The Circular Economy (DP IB Geography)

Revision Note

The Tragedy of the Commons

  • Global commons are parts of the Earth that are not owned or managed by any single country

  • They are shared resources that belong to everyone, and as such, they require a cooperative approach to management

  • The principle of the common heritage of mankind is applied to the global commons

    • The idea is that resources are essential for the survival and well-being of all people

    • They are too important to be owned by one nation and instead should be managed equitably and sustainably for the benefit of everyone

  • There are four global commons identified by international law

Illustration of Earth with labeled environmental threats: atmosphere (air pollution, climate change), outer space (exploitation, debris), high seas (pollution, overfishing), and Antarctica (climate change, mining).
The four global commons
  • The global commons are essential for human well-being and therefore a priority for conservation

  • Benefits include climate regulationeconomic value, e.g. through tourism and fishing, and cultural and spiritual significance

  • No single country has an exclusive right to these resources, instead, they need to be managed through a cooperative approach to benefit everyone, now and in the future

The tragedy of the commons

  • If individuals or countries act in their own self-interest without considering the needs of others, this could lead to the damage or depletion of a shared resource

  • This is known as the tragedy of the commons 

  • The tragedy of the commons (as explained by Garret Hardin in 1968) occurs when common pool resources are used in production in an unsustainable way:

    • In the fishing industry, the more fish each country catches, the greater their profit

    • This will lead to overfishing as other countries feel the need to increase their catch to keep up

    • Potentially causing the industry to collapse and reducing resources for future generations

The Value of the Circular Economy

  • Currently, most resources are part of a linear system where

    • Finite resources are used to make products

    • The products are used

    • At the end of their lifecycle, the products are thrown away

  • This leads to increasing amounts of waste

  • Recycling is considered to be the first step towards the ambitious goal of a ‘circular’ economy

Flowchart depicting the stages of material usage: extraction, parts supply, manufacturing, distribution, user, incineration, with options to recycle, harvest parts, refurbish, or service.
Recycling system

What is the circular economy?

  • The circular economy is a sustainable management concept

  • It has its origins in the 'cradle to cradle' concept developed by William McDonough in 2002

  • It is based on three principles:

    • Ending waste and pollution

    • Reusing products and materials

    • Regeneration of nature

  • The aim is that a circular economy will lead to both sustainable environmental and economic development

  • Within the circular economy, there are two cycles

    • The technical cycle where products are recycled, reused, repaired or remanufactured

    • The biological cycle is where the biodegradable products are returned to the natural environment

Diagram illustrating a circular economy with biological and technical cycles, showing processes like farming, manufacturing, recycling, reuse, and minimal waste to landfill.
The circular economy

How does the circular economy work?

  • All waste is considered to be a resource 

    • The design of products considers how the components will be reused or recycled when the item reaches the end of their lifecycle

    • Food waste is all composted and returned to the biological cycle to support new growth 

The circular economy on a global scale

  • The Ellen McArthur Foundation leads the way on the circular economy concept

  • The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) include the reduction of waste from food systems (Goal 12)

  • The European Circular Economy Action Plan (CEAP) was first adopted in 2015, and then the New Circular Economy Action Plan (CEAP) was adopted in 2020. It aims to:

    • Ensure less waste

    • Make sustainable products the norm

    • Focus on increasing circularity in sectors that use large amounts of resources

    • Promote the circular economy internationally

  • The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) started work on circular economy in 2015, encouraging discussions on consumer awareness and innovation in business

The circular economy on a national scale

  • In 2016, France made it illegal for retailers to throw away food

  • China introduced a law in 2021 which banned competitive eating and the sharing of binge-eating videos

The circular economy on a local scale

  • Malmö in Sweden is piloting a circular economy approach

    • The pilot began in 2018

    • The bus fleet runs on biogas and CNG, which reduces emissions

    • It is compulsory for households to sort food waste

    • Household waste is recycled and reused (98%)

    • Recycling and repair of IT equipment by the local government have more than doubled

    • Local construction companies have signed up to the Climate Neutral Building partnership which focuses on using recycled and upcycled materials

    • Water recovery systems have been installed

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