Circular Economy and Waste Minimization Strategies in Industrial Systems
Keywords:
Environmental Degradation, Circular Economy (CE), Industrial Symbiosis, Supply Chain StabilityAbstract
The traditional linear economic model of "take, make, dispose" has led to excessive resource consumption, environmental degradation, and escalating waste accumulation. This unsustainable approach not only depletes natural resources but also increases pollution, contributing to climate change and biodiversity loss. In response, the circular economy (CE) has emerged as a transformative solution aimed at maximizing resource efficiency, minimizing waste, and fostering a regenerative industrial system.
This review explores key waste minimization strategies within the framework of the circular economy, emphasizing approaches such as closed-loop supply chains, industrial symbiosis, eco-design, and advanced recycling technologies. These strategies enable industries to recover valuable materials, extend product lifecycles, and reduce dependency on virgin resources. The integration of digital technologies—including artificial intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), and blockchain—plays a pivotal role in optimizing resource management, improving waste tracking, and enhancing efficiency across industrial operations.
Additionally, policy interventions and corporate sustainability initiatives are analyzed to understand their impact on CE adoption. Governments worldwide are implementing regulations, tax incentives, and extended producer responsibility (EPR) programs to encourage sustainable production and waste reduction. Meanwhile, industries are voluntarily embracing zero-waste strategies, circular supply chain models, and eco-innovation to enhance economic and environmental resilience.
References
Geissdoerfer M, Savaget P, Bocken NM, Hultink EJ. The Circular Economy–A new sustainability paradigm?. Journal of cleaner production. 2017 Feb 1;143:757-68.
Kirchherr J, Reike D, Hekkert M. Conceptualizing the circular economy: An analysis of 114 definitions. Resources, conservation and recycling. 2017 Dec 1;127:221-32.
Ghisellini P, Cialani C, Ulgiati S. A review on circular economy: the expected transition to a balanced interplay of environmental and economic systems. Journal of Cleaner production. 2016 Feb 15;114:11-32.
Lieder M, Rashid A. Towards circular economy implementation: a comprehensive review in context of manufacturing industry. Journal of cleaner production. 2016 Mar 1;115:36-51.
MacArthur E. Towards the circular economy, economic and business rationale for an accelerated transition. Ellen MacArthur Foundation: Cowes, UK. 2013;1.
Bocken NM, De Pauw I, Bakker C, Van Der Grinten B. Product design and business model strategies for a circular economy. Journal of industrial and production engineering. 2016 Jul 3;33(5):308-20.
Kalmykova Y, Sadagopan M, Rosado L. Circular economy–From review of theories and practices to development of implementation tools. Resources, conservation and recycling. 2018 Aug 1;135:190-201.
Stahel WR. The circular economy: A user's guide. Routledge; 2019 Jun 3.
McMillan SE. " Closing the Loop": THE EUROPEAN UNION & THE CIRCULAR ECONOMY. Scitech Lawyer. 2019 Jul 1;15(4):4-8.
Su B, Heshmati A, Geng Y, Yu X. A review of the circular economy in China: moving from rhetoric to implementation. Journal of cleaner production. 2013 Mar 1;42:215-27.
Webster K. The circular economy: A wealth of flows. (No Title). 2015.
Homrich AS, Galvão G, Abadia LG, Carvalho MM. The circular economy umbrella: Trends and gaps on integrating pathways. Journal of cleaner production. 2018 Feb 20;175:525-43.
Blomsma F, Brennan G. The emergence of circular economy: a new framing around prolonging resource productivity. Journal of industrial ecology. 2017 Jun;21(3):603-14.
Velenturf AP, Purnell P. Principles for a sustainable circular economy. Sustainable production and consumption. 2021 Jul 1;27:1437-57.
D'Amato D, Droste N, Allen B, Kettunen M, Lähtinen K, Korhonen J, Leskinen P, Matthies BD, Toppinen A. Green, circular, bio economy: A comparative analysis of sustainability avenues. Journal of cleaner production. 2017 Dec 1;168:716-34.
Nobre GC, Tavares E. Scientific literature analysis on big data and internet of things applications on circular economy: a bibliometric study. Scientometrics. 2017 Apr;111:463-92.
Hahladakis JN, Iacovidou E. Closing the loop on plastic packaging materials: What is quality and how does it affect their circularity?. Science of the total environment. 2018 Jul 15;630:1394-400.
