{"id":1351,"date":"2022-01-02T23:52:58","date_gmt":"2022-01-02T22:52:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lms.nanoproject.eu\/lms\/?post_type=unit&p=1351"},"modified":"2022-01-02T23:52:58","modified_gmt":"2022-01-02T22:52:58","slug":"understanding-the-circular-economy","status":"publish","type":"unit","link":"https:\/\/lms.nanoproject.eu\/lms\/unit\/understanding-the-circular-economy\/","title":{"rendered":"Understanding the circular economy"},"content":{"rendered":"

To understand the role that nanotechnology can play in the circular economy; it is important to first understand what a circular economy means. The circular economy is \u00ab\u00a0a\u00a0model of production and consumption, which involves sharing, leasing, reusing, repairing, refurbishing and recycling existing materials and products as long as possible. In this way, the\u00a0life cycle of products is extended.\u00a0\u00bb<\/p>\n

This approach seeks to\u00a0reduc<\/strong>e<\/strong> waste<\/strong>\u00a0to a minimum. Thus, when a product reaches the end of its life, its materials can be productively used again thereby\u00a0creating further value<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

The circular economy is thus different from linear economy, which is based on a\u00a0 \u201ctake-make-consume-throw away pattern\u201d. This model relies on large quantities of cheap, easily accessible materials and energy. One consequence of this model is\u00a0planned obsolescence. This is when a product has been designed to have a limited lifespan to encourage consumers to buy it again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
\n

Definition<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

Circular economy<\/strong><\/p>\n

The circular economy is a\u00a0model of production and consumption, which involves sharing, leasing, reusing, repairing, refurbishing and recycling existing materials and products as long as possible. In this way, the\u00a0life cycle of products is extended.<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

You might wonder why it is important to change to a circular economy. Well, the supply of raw materials is finite. Meanwhile, the global population keeps growing and so does the demand. As well, the extraction and use of raw materials has an impact on the environment which increases energy consumptions and CO2<\/sub>emissions (European Parliament, 2021).<\/p>\n

Measures such as waste prevention,\u00a0ecodesign\u00a0and re-use could save EU companies money while also\u00a0reducing total annual greenhouse gas emissions. The current production of materials we use daily account for 45% of the CO2 <\/sub>emissions (European Parliament, 2021).<\/p>\n

Moving towards a more circular economy could help fight climate change, improve the security of the supply of raw materials, increase competitiveness, stimulate innovation, boost the economy and creating jobs (700,000 jobs in the EU alone by 2030) (European Parliament, 2021).<\/p>\n

As a consumer, you will benefit from more durable and innovative products that will increase the quality of life and save you money in the long term.<\/p>\n

Figure 1\u00a0: The circular economy<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

A circular economy is part of the ambitions of the European Green Deal. The\u00a0European Green Deal<\/strong>\u00a0is a set of policy initiatives by the\u00a0European Commission\u00a0with the overarching aim of making the\u00a0European Union\u00a0(EU) climate neutral in 2050. The climate change and environmental degradation are an existential threat to Europe and the world. To overcome these challenges, the European Green Deal\u00a0will transform the EU into a modern, resource-efficient and competitive economy, ensuring:<\/p>\n

    \n
  • no net emissions of greenhouse gases by 2050<\/li>\n
  • economic growth decoupled from resource use<\/li>\n
  • no person and no place left behind<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    The European Commission adopted a set of proposals to make the EU’s climate, energy, transport and taxation\u00a0policies fit for reducing net greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by 2030<\/strong>, compared to 1990 levels (European Commission, 2019).<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
    \n

    Important<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

    European Green Deal<\/strong><\/p>\n

    The\u00a0European Green Deal<\/strong>\u00a0is a set of policy initiatives by the\u00a0European Commission\u00a0with the overarching aim of making the\u00a0European Union\u00a0(EU) climate neutral in 2050<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

    Now, you might wonder how does nanotechnology play a role in the circular economy? They are many ways in which nanotechnology can help us reach the European Green Deal goals and help us transition to a circular economy.<\/p>\n

    Nanotechnology has many implications. As you have learned in our previous texts, at the very small nano-scale, the properties of materials can be different from those on a larger scale. Thus, nanomaterials can help reduce the use of critical raw materials as well as bulk materials, but it can also help us save energy and fuel. Critical raw materials (CRMs) are raw materials of high importance to the EU economy and of high risk associated with their supply<\/strong> (European Parliament, 2021.)<\/p>\n

    Apart from European Green Deal and the European Commission’s new Action Plan for a Circular Economy, the EU also launched the new European Industrial Strategy and the Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability. They are all different plans to achieve a sustainable, fair, and inclusive European Union’s economy. These plans require that any new material or product should be not only functional, but also safe and sustainable. Nanotechnology is one of the technologies that could enable this green growth (Shan et al<\/em>. 2009).<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
    \n

    Definition<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

    Critical raw materials (CRMs)<\/strong><\/p>\n

    Critical raw materials (CRMs) are raw materials of high importance to the EU economy and of high risk associated with their supply.<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

    Figure 2: The benefits of the European Green Deal<\/strong><\/p>\n

    \"\"<\/p>\n

    In the following sections, you will learn more about how nanotechnology can contribute to the circular economy and the European Green Deal by reducing the number of raw materials used \u2013 including CRMs \u2013 as well as how it can help reduce the amount of energy and fuel required in the production process as well as in transportation. Finally, you will learn how it can the renewable energy sector more efficient.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
    \n

    Important<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

    Nano in the circular economy and European Green Deal<\/strong><\/p>\n

    Nanotechnology is one of the technologies that could help us achieve a sustainable, fair, and inclusive European Union’s economy.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_vibebp_attr":"","_vibebp_dimensions":"","_vibebp_responsive_height":"","_vibebp_accordion_ie_support":"","footnotes":""},"module-tag":[],"class_list":["post-1351","unit","type-unit","status-publish","format-standard","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lms.nanoproject.eu\/lms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/unit\/1351","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lms.nanoproject.eu\/lms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/unit"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lms.nanoproject.eu\/lms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/unit"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lms.nanoproject.eu\/lms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lms.nanoproject.eu\/lms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1351"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/lms.nanoproject.eu\/lms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/unit\/1351\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1368,"href":"https:\/\/lms.nanoproject.eu\/lms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/unit\/1351\/revisions\/1368"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lms.nanoproject.eu\/lms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1351"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"module-tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lms.nanoproject.eu\/lms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/module-tag?post=1351"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}