Building a Biodiversity-Positive Circular Economy: the Potential of Recycling Using Industrial Symbiosis

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Lisa Junge - , Chair of Business Management esp Environmental Management, United Nations University - Institute for Integrated Management of Material Fluxes and of Resources (UNU-FLORES) (First author)
  • Nora Adam - , United Nations University - Institute for Integrated Management of Material Fluxes and of Resources (UNU-FLORES) (Author)
  • Jonathan Clive Morris - , Chair of Ecosystem Services, Leibniz Institute of Ecological Urban and Regional Development (Author)
  • Edeltraud Günther - , United Nations University - Institute for Integrated Management of Material Fluxes and of Resources (UNU-FLORES) (Author)

Abstract

The traditional linear economy increasingly threatens natural systems, leading to the unprecedented degradation of global biodiversity. This endangers the functioning of economies and threatens the welfare of human societies. The circular economy (CE) offers an opportunity to decouple virgin resource consumption from economic growth, avoiding resource overexploitation and waste generation, consequently preventing biodiversity degradation. In this context, industrial symbiosis (IS) creates an approach for facilitating the repurposing of waste materials and by-products as input materials, promoting the cross-sectoral exchange of resources and further enhancing sustainable development. Here, we compile existing CE indicators and examine whether they are related to biodiversity. We then synthesise knowledge from previous academic studies to develop cases focusing on key human needs (food, water, energy, infrastructure). Using these cases, we demonstrate a potential relationship between biodiversity and the CE from an IS perspective, highlighting how circular practices impact the direct drivers of biodiversity loss. We conclude that quantifying the consequences on biodiversity of adapting CE approaches remains limited yet offers an opportunity to protect biodiversity. Finally, we argue that further research on the biodiversity impact of circular practices across all pillars of the CE and all actors guiding a shift in economic paradigms is required to promote the systemic consideration of resources and materials and direct an economic transition. This can potentially help towards halting biodiversity loss, climate change and pollution—also known as the triple planetary crisis.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)2037-2060
Number of pages24
JournalCircular Economy and Sustainability
Volume3
Issue number4
Early online date18 Mar 2023
Publication statusPublished - Dec 2023
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

unpaywall 10.1007/s43615-023-00259-0
Scopus 85171274753
ORCID /0000-0002-1406-334X/work/168207948
Mendeley 4f3d8bb6-dde6-38d6-964f-f5e7769758f2