The Circular Economy: Prospects and Challenges Dr Ben Davies, Bath Spa University BRSLI, 10th Jan 2017

What is the Circular Economy? A circular economy is an alternative to a traditional linear economy (make, use, dispose) in which we keep resources in use for as long as possible, extract the maximum value from them whilst in use, then recover and regenerate products and materials at the end of each service life. (WRAP UK)

Kenneth Boulding, (1910-1993) Spaceship Earth ‘The Economics of the Coming Spaceship Earth’ (1968) ‘Anyone who believes in infinite growth of anything physical, on a finite planet, is either a madman, or an economist’ ‘Mathematics brought rigour to economics. Unfortunately, it also brought mortis’.

Herman Daly ‘The Steady State Economy’ ‘An economy with constant stocks of people and artifacts, maintained at some desired, sufficient levels by low rates of maintenance ‘throughput’, that is, by the lowest feasible flows of matter and energy from the first stage of production to the last stage of consumption.’ (Steady State Economics, 1977)

John Stuart Mill ‘The Stationary State’ “It is scarcely necessary to remark that a stationary condition of capital and population implies no stationary state of human improvement. There would be as much scope as ever for all kinds of mental culture, and moral and social progress; as much room for improving the Art of Living and much more likelihood of its being improved, when minds cease to be engrossed by the art of getting on.”

Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the way we make things (2002) William McDonough Michael Braungart

Is Eco-Efficiency Ideal? ‘As long as human beings are regarded as “bad”, zero is a good goal. But to be less bad is to accept things as they are, to believe that poorly designed, dishonourable, destructive systems are the best humans can do. This is the ultimate failure of the “be less bad” approach: a failure of the IMAGINATION.’ (Cradle to Cradle, 2002) Cradle to Cradle p. 67

From eco-efficiency to eco-effectiveness Do ‘good from the start’ (effectiveness) Do ‘less bad’ (efficiency)

Technical and biological nutrients

‘Monstrous hybrids’ – inseparable wastes WEEE Man

C2C Bio- and Techno- spheres

The cradle to cradle philosophy: The Mirra Chair (Herman Miller)

Alternative systems

Principles for Circular Economy Products Durability (extended life) Dematerialisation by design Ease of maintenance and repair Ease of disassembly/reassembly Potential for upcycling/re-purposing Material separation and recovery Keep materials in their highest value use, for as long as possible

Principles for Circular Economy Systems No waste: WASTE = FOOD Renewable energy Closed production loops Material separability and traceability Industrial ecosystems Biomimicry

(1) Closed loop production: Ecovative Mycelium-based growth matrix Product characteristics exceed styrofoam Scalable, dispersed production Inverse facilities: every warehouse houses 10,000 manufacturing hubs At-home kit: manufacture your own products Infinitely recyclable

(2) Waste Positive Reuse and Recovery: Econyl, from Aquafil (Nylon 6) 100% recycled nylon 100% yarn quality characteristics retained

(3) Product life extension: Caterpillar Retain and refurbish model Design for replacement/repair Supply chain control Protection of proprietory material and quality reputation

(4) Sharing platforms: StuffStr Utilise surplus capacity Connect across and within communities Offer goods and services Encourage donation, return and exchange

(5) Product as service: Philips Lighting ‘Pay per lux’ Upgrading and replacement for free Maintenance contract Profit margin on efficiency gains Long term relationships ‘I told Philips, ‘Listen, I need so many hours of light in my premises every year. If you think you need a lamp, or electricity, or whatever – that’s fine. But I want nothing to do with it. I’m not interested in the product, just the performance. I want to buy light, and nothing else.’ Thomas Rau, RauArchitects

System conditions - enablers Digital technology Mobile technologies Machine-to-machine communication Cloud computing Big data analytics Engineering Technologies Modular design Advanced recycling Life and material sciences technology

Some critical challenges Failed market signals Levelling the playing field Value Added Taxes or Value Destroying Taxes Standardisation v. Uniqueness Modularity and re-useability Transparency and accountability Product passports/ nutrient labelling Address planned obsolescence Support for supply chain collaboration