Reference
Glossary
The words we use, explained in plain language.
Circular economy
A model in which materials and products stay in use as long as possible: they are repaired, reused and recycled instead of following the linear path of produce, use and discard.
Linear economy
The traditional model of extracting raw materials, producing, using and discarding. It creates waste and depletes resources such as water, land and materials.
Grassroots waste picker
A person who recovers recyclable materials from waste, in the streets or at landfills, and sells them so they return to industry. In Spanish, reciclador de base. The backbone of recycling in Ecuador.
Secondary material
A material recovered from waste, such as PET, cardboard, glass or aluminium, that can be used again as raw material instead of new material.
Direct trade
Selling from the producer to the end buyer without intermediaries. The producer receives a larger share of the price and the buyer knows where the product comes from.
Intermediary
Every actor that buys and resells a product between the person who makes it and the person who uses it, such as a collector, wholesaler or distributor. Each adds its margin to the final price.
Digital divide
The gap in access to technology, the internet and digital tools between people, businesses or regions. It keeps those without access out of digital markets.
SEO
Search engine optimization: the work of making a website appear in search engines such as Google when someone looks for what it offers.
AEO
Answer engine optimization: the work of making sure AI assistants such as ChatGPT, Perplexity or Claude can read a website and cite it in their answers.