The circular economy is based on “sharing, leasing, reuse, repair, refurbishment, and recycling” of products and materials in an ideally closed loop. The goal is to reduce waste by keeping products and materials within the economy. The necessity for a more circular economy will only increase with increasing pressure on and decreasing availability of natural resources. The adoption of the circular economy will be particularly important in mountain areas which contain exceptional primary resources such as forests, water, and minerals, and provide ecosystems services such as carbon sequestration, clean water, landscapes, and recreation. Maximizing the value of extracted resources and managing them sustainably is particularly important for maintaining a high quality of life in mountain territories. The circular economy can create new economic opportunities that will provide much needed employment and economic growth in mountain areas.