Can India Leapfrog the Linear Trap?

Photo by Arka Dutta on Uplash

A Tradition of Circularity

Between 2010 and 2015, during my summer breaks, I used to gather all my used study materials and sell them to the scrap collectors. The $1 I earned from this felt like a fortune, enough to buy popsicles for the whole summer. This is what I remember about how ingrained the circular economy values are in the traditions of this agrarian country, India. Recycling and maximum resource utilization were always followed up by this nation in the past.

Growth Pressure and the Linear Model

However, this informal method of resource management cannot sustain the staggering 7.4% annual economic growth. This growth puts pressure on virgin raw materials and the unmanaged waste generated. India has been following the footsteps of developed nations in many ways, which has led to the linear model of take-make-dispose, a model that has clearly failed in reaching the sustainability goals of the global West. These countries invested heavily in end-of-the-line processes, such as recycling, incineration, and landfills, rather than reuse and refurbishment. The same applies to the transport sector, where infrastructure is developed for individual car ownership rather than focusing on public transport or car sharing. These actions led to lock-ins of capital and infrastructure, and retrofitting these systems now seems quite challenging. These examples show why India must avoid repeating the same mistakes and should focus on leapfrogging into circular solutions.

India at a Crossroad

India is at a unique crossroad: to create a path of its own or to follow the previous ones leading to roadblocks. Seventy percent of the nation’s buildings in 2030 have yet to be built, and similar opportunities exist in other sectors. The majority of the waste is managed by the informal sector to support their livelihood. However, this often leads to downcycling of material value and results in unsanitary and poor working conditions. With its advanced IT sector and a well-educated young workforce, India has the potential to create a path for the rest of the world to follow. With already mature technologies and clearer policies developed by global bodies like the UN, IPCC, and others, the path seems feasible.

Policy Gaps and Systemic Challenges

Achieving a circular economy for a rich and diverse country like India will be a challenging task. This nation has passed many policies on sustainability and the circular economy, but lacks proper implementation. In addition, policies focused on individual sectors may hinder others. For instance,

subsidies on fertilizer led to overuse, resulting in deteriorating soil quality. Despite having a good digital system, there is no proper data regarding waste management. India generates around 50 million tonnes of municipal solid waste, with only approximately 50% treated. Unregulated landfills create environmental problems, including reduced water quality from leachate, methane emissions causing air pollution, and unsanitary conditions affecting nearby communities. In addition to that, most affected people are the marginalized communities. As with all emerging nations, adequate funding and fund management are also major setbacks, especially in the R&D sector. Without integrated and cross-sectoral policies, achieving a circular economy will be challenging.

Glimmers of Innovation

Glimmers of hope are emerging from the private sector through innovation and breaking the norms. WorldHaus, a construction company using modular construction technology, claims to use 20% less concrete and 80% less steel, a remarkable leap compared to traditional methods. In the field of waste management, INORA creates value from waste by extracting nutrients and energy. Zoomcar, Uber, and Ola are creating huge opportunities in the transportation sector by providing vehicle rentals and car-sharing opportunities. Auto rickshaws account for around 20% of transportation in major cities of India. The company Kabadiwala Connect helps in digitalizing waste pickers and scrap collectors in neighbourhood areas, improving accessibility to resale or waste collection. Another notable organization is SWaCH, a pro-poor, women-run initiative helping informal waste collectors access more hygienic working conditions, gain social acceptance, and improve their livelihoods. These unique stories are becoming less unique in India. As per the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, if India adopts a circular path, it could create 10 million jobs, reduce GHG emissions by 44%, and meet the Paris Agreement targets by 2050. Change is already occurring in the nation; however, scaling these ideas requires more funding and recognition by the government and society.

The Way Forward

The path towards circularity for India will be long and challenging, requiring strong dedication and coordinated action. Proper leadership and vision are essential, and India possesses the potential to provide both. With the government implementing long-term policies in collaboration with national, state, and local authorities, meaningful progress can be achieved. Fostering multi-sectoral collaboration and providing single-window clearance for companies and projects would attract investors and reduce delays. Opening doors to international partnerships and aligning with global organizations can facilitate access to foreign investment and technology. The waste management sector should be closely monitored, with waste segmentation and collection implemented from the lowest levels and informal activities formalized. Focus must be on improving existing recycling technologies to retain material value, and enforcing Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) will encourage product designs suitable for refurbishment, recycling, and overall circularity. Change must also happen at the grassroots level, as today’s children are tomorrow’s decision-makers. National-level campaigns and teaching modules in schools can instill awareness and embed circular economy principles in the upcoming generation. Change should also happen at the grassroots level, as the children of today are the youth of tomorrow who will run the nation. National-level campaigns and teaching modules in schools will create much-needed awareness in the upcoming generation.

Shaping Consumer Behavior and New Metrics

From my perspective, the most crucial factor is shifting consumer behavior. Many people perceive that using recycled materials or reusing items makes them “lesser,” or that owning more cars and the latest gadgets demonstrates prosperity. Without such behavioral change, producers will face challenges in creating circular products, which often come with higher costs. Furthermore, a systemic shift is needed where national growth is measured not solely by GDP under the linear industrial model, but by metrics that account for waste reduction, carbon emissions, and resource efficiency. The focus should equally prioritize the well-being of humans and the environment.

A Vision for Circular India

Switching back to the circular path that India was traditionally rooted in can significantly enhance the nation’s environmental, social, and economic well-being, while positioning India as a global model for sustainable development. Success would mean millions of jobs created, reduced greenhouse gas emissions, improved livelihoods for informal workers, and a resilient, resource-efficient economy.