278
P. Heck
and system thinking. For example, the “More Value from a Hectare” project, conceptualised and applied by the Institute for Applied Material Flow Management (IfaS)
at Trier University of Applied Sciences for a new rural bio-economy strategy, is
designed to enhance the resilience of agricultural systems, with a special focus on
land and soil, while provisioning more services—or value—from each hectare of
land utilized (Böhmer et al. 2019).
The CE would also create innovative business models. That means, besides generating profits, the CE would create employment opportunities—in other words, it
contributes to social sustainability targets (see Schroeder et al. (2019) for some
insights). Concerning economic aspects, according to the Ellen MacArthur Foundation (2015), a shift to a CE would reduce net expenditures on resources by e600
billion per year, improve resource productivity by 3%, and generate e1.8 trillion per
year of net benefits in the EU by 2030.
In light of its origins and the compatibility of its transformative tools (i.e. MFM,
ZE, etc.), the CE model’s applicability seems universal. Clearly, the CE provides
a very practical option to treat the societal metabolic disorder modern civilisation
suffers from. Its versatility in solving developmental and environmental challenges
simultaneously is also worth considering when promoting the CE as an effective tool
in achieving the UN’s SDGs.
4 Given the anticipated severity of impending resource
and environmental crises (see Fig. 14.7 for some insights), the CE seems to be one
of the best alternative paths to follow.
According to the OECD (2019), the material intensity of economies—in particular
in OECD countries—is set to decline (by 2060); furthermore, growth in the recycling
sector (i.e. use of secondary materials) will surpass that of the mining sector as
recycling becomes more price competitive than mining. This is in part attributed
to the strong presence and growth of the CE. However, citing a 2015 report by
the European Academies’ Advisory Council, Schroeder et al. (2019) have pointed
out that transforming the current linear economic model to a CE model has been
stymied by “a skills gap in the workforce and lack of CE programmes at all levels of
education.”
Nevertheless, the efforts of Europe’s research and higher education institutions
such as the Institute for Applied Material Flow Management (IfaS) of the Trier
University of Applied Sciences
5 in Germany have been highly regarded locally
and internationally by representatives of industry, academia and the public sector
alike. For nearly two decades, IfaS has deployed its expertise on the CE on practical
projects on five continents, offered graduate and postgraduate level education on the
CE through dedicated degree programmes,
6 and continually disseminated applied
knowledge regarding the CE through its signature events platform: the International
Circular Economy Week and Conference.
7
4 See Schroeder et al. (2019) for some in-depth insights on this aspect.
5 Find out more at https://www.umwelt-campus.de/ucb/index.php?id=home&L=1 and https://www.
stoffstrom.org/en/.
6 https://www.imat-master.com.
7 https://icew.de.
P. Heck
and system thinking. For example, the “More Value from a Hectare” project, conceptualised and applied by the Institute for Applied Material Flow Management (IfaS)
at Trier University of Applied Sciences for a new rural bio-economy strategy, is
designed to enhance the resilience of agricultural systems, with a special focus on
land and soil, while provisioning more services—or value—from each hectare of
land utilized (Böhmer et al. 2019).
The CE would also create innovative business models. That means, besides generating profits, the CE would create employment opportunities—in other words, it
contributes to social sustainability targets (see Schroeder et al. (2019) for some
insights). Concerning economic aspects, according to the Ellen MacArthur Foundation (2015), a shift to a CE would reduce net expenditures on resources by e600
billion per year, improve resource productivity by 3%, and generate e1.8 trillion per
year of net benefits in the EU by 2030.
In light of its origins and the compatibility of its transformative tools (i.e. MFM,
ZE, etc.), the CE model’s applicability seems universal. Clearly, the CE provides
a very practical option to treat the societal metabolic disorder modern civilisation
suffers from. Its versatility in solving developmental and environmental challenges
simultaneously is also worth considering when promoting the CE as an effective tool
in achieving the UN’s SDGs.
4 Given the anticipated severity of impending resource
and environmental crises (see Fig. 14.7 for some insights), the CE seems to be one
of the best alternative paths to follow.
According to the OECD (2019), the material intensity of economies—in particular
in OECD countries—is set to decline (by 2060); furthermore, growth in the recycling
sector (i.e. use of secondary materials) will surpass that of the mining sector as
recycling becomes more price competitive than mining. This is in part attributed
to the strong presence and growth of the CE. However, citing a 2015 report by
the European Academies’ Advisory Council, Schroeder et al. (2019) have pointed
out that transforming the current linear economic model to a CE model has been
stymied by “a skills gap in the workforce and lack of CE programmes at all levels of
education.”
Nevertheless, the efforts of Europe’s research and higher education institutions
such as the Institute for Applied Material Flow Management (IfaS) of the Trier
University of Applied Sciences
5 in Germany have been highly regarded locally
and internationally by representatives of industry, academia and the public sector
alike. For nearly two decades, IfaS has deployed its expertise on the CE on practical
projects on five continents, offered graduate and postgraduate level education on the
CE through dedicated degree programmes,
6 and continually disseminated applied
knowledge regarding the CE through its signature events platform: the International
Circular Economy Week and Conference.
7
4 See Schroeder et al. (2019) for some in-depth insights on this aspect.
5 Find out more at https://www.umwelt-campus.de/ucb/index.php?id=home&L=1 and https://www.
stoffstrom.org/en/.
6 https://www.imat-master.com.
7 https://icew.de.