He says | She says: Rubbish or treasure?

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At the Stadthaus in Zurich, the focus is on the circular economy. Rebekka has only recently started using the term, but she has understood the concept behind it for years. For Sebastian, it’s the other way round.

As has been said:

‘Circular economy’ is one of those buzzwords that seems to have been bandied about in the context of sustainability for ages. For me, it reminds me above all of my time in student halls of residence, where I witnessed how, at the ZHAW, environmental scientists, economists and mechanical engineers clashed with productive contempt in the environmental science, economics and mechanical engineering courses. The circular economy sounded like a promising compromise back then, and with that in mind, most people preferred to leave it at that rather than delve into the details. That’s why my understanding of the subject remained stuck at ‘That’s just how it is with recycling and stuff’ for years.

So it’s high time to deepen my understanding! The exhibition “Zürich zirkulär” is on at the Stadthaus Zürich until 4 July. Looking at the poster at the entrance, I’m relieved to see that I haven’t missed a thing: according to the subtitle, the circular economy is still a thing of the future. Up to the second floor, and there I make my next observation: even the exhibition is a cycle. It has neither a beginning nor an end, but winds its way around the atrium of the Stadthaus. So I boldly plunge into the information boards at random and arrive at my third observation: “Zürich zirkulär” isn’t large, but it’s curated with passion and is a real delight.

The lovingly crafted scenography, featuring cardboard panels in wooden frames, offers playful challenges, curious art made from nut shells or olive pits, controversial advertising campaigns and top-notch fun facts: in 1833, pupils’ poo was part of the salary for all teachers in the canton of Zurich. But then artificial fertiliser was invented, and I share the regret, for I would have gladly granted some of my teachers that clause in the Primary School Act.

Armed with all this new, useful knowledge, I come to my final conclusion: apparently, I had no idea. Recycling is more of a last resort than a goal. And it looks as though the environmentalists have prevailed over the market believers at the ZHAW: much of the circular economy is neither circular nor an economy, but rather a matter of doing without. Anyone hoping that the circular economy would mean a sort of ‘consume smarter, not less’ will be disappointed: the credo is clearly ‘smarter and less’. But take a look for yourselves, it’s worth it!

She says:

Swap instead of buying, take it to the charity shop instead of throwing it away, share, repair, recycle: this exhibition, which takes about the time of a lunch break to explore, outlines the various approaches to a more circular Zurich across just under ten stations. Here I learn that a drill only actually drills for an average of twelve minutes over its entire lifetime, or that Swiss people buy around 60 new items of clothing per year. There is plenty of personal storytelling, such as when the attempt to replace a faulty iPhone battery is explained to us via voice message, or when the founder of ‘unverpackt’ talks about the beginnings of her zero-waste lifestyle.

In general, many positive examples are cited, such as “Freitag”, of course, or the “Mission Kreislaufwirtschaft”, which consistently entertains with short videos. Historical evidence is also provided to show that this is by no means a passing fad. In Valais, for example, collectively used irrigation channels, known as suonen, have been in use since the 12th century. And in Arles, a Roman amphitheatre was converted into a settlement of 200 houses in the 6th century. You can’t get much more urban mining than that.

I also particularly liked the ‘material stories’: stickers tell the story of the past of each exhibit. Whether as a wall at the WEF, as part of a film set or as part of a travelling exhibition: these old garments, MDF boards or wooden slats have certainly been through a lot.

Having reached the end of the exhibition, I am asked to jot down any ideas I might have for a more resource-efficient world. As I browse through the notes, a thought takes hold – one that the creators of ‘Zürich zirkulär’ certainly did not intend to trigger in me. “Actually, I’m already doing all this pretty well.” Since my twenties, I’ve regularly taken part in clothes swaps with friends and rarely buy anything new. I don’t own a car, I had my last laptop for twelve years, and the charity shop is my go-to place for both new purchases and getting rid of old ones. It may well be that this is driven more by financial rather than ideological reasons, but I honestly can’t fathom who can still afford to buy five items of clothing a month these days. With that in mind: let’s get on with it, for the sake of our wallets and the planet!

Circular Zurich. A future with a circular economy.
Exhibition at the Stadthaus Zürich, Stadthausquai 17, 8001 Zurich
Free admission

4 November 2025 to 4 July 2026
Mon to Fri 8 am–6 pm, Sat 9 am–12 noon
Closed on Sundays and public holidays

Published from Rebekka & Sebastian on June 04, 2026.