The R-Strategies for a Circular Economy: From 3R to 10R – Pathways to Resource Conservation

Key Takeaways 

• The classic 3R strategies (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle) have been continuously expanded, forming a comprehensive approach to resource conservation – the 9R framework.  

• Measures such as Refuse and Rethink focus on product design and consumption, while Recycling and Recovery are considered last-resort options. 

• Companies that implement circular business models can secure long-term competitive advantages.  

The origin of circular thinking: the 3R rule 

With its Circular Economy Action Plan adopted in 2015, the European Commission initiated the transition from a linear economy toward a resource-efficient economy. In Austria, this led to the development of the National Circular Economy Strategy, which was adopted in December 2022. This strategy provides companies and consumers with a clear framework for implementing circular value creation models. 

A key element of this strategy is the systematic prevention of resource waste through intelligent product design, efficient material cycles, and innovative business models. The R-strategies of the circular economy play a crucial role in this context. Initially limited to the simple 3R principle (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle), these strategies have been continuously developed—culminating in the 9R framework. 

The 3R Rule in Detail 

The circular economy was originally based on the 3R principle—Reduce, Reuse, Recycle—with the goal of using resources more efficiently, preventing waste, and reducing environmental impacts. This concept was developed to minimize energy and material consumption in production, thereby lowering emissions and pollution. 

Over time, the 3R framework evolved and became the foundation for green manufacturing concepts. These were built on the principles of lean production from the 1980s, which initially focused on a single measure: reducing resource consumption (Reduce). As sustainability and efficiency requirements increased, new frameworks emerged that incorporated additional strategies to extend product lifecycles and optimize material flows. 

Reduce 

• Reduce: Minimizing resource consumption and waste generation, for example, through material savings or more efficient production processes. 
• Example of Reduce: Unilever – Sustainable Packaging 
  Unilever reduces plastic consumption by using lighter packaging and refillable systems. The goal is to cut the use of virgin plastic by 50% by 2030. 

Reuse 

• Reuse: Use products as often as possible in their original form or repurpose them for other uses. 
• Example of Reuse: IKEA – Furniture Take-Back Program 
  KEA offers customers the option to return used furniture. These items are inspected, resold, or donated to extend their lifespan. 

Recycle 

• Recycle: Return materials to the production cycle to create new products. 
• Example of Recycle: Patagonia – Polyester from PET Bottles
  Patagonia uses recycled PET bottles and old garments to produce new polyester fibers, reducing the use of fossil resources. 

Expanded Models: 4R, 5R, 9R, and 10R 

Originally designed as a waste prevention strategy, the 3Rs principle has evolved in line with increasing sustainability requirements. Over time, extended models have been derived from it that define more specific measures for sustainable material use and are specifically geared towards a resource-conserving circular economy. 

4R Model: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle + Recover

The 4R model expands the classic 3R strategy by adding an additional step – Recover.
In addition to reducing, reusing, and recycling materials, this approach focuses on recovering energy and resources from products that are no longer usable. When materials and products have already gone through multiple use cycles and none of the other strategies can be applied, they are utilized in waste-to-energy facilities whenever possible. This process helps reduce or entirely replace the use of fossil fuels. However, in a well-functioning circular economy, thermal recovery is considered a last option—only when no other alternatives remain. 

Example of Recover: Egger – Energy Recovery from Wood Residues 
Egger, a leading wood-based materials manufacturer, follows a cascading wood utilization approach. Wood residues that can no longer be materially recycled are used for energy generation in biomass power plants. This allows Egger to replace fossil fuels and reduce CO₂ emissions. 

5R-Model: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle + Repair & Refurbish  

While the 4R model already expands the classic 3R strategy by incorporating recovery, the 5R model takes it a step further. It adds two highly valuable circular economy strategies: Repair und Refurbish.  

Repair 

• Repair: Restoring a defective or damaged product to its original functionality. 
• Example of Repair: Fairphone – Modular Smartphone Design 
  The Dutch company Fairphone focuses on repairable smartphones with interchangeable modules for batteries, displays, and cameras. This reduces electronic waste and extends the product’s lifespan. 

Refurbish 

• Refurbish refers to the comprehensive restoration and enhancement of a used product to improve its functionality and external appearance. 
• Example of Refurbish: Apple – Refurbished iPhones & MacBooks 
  Apple professionally refurbishes used devices and sells them with a warranty as certified refurbished iPhones and MacBooks, reducing electronic waste and conserving resources. 

The 5R model can include different measures depending on the source. The specific principles and their emphasis vary in the literature, but the focus always remains on reducing resource consumption and extending product life cycles. 

9R-Framework: A Detailed Hierarchy of Resource Conservation 

The 9R Framework by Potting et al. (2017) provides a detailed overview of sustainable resource use and outlines strategies for closing material loops. The strategies are organized hierarchically: the earlier a measure is applied in the value chain, the greater its contribution to circularity. 

