# Read: Linear vs. Circular - A fundamental rethink
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##### The Conventional Model: Linear Procurement

The procurement model most used today is the linear procurement model. This approach is fundamentally focused on a straightforward, one-way path: 

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Acquiring resources (Take) 

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Transforming them into products or services (Make) 

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Consuming those goods (Use) 

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Disposing of any resulting waste (Dispose) 

This 'take, make, consume, dispose' pattern prioritises short-term cost and convenience over long-term sustainability.  It does not consider the environmental or social impacts of resource extraction, the sustainability of materials during the product's use phase, or the possibilities for reuse, repair, or recycling at the end of its life. Consequently, linear procurement is a significant contributor to global challenges like pollution, climate change, and resource scarcity. 

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Figure: A Linear Procurement approach*

*Linear procurement follows a 'take, make, consume, dispose' pattern as depicted above, which does not prioritise efficient resource usage, waste reduction, or circularity principles.** *

##### Sustainable Procurement - where does circularity fit? 

Sustainable procurement considers social, environmental and economic drivers. Within procurement and the supply chain, sustainability can be defined as the process of making decisions that benefit not only the organisation but society as a whole, while minimising its impact on the environment. This means considering social and environmental factors alongside purely financial and economic ones. 

Environmentally sustainable procurement, a part of sustainable procurement, considers minimising negative impact on the environment, while enhancing positive outcomes. Circular procurement may be considered as a subset of environmentally sustainable procurement.    

##### Circular Procurement 

*Figure: Linear economy vs. Circular economy*

Circular procurement is an approach that supports a transition to a circular economy by purchasing works, goods, or services that are designed to create closed energy and material loops within supply chains. The primary goal is to minimise, or ideally avoid, the generation of waste and other negative environmental impacts. 

This represents a fundamental shift in thinking. Instead of just asking, "What product do we need to buy?", circular procurement prompts us to ask a more holistic set of questions: 

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Is this purchase necessary? Can the need be met in a different way? 

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Can we procure a service instead of a product? (e.g., leasing furniture instead of buying it). 

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How is the product designed? Is it durable, repairable, and modular? 

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What materials are used? Are they non-toxic, regenerative,  recycled, or recyclable? 

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What happens at the end of its life? Can the product or its components be easily disassembled and reused, remanufactured, or recycled? 

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Image: City of Aalborg’s depiction of circular procurement *

By maximising resource efficiency and fostering closed-loop systems, circular procurement directly addresses the shortcomings of the linear model, leading to reduced environmental impacts and greater long-term value. 

In the next reading activity, you'll explore case studies of circular procurement in action.
