Research Paper (undergraduate) from the year 2018 in the subject Economics - Case Scenarios, grade: 3.7, University of Cambridge, language: English, abstract: Earth has finite resources. The demand for resources is increasing with population increase and resultant economic growth. The generic process of Take-Make-Dispose is putting great stress on earth’s finite resources. As Demand increases, economic system takes raw materials from natural world, converts it into some value added product, supplies it to the consumers and consumers dispose it off with the end of its lifetime or replacement with new updated version of that product. Apart from this product conversion, we are consuming resources for our food and this demand for food is growing exponentially. The time is nearing when this will deplete resources and we will have to search for new worlds to feed human population on earth. But there is another solution to this problem. That is replication of natural food chain in economic and technological systems. This is called circular economy or cradle to cradle approach. For millions of years, biological nutrients were being returned to earth to enrich it. Industrial processes have given rise to technological nutrient which is input for techno-sphere for reuse. To this system there is no waste. This is called cradle to cradle. This is to integrate various components of economic system and industrial processes in a way that a waste output of one industry becomes input for the second interconnected industry in the form of a cycle. This is also called waste to food phenomenon which gives rise to circular economy. But this transition to a circular economy, where the value of resources is preserved in the techno-sphere, must be supported by policies and operational decision-making based on evidence. Pakistan is one of the top producers of milk in the world with total annual production of over 42 million tonnes. This milk production is from farmers with individual buffalo and cow herds. This milk and dairy output contribute 11% to the national GDP. These animals also provide meat and raw leather for the industrial sectors. These animals generate waste in the form of dung and urine. This waste is used for fuel purpose at rural homes and used as manure for crops. Before using, it is left to decompose in the open which generates methane and other green-house gases along-with unpleasant and unhealthy odour.

This book highlights the concepts, issues and policies related to the circular economy. The chapters of this book are designed to include the theoretical approach to the green circular economy, sustainable supply chain and challenges in the green circular economy. The book is a step towards designing sustainable circular economy embedded production and management practices. This book also addresses the capability of green-lean productions and a circular economy to improve resource efficiency and address environmental sustainability issues. Environmental sustainability is a hot topic in politics, science, and industry. There is a need to achieve economic, social, and environmental sustainability goals through adaptations of the green circular economy, which can help minimize greenhouse gas emissions, toxic pollutant releases, waste and energy and resource usage by employing renewable energy concepts and recyclable materials. The production processes must be resource-efficient and environmentally friendly, including green-lean manufacturing. Adopting a circular economy in manufacturing is less evident than green-lean management. However, systematic strategies to bridge this gap have yet to be devised. There is an urgent need to fully explore the Circular Economy concept to attain resource and environmental goals for the sustainability of the environment in the present era of global climate change. Its framework's powerful strategies need to solve the problem created by linear economic growth through industrialization and gross economic growth. There is a need to improve the sustainability management capabilities in the manufacturing and industrial sector to support the circular economy and a need to examine the impact of green human resource management. This book proposes the combined approach of green-lean solutions and a green circular economy. Through this book, we try to produce the content and information in a compiled form to give the audience an understanding of the circular economy concept framework and challenges.

Global population by 2050 is predicted to be over 9 billion and accordingly, the production systems will demolish about 140 billion tons per year of minerals, ores, fossil fuels and biomass, i.e., thrice of the current need, and the food production itself has to be doubled. Optimized resource usage, lifecycle management, and reduced carbon emission have become a priority for agri-food businesses today, and circular economy (CE) helps for a sustainable and flexible way to grow without exhausting primary materials, and it thinks beyond recycling and resource usage. The word CE best relates to the resource and efficiency management, 6Rs, closed-loop production systems, zero waste and lifecycle engineering, reduced overconsumption of resources and waste generation, enriched system redesign and business model innovation, thereby leading to sustainable development goals. In this light, the book calls for theoretical and empirically sound contributions that are focused on the different aspects of the circular economy, 6R’s, sustainable production and consumption, closed-loop systems, etc. in the agri-food sector.

Circular Economy in Developed and Developing Countries: Perspective, Methods And Examples develops a new approach to research, founded on the idea that ecological crisis is proof of the necessity for formation of circular economy.

This multi-authored book aims to illustrate the social, economic, and ecological factors that should determine and be determined by design in the implementation of a sustainable circular economy and society. We take design to refer to a continuum of perspectives and applications from industrial design to policy design, and this broad perspective invites theoretical and methodological contributions from a range of fields. In addition to bringing scholarly diversity to circularity, we expand and challenge the mainstream circular economy narrative of material efficiencies and green growth to include the demands of inclusive growth and ecological boundaries consistent with sustainable development. Readers from within and beyond design, conscious of the limitations of circular green growth will find new inspiration in this book regarding the nature of a sustainable circular economy and society and the broad design agenda that must be implemented to enable a just and informed circular transition.

This book provides novel perspectives to the ongoing global discussions on the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Current knowledge on circular economy and the SDGs target in developing and emerging countries are mostly fragmented and empirical evidence is limited. The approach taken in the book is unique as it presents holistic viewpoints about the synergies, opportunities and challenges between circular economy and SDGs targets in developing and emerging countries. The book presents diverse contents on the topic including literature reviews, conceptual discussions, case studies, and empirical analysis.

This edited book brings out a comprehensive collection of information on principle and policy of circular economy. It deals with the general principles, pathways of circular economic development in different countries, use of circular economy in achieving sustainable development goals. The book covers policy instruments that helps implementing resource efficient processes, strategies of implementing circular economy concepts, Decarbonisation, and developing business promoting circular economy principles. The circular economy has gained increasing prominence as a tool which presents solutions to some of the world’s most pressing sustainable development challenges. By addressing root causes, the concept of a circular economy, an economy in which waste and pollution do not exist by design, products and materials are kept in use, and natural systems are regenerated provides promise to achieving SDGs. This book is of interest and use to practitioners, capacity builders and policymakers, entrepreneurs, NGOs, general people, and valuable source of reference to the relevant researchers and students in global markets. As circular economy is gaining momentum and interest in general, the book serves as reading material for undergraduate and graduate students in any field specifically environmental science, waste management, medical science as well as environmental management at national and international level.