Solar e-waste crisis

Sustainable tile offerings are so plentiful now that it’s downright irresponsible not to consider an Earth-friendly finish in your kitchen. Here are some of our favorite tiles—and how some of our favorite designers are using them.

If you’re someone who has a reusable coffee cup (and remembers to use it), has a compost at home and regularly engages in meat-free mondays, then you might have heard of the phrase the Circular Economy (CE) before.  While most people assume that the CE is just about recycling (and no shade if you do), it actually goes much deeper than that—in fact, recycling is the last resort when it comes to an ideal CE. To put it simply, the theory behind the CE is about transforming our current linear consumption model (Take-Make-Waste) into a circular one that keeps products and services in use for longer (well, forever) to reduce environmental impact and protect precious natural resources. The benefits of the CE are endless, but in short it enables us all to consume more consciously, without compromising on quality, cost or experience.

A recent study by global consultant Frost & Sullivan finds that the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member nations’ aspirations for sustainability are driving the replacement of linear waste management models with circular models, creating a new wave of opportunities. The report titled  Circular Economy Redefining the GCC Waste Management Market, 2021, gives a detailed analysis of the growing opportunity in waste management in the region.  Population growth and accelerated economic development are increasing total waste generation in the region (including construction and demolition (C&D) waste, municipal solid waste (MSW), plastic waste, and lead-acid battery waste). If unchecked, this could result in an increase from 130.6 million metric tons in 2021 to 163.9 million metric tons by 2025. A transition toward circular models is already underway, as with the UAE’s Circular Economy Policy 2021-2031 and the KSA’s Circular Carbon Economy. The policies reflect the region’s commitment to meeting the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) while enhancing the quality of life for residents.