• The Waste-Free World

  • How the Circular Economy Will Take Less, Make More, and Save the Planet
  • By: Ron Gonen
  • Narrated by: Dan Bittner
  • Length: 8 hrs and 33 mins
  • 4.6 out of 5 stars (26 ratings)

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The Waste-Free World  By  cover art

The Waste-Free World

By: Ron Gonen
Narrated by: Dan Bittner
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Publisher's summary

The next revolution in business will provide for a sustainable future, from founder, CEO and circular economy expert Ron Gonen

Our take-make-waste economy has cost consumers and taxpayers billions while cheating us out of a habitable planet. But it doesn’t have to be this way. The Waste-Free World makes a persuasive, forward-looking case for a circular economic model, a “closed-loop” system that wastes no natural resources. Entrepreneur, CEO, and sustainability expert Ron Gonen argues that circularity is not only crucial for the planet but holds immense business opportunity.

As the founder of an investment firm focused on the circular economy, Gonen reveals brilliant innovations emerging worldwide - “smart” packaging, robotics that optimize recycling, nutrient-rich fabrics, technologies that convert food waste into energy for your home, and many more. Drawing on his experience in technology, business, and city government and interviews with leading entrepreneurs and top companies, he introduces a vital and growing movement.

The Waste-Free World invites us all to take part in a sustainable and prosperous future where companies foster innovation, investors recognize long-term value creation, and consumers can align their values with the products they buy.

©2021 Ron Gonen (P)2021 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

“This clear, practical book will engage anyone who has felt guilty while sorting their rubbish.” (Nature)

“Fighting climate change and investing in sustainable solutions isn’t just good for the planet. It also makes good business sense. Ron Gonen’s Waste-Free World makes a strong case for an economy that is more efficient, sustainable, and prosperous - and Ron has been a leader in creating it.” (Mike Bloomberg, three-term mayor of NYC; entrepreneur and philanthropist)

"Advocating a point without descending into mere rhetoric, the author ventures a well-reasoned case for changing our ways as producers and consumers. Green-minded readers will learn much from Gonen’s investigations." (Kirkus Reviews)

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Great history about our environmental problems

I really learned a lot about the history of some of the environmental problem we face today. Highly recommend it!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Environmentalism: sustainable AND profitable

An optimistic proposition for how rethinking our relationship with extraction and waste can make our world more sustainable and improve our quality of life.

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A good update for Cradle to Cradle / Circular Econ

This is a great, very up to date (2021) book which covers the Cradle to Cradle and Circular Economy ideas over the last 20+ years.

It covers lots of ideas and examples and is a great companion to the book Cradle to Cradle or can be an alternative if you've not read that already.

The circular economy is about changing the way we make and use things. About making things to last longer but also be able to break apart into component elements.
It's an antidote to the population bomb issue because we won't be destroying the environment just living in a circular economy.

The book mentions Covid19 and other things that show it's only just been released.

I highly recommend this to anyone interested in a Post Scarcity Society (e.g RBE) or has watched the Zeitgeist movies (Addendum or Zeitgeist Moving Forward).

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Rushed and shallow

The book felt like it was written in rush with a clear purpose to inform. It does not go in depth of the problems but is a good starter for the topic

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