To answer this question, it is important to look at the problem from a life cycle perspective, taking into account resources as inputs and waste or pollutants as outputs of the circular economy solution. In order to assess the level of sustainability of a waste management system and to understand which are the best valorisation methods, I investigated the use of Life Cycle Assessment. This research method is very useful to compare different valorisation scenarios to understand which is the best or if a solution is not sustainable.
What is your experience in this area? Mine is partly summarised in the following literature review.
10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.173977
Dear Grazia Cinardi,
In my opinion, the closed-loop economy (GOZ) is a key element of sustainable development, aiming to minimize the environmental impact of production processes through efficient use of resources and reduction of waste. In the context of this issue, the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) approach, which enables the analysis of the environmental impact of products at different stages of their life, from the acquisition of raw materials to production and disposal, is relevant. Examples of successful LCA practices include recycling, which has grown significantly in Europe, and product repair programs such as Patagonia's “Worn Wear,” which promotes longer use. The use of LCA as an analysis tool allows the identification of key life-cycle stages where negative environmental impacts can be reduced, and the comparison of different waste valorization methods. An integrated approach to waste management that combines different methods can yield significant benefits, and educating consumers about recycling and reusing products is important for successful implementation of GOZ principles. Ultimately, through sustainable production and consumption practices, it is possible to significantly reduce the impact of human activity on the environment, which is essential for the future of our planet.
I pointed out various aspects of this important for the future of the planet, the future of the planet's climate and biosphere, and the future of future generations of people in my article:
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PRINCIPLES OF SUSTAINABLE ECONOMY DEVELOPMENT AS A KEY ELEMENT OF THE PRO-ECOLOGICAL TRANSFORMATION OF THE ECONOMY TOWARDS GREEN ECONOMY AND CIRCULAR ECONOMY
Article IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PRINCIPLES OF SUSTAINABLE ECONOMY DEVE...
I invite you to join me in scientific cooperation,
Kind regards,
Dariusz Prokopowicz
Sure, and that should be the priority. Have a look at some practices in the article.
Circular economy principles reduce environmental impact by minimizing waste and maximizing resource efficiency throughout the production process. They promote product design for durability and recyclability, lowering raw material demands and emissions. Closed-loop systems further cut landfill use, creating more sustainable production cycles.
‘We are kin to everything’
"In her hit 2013 book, Braiding Sweetgrass, botanist Robin Wall Kimmerer, who is a member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation, made the argument for bringing together knowledge from Western and Indigenous science. In The Serviceberry, she turns her microscope on the damaging disconnects between capitalist economics and the circular economy of nature. “What are the boundaries of the self?” she asks. “If we define the self to be just an individual and their material needs in the world, that’s one kind of economy… I want to say, “Oh, okay, what would an economy look like if we advanced self-interest when the self is expanded to our natural kinfolk?”..."
https://e360.yale.edu/features/robin-kimmerer-interview
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