Circular economy

There is good news and bad news. The bad news first: on average, every European consumes around 14 tonnes of raw materials each year and produces about 5 tonnes of waste. (1) Worldwide, more than 100 billion tonnes of materials are even extracted from nature to keep our economy running. (2) The good news: that does not necessarily mean these raw materials are lost for good or that waste has to end up forever in landfills, in the ocean, or elsewhere. Because this is exactly where the idea of the circular economy comes in.

This is not a new invention. Let’s just say: over the course of history, it was temporarily forgotten that raw materials are finite and that we should pay attention not only to ourselves, but also to the environment from time to time. Actually, it is the only logical thing to do: if there is little of a raw material available, then of course you do not want to waste any of it, so you try to use it as sparingly as possible; and if possible, you naturally also make sure that the raw material is reused once you have used it. Repair, recycle, reuse. So far, those are the basics. But slowly.

Since the industrial revolution, i.e. since the time when people were still incredibly happy when masses of pitch-black smoke came out somewhere, the linear economy has been en vogue. You make something, then you use it, when it's broken you throw it away. A straight line: From the workshop to the recycling center. This type of consumption is a dangerous one-way street towards unchecked climate change.

Current studies show how great the challenge still is. According to the Circularity Gap Report 2025, only around 6.9% of the materials used worldwide come from recycled sources, meaning the vast majority of our economy still operates linearly. (2) At the same time, the global economy most recently caused around 53 billion tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions per year. (2) To limit global warming to 1.5 degrees if possible, these emissions would have to fall drastically by 2030. (2) The circular economy can play a crucial role here: through durable products, the reuse of materials, and recycling, resources can be conserved and emissions significantly reduced. However, the report also shows that recycling alone will not be enough – it is equally crucial to rethink our overall resource consumption and design products so that they can be used for as long as possible. (2)

The circular economy means using renewable energy, extending the useful life of products, and recycling materials. Instead of using raw materials once and then disposing of them, they remain in circulation for as long as possible. This helps conserve resources and reduce emissions.

But the Circularity Gap Report 2025 shows just how great the challenge still is: worldwide, only around 6.9% of the materials used currently come from recycled sources. (2) Most of our economy therefore still operates according to the linear principle of “take – make – waste”. That makes it all the more important to consistently expand circular economy solutions.

Probably the easiest way to rethink consumption is second-hand shopping. There are countless platforms that can help you either give your unused clothes a new life or buy new, used clothes.

Renting clothing or jewelry can also be a good way to save resources. Instead of owning a product for only a short time, it can be used by several people. This extends the lifespan of an item while reducing the need for new production. Especially for special occasions or changing trends, renting fashion can be a sensible alternative to traditional consumption – for you and for the environment.

Before you throw something away, you can consider whether there is more to it than that. The classic: mustard glasses as water glasses or yoghurt pots as flower pots. But I'm sure you can think of many more creative ways to make more of your waste than garbage.l.

At Maren Jewellery, we use only recycled precious metals for our jewellery: 18-carat recycled gold and recycled 925 sterling silver. This means that existing precious metals—such as old gold or production leftovers—are reprocessed and returned to the material cycle. Since precious metals do not lose their quality when melted down, they can be reused again and again without losing value or purity.

Thanks to this principle of recycling, valuable resources remain in circulation and the need for newly extracted raw materials can be reduced. This is especially meaningful for precious metals like gold, as the material has already been in circulation for centuries and can be reshaped and reused time and time again. (Take a look at our Urban Mining Journal).

Our diamonds come from the lab. This not only ensures that the origin of the gemstones is always clear, but we also know that they are just as pure as their natural counterparts. (You can read more about this in the journal article on lab-grown diamonds ).

We also take care to choose our packaging materials as consciously as possible. Our jewelry pieces are either kept in a linen pouch made from European linen, which can continue to be used for a long time. Alternatively, your jewelry piece is stored in paper packaging made in Germany from recycled paper, which is also recyclable.

In doing so, we deliberately avoid many of the materials commonly used in traditional jewelry packaging – such as plastic inserts or foam. Instead, we rely on simple, reusable materials wherever possible that protect the jewelry while also conserving resources. (Take a look at our Packaging Journal.

Our jewelry should belong to you, always be a part of you and be able to accompany you throughout your life. But what if your taste changes and you suddenly don't like your favorite piece anymore? No problem. Because we only use pure precious metal, all Maren Jewelery pieces can be melted down and reassembled..

Your jewelry should only belong to you. That's why it's only produced when you order it. This saves valuable resources and each piece of jewelery is unique. Just like you.

(1) European Environment Agency, "Europe’s circular economy in facts and figures" [Online] Available: https://www.eea.europa.eu/en/analysis/publications/europes-circular-economy-in-facts. Accessed on 2026.03.13

(2) Circle Economy. (2025). "The circularity gap report 2025". [Online] Available: https://cgr-reports.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/cgr-2025-6f75f118/CGR+Global+2025+-+Report.pdf Accessed on 2026.03.13