Circular economy

Thermodynamics and material flows: The circular economy is deeply rooted in the laws of thermodynamics. The second law, in particular, states that entropy in a closed system always increases. In the context of resource use, this means that high-quality, low-entropy materials (like metals and minerals) degrade over time into dispersed, high-entropy states. The circular economy seeks to slow this degradation by recirculating materials and reducing the need for new resource extraction.

Biomimicry: Nature operates in cycles, with no waste. The circular economy draws inspiration from natural systems, aiming to design human systems that mimic these cyclical processes.

Value Retention: In a circular economy, the focus shifts from value creation through production to value retention through extended product lifecycles, reuse, and recycling.

Business Model Innovation: Companies are exploring new business models, such as Product-as-a-Service, where consumers lease rather than buy products. This model incentivizes companies to produce durable products and retain ownership of the materials for eventual refurbishment or recycling.

Supply Chain Resilience: By reducing dependency on virgin raw materials, companies can insulate themselves from price volatilities and supply chain disruptions associated with resource scarcity.

Ecological Footprint: A circular approach can significantly reduce the ecological footprint of production and consumption, decreasing land use, water use, and emissions.

Material Flow Analysis (MFA): This scientific method quantifies flows and stocks of materials or substances in a system. MFA is crucial in a circular economy to track resource use and identify opportunities for circular interventions.

Material Complexity: Modern products, especially electronics, are composed of a complex mix of materials. This complexity can make recycling and material recovery challenging.

Energy Use in Recycling: While recycling is essential for a circular economy, it's not always energy-efficient. For some materials, the energy required to recycle them approaches or even exceeds the energy needed to extract and refine virgin materials.

Behavioral and Institutional Inertia: Established industries, consumer habits, and regulatory frameworks are often geared towards a linear economy. Transitioning to a circular model requires systemic changes across these domains.

Material Passports: These are digital platforms that detail the materials, components, and structures used in buildings or products. They can facilitate more efficient material recovery at the end of life.

Eco-design: Scientific research is increasingly focusing on designing products explicitly for circularity, ensuring they are durable, repairable, and recyclable.

Life Cycle Assessment (LCA): LCA is a tool that assesses the environmental impacts of a product throughout its life cycle. It's instrumental in identifying areas where circular interventions can have the most significant environmental benefit.