Circular Economy and Zero Waste for Environmental Education

Now, more than ever, environmental education (EE) is needed in order to meet the ecological challenges following centuries of human impact on the planet. Two novel approaches – circular economy and Zero Waste – can contribute to environmental education curricula. The first refers to a non-linear economic system that retains energy and raw materials as much as possible. The second stresses the importance of limiting the amount of waste produced. This article explores the meaning of waste, and what circular economy and Zero Waste might mean for environmental education and, ultimately, for the environment.