Kuala Lampur, June 6 -- In recent years, the concept of a circular economy has captured the imagination of policymakers, businesses, and environmentalists worldwide. It promises a world where products are designed to last, materials are reused, and waste is minimised - a refreshing alternative to the extractive, waste-heavy systems that have dominated for decades. But while much of the conversation revolves around high-tech recycling innovations and sophisticated industrial systems, there lies a compelling, often overlooked truth: the poor have been practicing forms of circularity for generations.

From informal recyclers in Nairobi to artisans in Manila, millions of low-income communities already rely on waste as a means of survival. The...