Scientists say governments and industry should collaborate with industrial ecologists to establish the circular economy

In order to successfully pursue the circular economy, governments and companies should directly involve scientists, according to a report published by the International Society for Industrial Ecology and led by Dr. Stijn van Ewijk from UCL.

The report highlights the significant expertise in the field of industrial ecology, a discipline focused on waste minimization, impact prediction of new products, and designing environmentally friendly systems.

The circular economy aims to keep products and materials in use, returning all forms of waste back into the economy or using them more efficiently. This contrasts with the current “linear” economy that emphasizes resource extraction, product use, and disposal.

The report, produced by researchers from the UK, EU, China, and the US, sets out essential principles for policymakers and industry to avoid the circular economy becoming meaningless or dismissed as “greenwashing.”

Dr. Stijn van Ewijk explains, “The circular economy is perceived as new, but the study of sustainability and industrial ecology has been ongoing for decades. Industrial ecology focuses on measuring and reducing environmental impacts, conducting systems analyses, assessing product life cycles, and planning circular economy systems.”

One key recommendation in the report is the adoption of a life cycle perspective that considers all impacts from raw material extraction to end-of-life waste. This ensures that potential solutions do not create new problems elsewhere. For example, the adoption of reusable cups as an alternative to disposable cups may increase overall emissions if they are not regularly reused.

The report also emphasizes the importance of early, whole-system intervention to prevent waste. Policymakers and industry should design systems that are efficient and long-lasting instead of making incremental changes to minimize impacts. The example of electric cars is given, where they solve the problem of fossil fuel pollution but contribute to increased overall car usage.

The group acknowledges that they do not have all the answers but advocates for a scientific approach to the circular economy. They urge political leaders and companies to collaborate with industrial ecologists to develop evidence-based policies and leverage existing expertise to anticipate the environmental benefits of new technologies and practices.

Stefanie Hellweg, former President of the International Society for Industrial Ecology, adds, “Industrial ecology has been focusing on optimizing materials and minimizing waste for decades. We have tools for modeling material stocks and flows, identifying opportunities for waste utilization, supporting environment-focused design, and assessing impacts throughout product life cycles. This paper aims to inspire discussions between scientists, policymakers, and industry and draw attention to existing expertise.”

 

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