The model includes 10Rs, ten principles from R0 to R9, and aims to encourage smarter product use and manufacturing, extend product lifespans, and maximize material reuse. The more effectively a strategy closes the material loop, the longer resources remain in circulation and can ideally be reused with their original quality. This reduces dependence on primary raw materials and minimizes environmental impacts from production and disposal. 

R0 bis R2: Refuse, Rethink & Reduce  

The R0 to R2 strategies focus on the main source and aim to avoid or significantly reduce the use of raw materials in production. This is achieved by either completely avoiding certain products (Refuse), designing and using them more intelligently (Rethink), or producing them in a more resource-efficient way (Reduce). These measures are particularly effective as they intervene before product manufacturing, fundamentally minimizing material and energy consumption. 

Refuse  

This strategy encourages us to question and consciously reject unnecessary consumer goods and wasteful designs. By not producing or consuming products in the first place, the waste of resources can be drastically reduced at the root. 

Example of refuse: Spotify & Netflix – digital content instead of physical data carriers 
Streaming services such as Spotify and Netflix are replacing CDs, DVDs and Blu-rays with digital content, thereby avoiding material consumption and CO₂ emissions from the production and transportation of physical data carriers. 

Rethink 

This strategy calls for a rethink of both consumer behavior and the way in which products and services are designed and offered. Instead of simply making existing business models more sustainable, the aim is to develop completely new ways of creating value that are geared towards longevity, multiple use and closed loops from the outset. 

Example of Rethink: Vestas – Wind power as a service instead of a sale 
Vestas offers wind turbines as a performance-based service solution. Customers pay for the energy they actually generate, while Vestas retains ownership of the turbines. This optimizes maintenance, extends the service life and ensures better recyclability of the turbines. 

R3 bis R7: Reuse, Repair, Refurbish, Remanufacturing & Repurpose  

Measures R3 to R7 aim to extend the useful life of raw materials already in the economic cycle. Through various forms of reuse or recycling of products and their components, added value can be created without the need to extract additional raw materials. 

Remanufacture 

In remanufacturing, used products or components are dismantled, tested, reworked and reassembled with new components. The result is a new product with the same performance and warranty, but with high material and energy savings. 

Example of remanufacture: Caterpillar – remanufacturing of construction machinery components 
Caterpillar feeds used engines and transmissions into a structured remanufacturing process. The components are dismantled, cleaned, tested and brought up to date with new components, saving up to 50% material and energy. 

Repurpose 

With Repurpose, a product or material is used for a completely new purpose instead of being disposed of or recycled. 

Example of repurpose: Freitag – bags made from old truck tarpaulins 
The Swiss company Freitag produces high-quality bags and backpacks from old truck tarpaulins, seat belts and bicycle inner tubes. This results in individual, durable products that keep materials in the cycle. 

R8 &R9: Recycle & Recover  

R8 & R9 are the last remaining options when all previous strategies are no longer applicable. By recovering and using secondary raw materials, the need for newly extracted raw materials from the environment can be reduced. However, as mentioned above, the circular economy places particular emphasis on using R9 Recover only when other strategies are no longer available. 

Why Are There Different R-Models? 

The various R-models have evolved over time and reflect the ongoing development toward a circular economy. The foundation is the 3R model (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle), which focuses on minimizing waste and reusing materials. 

As sustainability and resource conservation demands have increased, additional measures have been integrated to enable a more detailed and effective implementation. The different variations of the R-strategies provide a structured and practical approach to implementing the circular economy by defining targeted actions to use resources more efficiently and reduce waste. 

Conclusion  

Both consumers and businesses share the responsibility of actively shaping the transition toward a sustainable future. By rethinking our consumption habits, rejecting wasteful designs, and choosing durable, resource-efficient products, we can make a significant impact. At the same time, companies must proactively adopt circular business models and adjust their strategies—not only to protect the environment and conserve resources but also to secure long-term competitive advantages, reduce costs, and meet increasing regulatory requirements. 

The R-strategies of the circular economy provide clear action steps to operate more sustainably while achieving economic benefits: 

• Early adoption of circular strategies reduces dependence on primary raw materials. 

• Innovative business models such as pay-per-use or product-as-a-service minimize material consumption. 

• Companies that invest in circular processes secure long-term competitive advantages. 

Sustainability is not a trend but an economic necessity. However, the transition to a circular economy requires strategic planning and tailored solutions. It is up to all of us to actively drive this change forward and integrate sustainable decisions into our daily actions. 

EFS Consulting supports in effectively integrating the R-strategies into your business model—from innovative product designs to approaches for reuse and remanufacturing—to maximize the value of your existing resources.