The Circular Economy Doughnut

The Doughnut is the core concept at the heart of Doughnut Economics. Think of it as a compass for human prosperity in the 21st century, with the aim of meeting the needs of all people within the means of the living planet.

The Doughnut consists of two concentric rings: a social foundation, to ensure that no one is left falling short on life’s essentials, and an ecological ceiling, to ensure that humanity does not collectively overshoot the planetary boundaries that protect Earth's life-supporting systems. Between these two sets of boundaries lies a doughnut-shaped space that is both ecologically safe and socially just: a space in which humanity can thrive.

Watch a short video about the Circular Economy Doughnut here.


The Circular Economy Doughnut

The Circular Economy Butterfly Diagram

This circular economy diagram, known as the Butterfly diagram, illustrates the continuous flow of materials in a circular economy. There are two main cycles- the technical cycle and the biological cycle. In the technical cycle, products and materials are kept in circulation through processes such as reuse, repair, remanufacture and recycling. In the biological cycle, the nutrients from biodegradable materials are returned to the Earth to regenerate nature.

Source: https://ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/circular-economy-diagram

Watch a short video about the Circular Economy Butterfly Diagram here

The Circular Economy Diagram