09. Circular Economy

“Transitioning to a circular economy model could bring global growth of up to $4.5 trillion”

This story has been taken from the multimedia report Top 10 Frontier Technologies for Climate Action. Find it here.

Societies around the world make, use and dispose of items in a linear way.

Clearly, in an era of unprecedented waste, with pollution overwhelming swathes of land and ocean, this is not working. Recent campaigns against fast fashion and single-use plastics make it clear that there is a demand for something different. Yet the most devastating step of the linear process — disposal — most often happens far away from mature economies, with waste being dumped in countries that are poorly equipped to deal with it. This not only threatens the ecosystem, but human lives too.

A circular economy aims to redefine growth, gradually decoupling economic activity from the consumption of finite resources, and designing waste out of the system. This means the use of renewable energy in the manufacturing process, truly effective recycling to keep products in use, and the regeneration of natural systems. There is no one size fits all approach.

The exact nature of the problem varies greatly between countries. The circular economy could mean the chemical or organic degradation of plastics — or the use of bioplastics which can degrade over time. It could take the form of textile recycling which makes discarded clothes into entirely new fabrics. It could mean better tracking of supply chains to reduce asset loss and fuel consumption.

There is a big opportunity here. Transitioning to a circular economy model could bring global growth of up to $4.5 trillion. Action from the development sector — in providing subsidies, education programmes, skills training and connections between corporates and utilities — is crucial in making that happen.

Textiles to Textiles

What happens to the unwanted clothes you discard? Large volumes of clothes are transported to the countries in development, where they go into landfill. But there is another way. The chemical breakdown of old fibres into new materials can make old fabric into new, producing thread that rivals normal cotton, but without the air and water pollution involved in the usual process for growing cotton. In fact, waste from the production of other materials, like rice, can also be put to good use: for example, rice straws can also be repurposed in apparel. This not only gets rid of landfill, but can provide a real business benefit — many of the countries where textiles are dumped, like India and China, are also big producers of textiles, so there is a readymade market for this tech. Infinited Fiber has already consulted with 10 big brands about integrating their recycled fibres into clothes, and are in discussions with manufacturers in India and China.

Fungal Plastic Decomposition

Plastics are overflowing in nature and threatening ecosystems. We know this is a problem, but there is no easy solution. One exciting new discovery is fungi that can breakdown plastics. This could allow the localised decomposition of plastics within countries in development, with very little environmental impact. This process could theoretically work in the oceans, in landfill, and in private homes. It might even allow plastics to be turned into food or fuel.

Although 50 species of plastic-eating fungi have been discovered, the technology hasn’t been commercialised yet. More research is needed to see how long it takes to break down plastics — and to properly understand the ecological impact of using these fungi. This is just one example of new methods to repurpose or degrade waste.

Waste To Energy

Globally, we have a problem with waste — as is evidenced by heaving landfill sites, many of which are in countries in development. One problem is that a lot of waste is difficult to recycle and ends up being burnt, which causes soil, water and air pollution. This has serious implications for human health. A solution might be the molecular breakdown of waste using heat and pressure. This process turns the rubbish into fuel — specifically fuel like syngas and ash, or non-leaching stone. Not only does this turn discarded rubbish into a valuable product, it also prevents the harmful gases that come from burning waste. This technology exists already and is in the early stages of being commercialised in the developed world. At the moment, it is expensive, requiring a big initial investment as well as ongoing maintenance — but it could have a huge impact.

Want to explore the other nine Frontier Technologies for Climate Action? Click here.

Is there a technology here that captures your attention? Put your thoughts in the comments section below or get in touch at ftlenquiries@imcworldwide.com