The Circular Economy of Edo Japan

Edo Japan thrived as a large urban center in the 18th century, evidence of an early circular economy that prioritized sustainability. The community engaged in practices such as repurposing clothing and recycling materials, allowing resources to be reused multiple times before disposal. Traditions like borro emerged, highlighting this culture of sustainability, where items like kimonos transitioned through various uses, ultimately being transformed into cleaning cloths or even used for fuel. This historical example demonstrates that an ecological civilization is possible, contrary to the wastefulness seen in modern consumer capitalism.