## What is the Circular Economy?

The **circular economy** refers to the economic system centred around minimising waste and optimising the value of all resources through extending their lifespan and re-introducing them into the economy ('closing the loop') as many times as possible to reduce our waste production and reliance on new materials entering the market.

### How Do We Build a Circular Economy?

We can all work towards achieving a circular economy by:

- Implementing **product stewardship** at all levels of the supply chain
- Reusing products to enjoy their full value
- Repairing damaged goods instead of replacing them
- Recycling or upcycling goods where they cannot be repaired



 

 

 



 

 

### Related topics

    [Energy recovery](https://www.veolia.com/anz/glossary/energy-recovery)

    [Product stewardship](https://www.veolia.com/anz/glossary/product-stewardship)

    [Depollution](https://www.veolia.com/anz/glossary/depollution)

 

 

 





 

 





[**RETURN TO GLOSSARY**](https://www.veolia.com/anz/glossary)



 

 

 

 

 

 





 

 

 

 





### Further reading

 

 [   ![](/sites/g/files/dvc2011/files/styles/media/public/image/2017/10/Reducing-food-wastage-sml_0.jpg.webp?h=e31436ed&itok=_0hJ7fFS "Australia's food cycle")   ](https://www.veolia.com/anz/newsroom/veolia-orchard-seeds-circular-economy-food-waste)[Veolia Orchard seeds circular economy of food waste](https://www.veolia.com/anz/newsroom/veolia-orchard-seeds-circular-economy-food-waste)

 

###       [Veolia Orchard seeds circular economy of food waste](https://www.veolia.com/anz/newsroom/veolia-orchard-seeds-circular-economy-food-waste) 

 

 

 



 

 [   ![Sorting & recycling](/sites/g/files/dvc2011/files/styles/media/public/image/2024/04/Sorting_and_Recycling_0_0.jpg.webp?itok=GKoKgZ5a)   ](https://www.veolia.com/anz/newsroom/our-circular-economy-mission-albury-wodonga)[Veolia’s circular economy mission for Albury Wodonga](https://www.veolia.com/anz/newsroom/our-circular-economy-mission-albury-wodonga)

 

###       [Veolia’s circular economy mission for Albury Wodonga](https://www.veolia.com/anz/newsroom/our-circular-economy-mission-albury-wodonga) 

 

 

 



 

 [   ![](/sites/g/files/dvc2011/files/styles/media/public/image/2021/12/CE%20HERO%20BANNER.PNG.webp?itok=MvPk3hjX)   ](https://www.veolia.com/anz/sustainability/research-innovation-circularity)[Research, Innovation & Circularity](https://www.veolia.com/anz/sustainability/research-innovation-circularity)

 

###       [Research, Innovation & Circularity](https://www.veolia.com/anz/sustainability/research-innovation-circularity) 

 

 

 



 

 

 





**HOW CAN WE HELP YOU?**

**Get in touch with our team to learn more about resource recovery and the solutions we can offer you to contribute to the circular economy.**

[Make an Enquiry](https://www.veolia.com/anz/contact-us)