Maria A. K. Sarwendah
Research Assistant in Center for World Trade Studies UGM

As novel as it sounds, the circular economy should not be perceived as a mere passing trend. The circular economy has long manifested itself as a solution to the prevailing linear economy system. Since the latter has been widely adopted to meet the skyrocketing global consumption demands throughout the 20th century, our society has grown accustomed to the traditional linear production flow of ‘take-make-dispose.’ Based on this flow, natural resources are firstly taken, transformed into consumable goods, and finally discarded as waste. Unfortunately, the same process also puts humanity’s survival at risk through its undesirable impacts on environmental, social, and even economic stability. These impacts are evident in products and waste over-accumulation, higher price volatility, ecosystem services’ erosion, and toxic emissions buildup due to unsustainable natural capital harvesting. read more

Rizky Alif Alvian
Researcher in Center for World Trade Studies UGM

As the idea of circular economy travels from the Global North to the Global South, it is important to assess the extent to which the concept is deemed legitimate by stakeholders in developing countries. This examination is valuable as it would reveal the prospect of what  Geng, Sarkis, and Bleischwitzcall as the globalisation of circular economy. It may provide an early indication as to whether local agents would support the implementation of circular economy at the local space. read more