Circular Economy
Source: Sustainability and the Circular Economy
(Coursera)
PB by Phùng Thanh Bình
The Circular Economy - An Overview
Challenges of the Linear Economy Introducing the Circular Economy
Today's "linear economy" is challenged – there is The Circular Economy is a new way of
no way to meet the needs of 8+ billion people the approaching products and services.
way we do things today. It is much more than just "Reduce, Reuse &
Recycle".
In a Circular Economy:
Waste = Food
Products consist of Technical & Biological Nutrients
Materials are kept continuously in use, with no waste!
The Circular Economy - An
Overview
Waste as a Resource
Circular economy views waste as a valuable resource, promoting its
reuse, repurposing, and recycling.
Closed-Loop System
It emphasizes a closed-loop system where materials and products are kept in
use for as long as possible, minimizing waste generation.
Sustainable Production
The circular economy promotes sustainable production methods that
minimize environmental impact and resource depletion.
The Circular Economy -
Becoming Mainstream
Widespread Adoption Helping Others
Understand
More and more businesses are
realizing the benefits of a These organizations are helping
Circular Economy. others see and understand how
to implement the key principles
behind it.
Our Industrial Economy - The Good Side
Economic Growth Job Creation End Poverty Middle Class
The industrial economy has It has created jobs and Millions of people have risen The world has created a new
driven economic growth and provided livelihoods for out of poverty. middle class, with 2B more
prosperity. It has enabled millions of people. It has also people joining the middle
mass production, lowering led to the development of new class over the next few
prices and increasing industries and sectors, decades.
affordability. It has also led to creating new opportunities for
advancements in technology economic growth and
and innovation. development.
Our Industrial Economy - The Not-So-Good Side
Resource Depletion Pollution and Waste
Our current economic model relies heavily on extracting The linear take-make-dispose model generates massive
finite resources from the Earth, leading to depletion and amounts of waste and pollution, harming the environment
scarcity. and human health.
Climate Change Social Inequality
The industrial economy's reliance on fossil fuels is a major The industrial economy often leads to economic inequality,
driver of climate change, with significant consequences for as wealth is concentrated in the hands of a few, leaving many
the planet. behind.
The Great Acceleration
Resources: Infinite vs. Finite
At the beginning of the industrial revolution (~1800), fewer than 1B people lived on the
planet.
Resources seemed infinite – always plentiful and reasonably cheap.
As we approach 10B people on the planet, what seemed infinite and cheap is rapidly changing.
Resources: Infinite vs. Finite
Resources: Infinite vs. Finite
The Copper Life Cycle
Resources: Infinite vs. Finite
Renewable Resources
1
Energy from the sun, wind, and water
Non-renewable Resources
2
Fossil fuels, minerals, and metals
Resource Depletion
3
Overconsumption and unsustainable practices
Our planet has both renewable and non-renewable resources. Renewable resources, such as solar energy,
are constantly replenished. Non-renewable resources, such as fossil fuels, are limited and can be depleted.
The overuse of non-renewable resources is a major concern. Depleting these resources leads to
environmental damage and economic instability.
The Linear Economy Model
The Linear Economy Model
From Linear to Circular Economy Model
The Circular Economy
ellenmacarthurfoundation.org
Letʼs see how the Ellen MacArthur Foundation describes the Circular Economy:
https://youtu.be/lbbQaBM846Q
Established the Ellen
MacArthur
Foundation (2010).
She helped develop
the Circular
Economy model for
business.
Check out Ellen
MacArthurʼs TED
Talk!
https://youtu.be/oo
IxHVXgLbc
Principles of Circular Economy
Principles of the Circular Economy - Principle #1
Ecovative Design “Weʼre using mushrooms to create an Sustainable Packaging from Mycelium - enabled by Ecovative
entirely new class of materials which perform a lot like plastic Design
during their use but are made from crop waste and are totally
compostable at the end of their lives."
Eben Bayer CEO Ecovative Design!
Mushroom Packaging is 100% compostable. Made from 100% Listen to the story of Ecovative!
natural materials (hemp, mycelium & water), it is loved by soil
microbes. Break up your packaging, throw it in the garden,
and in 30 days it will be fully composted.
Adapted from Paradise Packaging!
02:25
YouTube
Mushrooms The future of packaging
:
Ecovative Design a company in Green Island NY turns
, , ,
agricultural waste and mushroom fibers into a …
Principles of the Circular
Economy - Principle #2
YouTube
Cardigan, Wales - Hiut Denim (Style)
The new denim company that's reviving the
heartbeat of a small Welsh town and givin…
03:06
Principles of the Circular Economy - Principle
#3
Takao Furuno operates A Rice Farm Powered by Symbiosis
a 6-acre rice farm in
Japan.
Through restorative
and regenerative
farming practices, he
makes the same
income with 6 acres as
commercial rice
growers with 600 acres!
No pesticides, no YouTube
fertilizers, he uses Drone footage follows 10,000 ducks “cleanin…
nature and ecological After the rice crop was harvested on a farm in Nakhon
Pathom province in Thailand, a flock of around 10,0…
systems to supply
everything he needs to 02:20
grow high-quality,
chemical-free rice.
With fewer inputs
(lower cost) and the
ability to charge a
premium – he makes a
good living off of his 6
acres!
Nutrient Cycles Concept
C2C - Product Design Methodologies
The Butterfly Diagram
The Butterfly Diagram
The Butterfly Diagram - Biological Cycles
The Butterfly Diagram - Biological Cycles
The Butterfly Diagram - Biological Cycles
The Butterfly Diagram - Biological Cycles
The Butterfly Diagram - Biological Cycles
The Butterfly Diagram - Biological Cycles
The Butterfly Diagram - Biological Cycles
The Butterfly Diagram - Technical Cycles
The Butterfly Diagram - Technical Cycles
The Butterfly Diagram - Technical Cycles
The Butterfly Diagram - Technical Cycles
The Butterfly Diagram - Technical Cycles
The Butterfly Diagram - Technical Cycles
Business Model Applications
The Butterfly Diagram - Technical Cycles
Business Model Applications
The Butterfly Diagram - Technical Cycles
Business Model Applications
The Butterfly Diagram - Technical Cycles
The Butterfly Diagram - Technical Cycles
The Butterfly Diagram - Technical Cycles
