This is the second of a two-part story. Part one deals with aluminum and steel impacts; Part two explores circular solutions. Aluminum and steel have long been hailed for their relatively high recycling rates compared to other materials such as petrochemical-based plastics. But experts point to numerous supply chain faults for these metals — extending from the mining of ores to finished products — resulting in significant environmental, social and health harms. If the status quo for sourcing and refining these metals continues into the future, experts warn, then these global costs are likely to rise, as production volumes ramp up to meet the needs of the energy transition and global infrastructure expansion. However, some analysts say these industries could be prime candidates for circular economy solutions, though that shift will pose extensive challenges. Both sectors would need to shift from their predominantly “take-make-waste” linear economic models, to embrace the “reduce, reuse and recycle” circular economic model. Those three R’s can be further delineated as refuse, repair, refurbish, remanufacture and repurpose. Circularity aims to turn the cradle-to-grave linear economic model of production and consumption into a closed loop of perpetual renewal. But the push for sustainability is currently going backward, not forward. The global circularity rate, defined as the share of secondary materials consumed by the global economy, declined from 9.1% in 2018 to 7.2% in 2023. This backsliding is due to rising consumption and material use, according to the most recent Circularity Gap report by Circle Economy, an NGO.…This article was originally published on Mongabay
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