Home > Research > Publications & Outputs > Circular economy and the matter of integrated r...

Links

Text available via DOI:

View graph of relations

Circular economy and the matter of integrated resources

Research output: Contribution to Journal/MagazineJournal articlepeer-review

Published

Standard

Circular economy and the matter of integrated resources. / Velenturf, A.P.M.; Archer, S.A.; Gomes, H.I. et al.
In: Science of the Total Environment, Vol. 689, 01.11.2019, p. 963-969.

Research output: Contribution to Journal/MagazineJournal articlepeer-review

Harvard

Velenturf, APM, Archer, SA, Gomes, HI, Christgen, B, Lag-Brotons, AJ & Purnell, P 2019, 'Circular economy and the matter of integrated resources', Science of the Total Environment, vol. 689, pp. 963-969. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.06.449

APA

Velenturf, A. P. M., Archer, S. A., Gomes, H. I., Christgen, B., Lag-Brotons, A. J., & Purnell, P. (2019). Circular economy and the matter of integrated resources. Science of the Total Environment, 689, 963-969. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.06.449

Vancouver

Velenturf APM, Archer SA, Gomes HI, Christgen B, Lag-Brotons AJ, Purnell P. Circular economy and the matter of integrated resources. Science of the Total Environment. 2019 Nov 1;689:963-969. Epub 2019 Jun 27. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.06.449

Author

Velenturf, A.P.M. ; Archer, S.A. ; Gomes, H.I. et al. / Circular economy and the matter of integrated resources. In: Science of the Total Environment. 2019 ; Vol. 689. pp. 963-969.

Bibtex

@article{5b96a4e6ec954768af4700895286974d,
title = "Circular economy and the matter of integrated resources",
abstract = "A circular economy offers solutions for global sustainability challenges through the transition from the linear take-make-use-dispose economy to a better organisation of resources. However, realising a circular economy has ran into various biophysical constraints. Circular economy implementation is shaped by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation's butterfly diagram that depicts {\textquoteleft}biological{\textquoteright} and {\textquoteleft}technical{\textquoteright} flows as separate cycles, subsequently interpreted as organic materials circulating in open loop systems via the environment and inorganic materials circulating in closed loop systems within society. Conversely, in our view, resource flows often contain tightly bound combinations of organic and inorganic materials either due to their natural composition or due to their technical design. Building on this observation, a new diagram is proposed that broadens the scope of the circular economy to cover extractive sectors and the return of materials from anthropogenic use to natural reserves, thereby reshaping the conceptual space within which solutions such as effective zero-waste-residue technologies, business models, and policies can be developed for the optimal management of integrated resources from a whole-system perspective. The diagram offers a realistic outlook on the biophysical limitations of circularity and endeavours to inspire discussion that supports the transition towards a sustainable circular economy.",
keywords = "Circular business models, Governance, Resource efficiency, Resource recovery technology, Waste management, Whole system design",
author = "A.P.M. Velenturf and S.A. Archer and H.I. Gomes and B. Christgen and A.J. Lag-Brotons and P. Purnell",
year = "2019",
month = nov,
day = "1",
doi = "10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.06.449",
language = "English",
volume = "689",
pages = "963--969",
journal = "Science of the Total Environment",
issn = "0048-9697",
publisher = "Elsevier Science B.V.",

}

RIS

TY - JOUR

T1 - Circular economy and the matter of integrated resources

AU - Velenturf, A.P.M.

AU - Archer, S.A.

AU - Gomes, H.I.

AU - Christgen, B.

AU - Lag-Brotons, A.J.

AU - Purnell, P.

PY - 2019/11/1

Y1 - 2019/11/1

N2 - A circular economy offers solutions for global sustainability challenges through the transition from the linear take-make-use-dispose economy to a better organisation of resources. However, realising a circular economy has ran into various biophysical constraints. Circular economy implementation is shaped by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation's butterfly diagram that depicts ‘biological’ and ‘technical’ flows as separate cycles, subsequently interpreted as organic materials circulating in open loop systems via the environment and inorganic materials circulating in closed loop systems within society. Conversely, in our view, resource flows often contain tightly bound combinations of organic and inorganic materials either due to their natural composition or due to their technical design. Building on this observation, a new diagram is proposed that broadens the scope of the circular economy to cover extractive sectors and the return of materials from anthropogenic use to natural reserves, thereby reshaping the conceptual space within which solutions such as effective zero-waste-residue technologies, business models, and policies can be developed for the optimal management of integrated resources from a whole-system perspective. The diagram offers a realistic outlook on the biophysical limitations of circularity and endeavours to inspire discussion that supports the transition towards a sustainable circular economy.

AB - A circular economy offers solutions for global sustainability challenges through the transition from the linear take-make-use-dispose economy to a better organisation of resources. However, realising a circular economy has ran into various biophysical constraints. Circular economy implementation is shaped by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation's butterfly diagram that depicts ‘biological’ and ‘technical’ flows as separate cycles, subsequently interpreted as organic materials circulating in open loop systems via the environment and inorganic materials circulating in closed loop systems within society. Conversely, in our view, resource flows often contain tightly bound combinations of organic and inorganic materials either due to their natural composition or due to their technical design. Building on this observation, a new diagram is proposed that broadens the scope of the circular economy to cover extractive sectors and the return of materials from anthropogenic use to natural reserves, thereby reshaping the conceptual space within which solutions such as effective zero-waste-residue technologies, business models, and policies can be developed for the optimal management of integrated resources from a whole-system perspective. The diagram offers a realistic outlook on the biophysical limitations of circularity and endeavours to inspire discussion that supports the transition towards a sustainable circular economy.

KW - Circular business models

KW - Governance

KW - Resource efficiency

KW - Resource recovery technology

KW - Waste management

KW - Whole system design

U2 - 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.06.449

DO - 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.06.449

M3 - Journal article

VL - 689

SP - 963

EP - 969

JO - Science of the Total Environment

JF - Science of the Total Environment

SN - 0048-9697

ER -