The Circular Economy (DP IB Geography)
Revision Note
Written by: Bridgette Barrett
Reviewed by: Jenna Quinn
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
The global commons are essential for human well-being and therefore a priority for conservation
Benefits include climate regulation, economic 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
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
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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