In order to achieve global sustainability we need to engage in practices which enforce the re-use of materials.

 

Present Day: Linear Economy

 

We are a high-waste society. We manufacture, supply and buy large volumes of goods which are quickly thrown away after use. This is what we call a linear economy. 

At present it is estimated that around 90 billion tonnes of natural resources are extracted every year for consumer use. However, a high percentage of this ends as waste which pollutes our land and seas.

In the UK, the linear economy contributes to an enormous amount of waste. In 2018, the UK sent 8.7 million tonnes of waste to landfill. 

This process is inherently unsustainable. 

 

The Circular Economy

 

A circular economy will challenge our present day lifestyles and business methods. The aim of a circular economy is to eliminate waste. Think of the mantra: reduce, reuse and recycle.

It is undeniable that waste is prolific in today’s society. 

If you engage in fast fashion or continually throw out clothes you are contributing to the 1.72 million tonnes of fashion that enters UK landfill every year! This averages at 11 million items of clothing a week.

If you continually throw out waste food you are contributing to the 10 million tonnes that is sent to landfill a year in the UK – this has a worth of around £20 billion.

Each year the UK household throws away at least 40kg of plastic. As a whole, the UK generates a whopping 5 million tonnes of plastic waste a year.

A major problem with our addiction to consumption is that in the UK we recycle only 44% of our goods.

The Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) states that it takes less energy to recycle and reuse goods such as aluminium and glass than it does to produce new materials. 

In fact, WRAP states that recycling just a singular tonne of aluminium saves up to 9 tonnes of CO2 emissions. And, as for glass recycling, just 1 tonnes saves around 246kg of CO2 emissions. Just imagine how we could influence carbon emissions if we just wasted less!

 

Huub and Circular Economy

 

We won’t claim that we are perfect but we do try damn hard to address waste and improve our relationship with the circular economy. 

If you have read previous blogs you will know that we choose buildings materials that provide minimal environmental impact. 

We use wood from FSC certified suppliers in our modular eco-pods which can be: reused, used for fuel or naturally bio-degrade following the end of its life in our Huubs.  

We also use quality aluminium which contains at least 60% recycled material because we know that this element is not only highly durable but can also be widely reused following its lifecycle with us.

We use steel sheets as cladding for hidden faces of our Huubs since steel is the most recycled element worldwide and we know that it can be put to good use in the future.

Furthermore, our Huubs have large glass windows because we identify that natural light is good for our well-being although, that is not the only reason. Glass can be recycled limitless times and so in the future can be manufactured into new glass panes for new home projects.

As a company we choose to use recycled plastic because we do not want to contribute to the manufacturing of new un-environmentally friendly plastic. By resourcing recycled materials we are elongating the lifecycle of the material and reducing land-fill waste.

As businesses and individuals we must identify that there are always changes we can make to our lifestyles to enforce a more circular economy. It starts with little steps but it can all make a difference to global sustainability. 

 

About us:

Huub is a Dorset based, British company that constructs modular, timber framed, solar powered garden buildings. Huubs are built in an off-site facility in Dorset and offer a great opportunity to generate solar energy and add additional space to your home at a relatively low cost (approximately £1500 per m2).

 

For more information about Huub visit our website: https://www.huub.house/

 

Email us at: sales@huub.space 

Or, phone us on:01305 250429