture, we can:

• Reduce carbon emissions

• Extend product lifespans

• Keep materials in use longer

• Support green jobs and the reuse economy

Key Takeaways



• The linear model is wasteful and unsustainable.

• The circular model is designed to keep value in the system for longer.

• Office furniture is a perfect candidate for circular practices.

• Small changes in how we buy, use, and dispose of furniture make a big difference.

Test your ability to tell the difference between wasteful systems and smart, circular solutions — and see where your thinking lands.