Circular economy is not limited to keeping materials in the loop, reducing waste generation, or redesigning systems, it is a roof concept that includes various concepts. Although this roof concept aims to design a new economic model, it is an innovative model that touches all areas that make up an economy as a whole.The concept of circular economy is currently only thought of as waste management. But it covers a wide range of topics, from reducing waste generation to innovative business models, from environmental and social welfare to economic growth. This includes biodiversity loss, which is the main topic of today's article.We will examine the impact of circular economy on biodiversity with reference to the report "Tackling root causes - Halting biodiversity loss through the circular economy." The report was published by the Finnish Innovation Fund Sitra, which we cited many times in previous issues.Let's start by defining biodiversity.<h2 fr-original-style="" style="margin: 0px; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.85); font-weight: 500; padding: 0px; box-sizing: border-box;">🌱&nbsp;Biodiversity</h2>Biodiversity basically defines the diversity of life on Earth. The definition made in 2006 by "The Convention on Biological Diversity,"&nbsp;which acts as a part of the United Nations Environment Program, is as follows:<blockquote fr-original-style="color: rgb(9, 9, 9); border-color: rgb(92, 142, 77); border-width: 4px; font-style: italic; padding-left: 10px;" style="color: rgb(9, 9, 9); border-color: rgb(92, 142, 77); border-width: 4px; font-style: italic; padding-left: 10px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; border-left-style: solid; box-sizing: border-box;">“The variability among living organisms from all sources including, inter alia, terrestrial, marine and other aquatic ecosystems and the ecological complexes of which they are part; this includes diversity within species, between species and of ecosystems.”</blockquote>The word biodiversity is often confused with natural life or nature. While natural life or nature usually means&nbsp;"life itself," biodiversity refers to a characteristic of life, its diversity. To summarize, we can say that biodiversity is not all life, but the diversity within that life.Loss of biodiversity essentially means a decrease in this diversity. It is also possible to think of biodiversity loss in terms of extinct animals, disappearing forests or any other resource that is no longer found in nature.<h3 fr-original-style="" style="margin: 0px; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.85); font-weight: 500; padding: 0px; box-sizing: border-box;">🌱 Humanity x Biodiversity</h3>As we explained above, biodiversity is a fundamental characteristic of life on Earth. This gives biodiversity a critical importance not only for humanity, but for all life on Earth. The report discusses the importance of biodiversity in three categories:<ul fr-original-style="padding-inline-start: 20px;" style="padding-inline-start: 20px; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1em; list-style-position: inside; box-sizing: border-box;"><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: border-box;">Benefits for humanity. Biodiversity provides access to the resources necessary for humanity to survive. These resources that exist thanks to biodiversity, such as water resources, clean air, or pollination, are among the first reasons biodiversity is critical.</li></ul>🔎Circular Economy 101’s take:&nbsp;We have included this category it is mentioned in the report, but it is important to note that natural resources do not only create benefits for "humanity," but that all living beings on earth depend on the resources that exist thanks to biodiversity. Don't you think the fact that such definitions of international importance are narrowly focused on "humanity" is also the root cause of the problems we face today?<ul fr-original-style="padding-inline-start: 20px;" style="padding-inline-start: 20px; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1em; list-style-position: inside; box-sizing: border-box;"><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: border-box;">Cultural importance. Thanks to biodiversity, all the diversity, all the resources, and all the life forms that exist in the world provide humanity with resources for cultural, religious, or any other beliefs. This can be seen throughout history in cultural elements that were attributed to nature in various ways.</li></ul>🔎 Circular Economy 101’s take:&nbsp;Another definition centered around humanity.<ul fr-original-style="padding-inline-start: 20px;" style="padding-inline-start: 20px; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1em; list-style-position: inside; box-sizing: border-box;"><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: border-box;">Real benefit. The last bullet point of biodiversity’s importance is its real value. In other words, it is of critical importance on its own, even without the benefits it creates for humanity. This real, genuine importance is the most important motivation for the protection of biodiversity.</li></ul><h2 fr-original-style="" style="margin: 0px; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.85); font-weight: 500; padding: 0px; box-sizing: border-box;">📍 Why are we losing biodiversity?</h2>The Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) identifies five issues that directly contribute to biodiversity loss around the world:<ul fr-original-style="padding-inline-start: 20px;" style="padding-inline-start: 20px; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1em; list-style-position: inside; box-sizing: border-box;"><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: border-box;">Changes in the use of land and seas.&nbsp;Degradation and modification of natural habitats for industrial and agricultural activities.</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: border-box;">Destruction of natural resources. Unsustainable use of natural resources for raw materials and not allowing nature to regenerate itself.</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: border-box;">Climate change.&nbsp;Biodiversity loss and climate change are fundamentally linked. The disruption of natural ecosystems lead to extreme weather events, natural disasters and abnormal temperature changes, which of course destabilize nature and lead to biodiversity loss.</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: border-box;">Pollution.&nbsp;Pollution, especially from industrial activities and waste, affects all natural resources. In addition to direct harm to human life, such as water and air pollution, it poses a significant threat to all living things by causing biodiversity loss.</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: border-box;">The spread of invasive species. Invasive species in ecosystems outside of their natural habitat cause biodiversity loss by taking over the ecosystems they invade. The spread of these invasive species is sometimes caused by human activities and sometimes by migration due to the scarcity of resources.</li></ul><h2 fr-original-style="" style="margin: 0px; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.85); font-weight: 500; padding: 0px; box-sizing: border-box;">✅ Circular economy and biodiversity</h2>With its basic principles, the circular economy can prevent biodiversity loss by preventing waste and reducing use of resources. This is already part of circular economy’s concept of "regeneration of natural systems." As the report points out, the positive impact of circular economy on biodiversity is much more extensive than one might think. Circular economy has a positive impact on biodiversity with its principles and it is possible to maximize this positive impact with new policies.Circular economy requires a systemic change. In this way, it would change all of our existing systems from raw material procurement to production, from consumption habits to waste management, and ensures that resources remain in the cycle. This is, of course, an important criterion for natural systems to renew themselves. If the transition into a circular economy is not completed in full "circularity", some remnants of linear economy may cause negative environmental impacts. But this does not prevent circular economy from reducing the pressure that is put on biodiversity, and creating regenerative systems.<h3 fr-original-style="" style="margin: 0px; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.85); font-weight: 500; padding: 0px; box-sizing: border-box;">Regenerative practices</h3>As we are winding down, let us examine the two main influences of circular economy on biodiversity. First, as circular economy aims to change entire systems, it can also change all practices that lead to biodiversity loss. By reusing, renewing and keeping products in the loop, it can reduce the demand for natural resources and allow nature to renew itself. This can have a direct positive impact by reducing pressure on biodiversity.On the other hand, if circular economy adopts innovative models and puts regenerative practices at its center, it can allow nature to renew itself and even increase biodiversity. Regardless of supply or demand, regenerative practices, especially in food and agriculture, can have a direct, positive impact on increasing biodiversity. Regenerative practices, which have recently come to the forefront, especially in agricultural activities, basically aim to renew the soil and increase its productivity by increasing its organic structure. While these practices increase biodiversity, they also improve soil health and increase resilience.In conclusion, as we emphasize in every article, a circular economy doesn’t consist of just a few efficient waste management strategies. Circular economy is a mindset and economic system that proposes a systemic change and should be considered as a whole.By fundamentally changing the way we think and do business, circular economy can lead to environmental, social, and economic prosperity. Therefore, circular economy needs to be learned, adopted, and disseminated by everyone.

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