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The MCW Circular Products Catalog
Here at MCW we like to think of the circular economy as a 2-way street.
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You buy products built for the circular economy when you need them
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You return products to the circular economy when you're done with them
Our aim is to help you with both. Step 1 is finding products made for the circular economy. (skip to step 2)
To expadite this process for you, we've scoured the planet for "sustainable" products and rated them for circularity based on 3 primary criteria...
Reduced Impact on the Planet
Qualities that reuduce impact > Little if any virgin resources are used in the product's composition > The product uses diverted waste stream materials in its composition > Packaging is reusable, recyclable, compostable, or uses less material than similar products > Renewable energy sources are favored in the manufacturing process and overall business operations
Reusability of the Product
Qualities that enable reuse > High quality craftsmanship and materials produce a durable product that can survive multiple use cycles > The product is designed and manufactured in a way that enables easy repairs and/or refurbishment > The product holds a significant value in the secondary use market > There are established platforms of resale available to those who need to use them
Recyclability of the Material
Qualities that enable recycling > The product was made in a way that allows its component materials to be effectively separated > The component material can be used again to make new products of an equal or greater quality > Component materials are infinitely recyclable, or can be safely returned to a natural cycle of materials > There are readily available means to properly recycle component materials
You can find all of these products, along with their ratings in the tabs below. You'll also find everything you need to ensure they get returned to the circular economy when you're done with them.
If you already have something to return (or add) to the circular economy, scroll down to the Return Elements and find what works for you; otherwise browse the products here to start building your circular lifestyle.
Furniture, appliances, cleaning supplies and other things we use to equip our homes add up to more than 150 million tons of waste every year. Only a fraction of this waste stream is recycled, and hardly any of it is circular.
But MCW aligned companies are trying to change this. By designing products with the intention of reusing them & distributing products with the intention of recovering them, we can reduce this unsustainable amount of waste.
Companies are not able to pay for product listings in this catalog but we do earn small commissions on some products if you decide to purchase them through our links. This allows us to keep the site ad free and expands our capacity to facilitate the circular economy.
Step 2 is knowing how to return your products to the circular economy. It's not quite as simple as throwing something in the "recycling" can. BUT
It actually works... you can rest assured that your products are being reused and/or recycled to the fullest extent possible; not buried, incinerated or downcycled.
You'll often find there are benefits for your participation - in the way of discounts on some of your favorite products or straight up cash.
First, it's important to distinguish between technical and biological material cycles
Technical materials are synthetic, like plastic and electronics - they were made by humans. They are crucial to our way of life, but their artificial composition means they cannot be broken down by nature or returned to a biological cycle. Technical nutrients need to be cycled through a tightly managed "techno-sphere" of synthetic materials that does not interfere with natural cycles.
Biological materials are naturally occurring, organic materials provided by nature. Things like trees, water, animals and soil that we use to make things like food, clothing, shelter and more. They have been cycling through Earth's ecosytems for billions of years; and when they are not contaminated with technical nutrients - these systems will take care of the recycling process for us. Aka renewable resources
When technical materials are kept out of biological cycles, nature does the work for us. For billions of years, nature has been cycling resources way more efficiently than humans. We can see how with our own eyes, and in our own homes through composting.
Composting is the gateway for returning biological materials to natural cycles.
In a nutshell... composting is the process of breaking down organic matter (like food scraps & biodegradable materials) into a nutrient rich soil through the natural process of decomposition. When natural material cycles remain uncontaminated - they can recycle everything that's made by nature infinitely; allowing us to use them again and again.
It's not as hard as you thing to get started.
Create a page that acts like a yellow pages (or a Yelp) for composting services across the country. Make its searchable by geographic location because most of these companies will be localized. Describe it here.
Billions of years of practice allow nature to break down biological material without much differentiation. Human-made / technical materials on the other hand do not share the convenience of letting nature take its course.
Until we develop a universal procedure for molecular deconstruction on a global scale, we need to rely on systems of Reuse, Refurbishment, Recycling and Returns to prevent our materials from becoming waste.
Seeing that something is reused after you're done with it has the least negative environmental impact. No time, energy or money is needed to take something apart, put it back together or reprocess the materials that its made of. Best of all, participating in a reuse system gives you the best chance to get some of your initial investment back!