India, Aug. 14 -- There is growing recognition that the way we consume must adapt to a more resource conscious world. Behind every product lies a chain of material extraction, energy use and environmental impact that often goes unseen. The Circularity Gap Report 2025 shows that global material use now exceeds 100 billion tonnes annually, with only 7.2% being cycled back into the economy. According to the UNEP Global Resources Outlook, the extraction of virgin materials has doubled since 2000, contributing to growing ecological stress.

In India, rapid urban and industrial expansion is increasing both material use and waste, now estimated at 62 million tonnes each year. Amid the progress, extreme weather events are putting added pressure o...