Introduction: Challenges and opportunities of the circular economy

Helen Kopnina*, Kim Poldner

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingForeword/postscriptpeer-review

Abstract

One of the greatest challenges of sustainability is addressing the continuous production and consumption of natural resources that result in depletion, pollution, climate change and biodiversity loss. The circular economy (CE) concept is seen by many as a novel pathway to sustainability. The CE can be viewed as a concept, a framework and a process with its main goal being to provide an alternative for the traditional take-make-waste systems. What is significant when discussing CE is a focus on the opportunities such as the benefits of implementation, a positive environmental impact and the creation of new sustainable jobs. By contrast to CE ‘flat earth society’ or the cowboy economy, a ‘spaceman economy’ sees the Earth as a single spaceship, with limits for both what can be taken from it in terms of natural resources and what can be disposed of (pollution and garbage).
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationCircular Economy
Subtitle of host publicationChallenges and Opportunities for Ethical and Sustainable Business
EditorsHelen Kopnina, Kim Poldner
Place of PublicationLondon
PublisherTaylor & Francis
Pages1-16
Number of pages16
Edition1st
ISBN (Electronic)9781000427158
ISBN (Print)9780367418663
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 12 Aug 2021
Externally publishedYes

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