雅思阅读

📖 Reading Passage

The concept of 'circular economy' has gained significant traction in recent years as a response to the linear 'take-make-dispose' model that dominates modern production. Unlike traditional recycling, which often downcycles materials into lower-quality products, a circular economy aims to design out waste entirely by keeping resources in use at their highest value for as long as possible. This requires systemic changes in product design, business models, and consumer behavior. For instance, products must be modular and repairable, and companies may shift from selling goods to leasing them, thereby retaining ownership and responsibility for the product's lifecycle. While critics argue that such transformations are economically impractical, proponents contend that long-term resource scarcity and environmental degradation make the circular model not only viable but essential for sustainable growth.