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Circular Economy and Green Chemistry: The Need for Radical Innovative Approaches in the Design for New Products

TitoloCircular Economy and Green Chemistry: The Need for Radical Innovative Approaches in the Design for New Products
Tipo di pubblicazioneArticolo su Rivista peer-reviewed
Anno di Pubblicazione2023
AutoriNcube, Amos, Mtetwa Sandile, Bukhari Mahak, Fiorentino Gabriella, and Passaro Renato
RivistaEnergies
Volume16
Type of ArticleArticle
ISSN19961073
Parole chiave'current, Chemical production, Circular economy, Consumption patterns, Economics, energy efficiency, Energy efficient, Energy efficient chemical production, Environmental impact, Green-chemistry, Innovative approaches, Investments, Laws and legislation, Product design, Production and consumption, Production patterns, Sustainable chemistry, waste management
Abstract

The idea of a circular economy (CE) has gained ground over the past ten years as a means of addressing sustainable development and getting around the limitations of the current and linear dominant production and consumption patterns. The primary goal of a CE is to encourage the adoption of closing-the-loop production methods to improve resource use efficiency, modify chemical processes, and increase product and material lifespan. According to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which focuses on 17 Sustainable Development Goals, 14 of which call for the appropriate application of green chemistry (GC) concepts and patterns, the role that chemistry may play in the shift toward more sustainable models is critical. By serving as the foundation for novel products made from renewable feedstocks and designed to be reused, recycled, or recovered with the associated minimum energy requirements, green and sustainable chemistry could be the key to unlocking the economic potential of the CE toward new product design and ultimately solving waste management problems. The aim of this perspective paper, while using a variety of literature sources, is to essentially capture the main issues associated with the CE and GC paradigms and how these two approaches can merge toward sustainable business models and the production of new materials. This integration focuses on reducing waste, conserving resources, and minimizing negative environmental impacts, while also considering economic viability. However, the obstacles to achieving implementation of the CE and GC principles are investment, environmental education, and legislation. To advance toward the circular economy and green chemistry, international agreements should be reconsidered to provide an appropriate framework, including the creation of incentives for businesses and individuals to adopt circular practices, the establishment of education programs to promote the benefits of circular practices, and the development of regulations to support the transition to sustainable production and consumption patterns. © 2023 by the authors.

Note

Cited by: 1; All Open Access, Gold Open Access, Green Open Access

URLhttps://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85149688843&doi=10.3390%2fen16041752&partnerID=40&md5=4da5c979a548a3051f498549cb4edbe9
DOI10.3390/en16041752
Citation KeyNcube2023