Sustainability, Linear Economy, and Circular Economy Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards covering the core concepts, historical milestones, mathematical models, non-renewable resource limits, and economic frameworks of Sustainability, Linear Economy, and Circular Economy.

Sustainable Development

Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs, as defined in the 1987 Brundtland Report.

Sustainability

A state where environmental, social, and economic systems remain healthy and balanced over time; it represents the ultimate goal, whereas sustainable development is the process to achieve it.

Linear Economy

A production and consumption system based on a simple one-way flow of materials, also known as the 'Take-Make-Dispose' or 'cradle-to-grave' model.

Circular Economy

A closed-loop industrial system designed to eliminate waste, keep materials circulating for as long as possible, rely on renewable energy, and regenerate natural systems.

Coral Triangle

The global marine biodiversity region in which the Philippines is located, emphasizing the country's status as a biodiversity hotspot.

Crude Oil Depletion Estimate

With proven global reserves of roughly $1.49 \text{ trillion}$ barrels as of 2020 and annual consumption of $34 \text{ billion}$ barrels, supplies are estimated to run out between 2060 and 2070.

Coal Reserves and Impact

Generates $40PL1M$ of global electricity and causes $39PL1M$ of greenhouse gas emissions; global reserves of $1.1 \text{ trillion}$ tonnes are estimated to last until the year 2150.

Bauxite Ore

The primary raw material source extracted to produce alumina and pure aluminum metal, constituting approximately $8PL1M$ of the Earth's crust.

Antimony

A critical non-renewable mineral used mainly in flame retardants ($35PL1M$), batteries ($29PL1M$), and chemicals ($16PL1M$), whose 2020 reserves were projected to run out in approximately 4 years.

Product Upcycling

A key facet of resource efficiency involving the reuse of an old product while enhancing its appeal through creative and environmental design features.

Industrial Symbiosis

The exchange and flow of materials or waste streams within a network of industrial businesses, where waste from one sector becomes feedstock for another.

Performance Economy

A circular framework pioneered by Walter Stahel emphasizing the 'product as a service' model, where consumers pay to lease or rent performance rather than purchasing physical goods.

System Thinking

A foundational circular economy principle that analyzes issues by considering the continuous interactions and interdependence between subsystems and the whole system.

Cascading Principle

A strategy in circular economy where materials or products are repurposed at the end of their primary lifespan to derive additional value in alternative applications.

Entropy (CE Limitation)

A thermodynamic law indicating increasing system disorder, which proves that $100PL1M$ material recycling is impossible because recycling processes inherently consume energy and create by-products.

Spatial Boundary Limits

A limitation of circular practices where environmental impacts are geographically shifted, such as developed nations exporting hazardous recyclable waste to less developed countries.

Nachhaltigkeit

The concept of sustainability introduced by Hans Carlowitz in 1713, which mandated that wood extraction should never exceed its natural forest regrowth rate.

Tragedy of the Commons

A 1968 concept published by Garrett Hardin illustrating the environmental degradation that occurs when individuals overconsume shared finite natural resources.

IPAT Equation

A mathematical formulation created by Ehrlich and Commoner (1970) expressing environmental impact as $I = P \times A \times T$, where $P$ is population, $A$ is affluence, and $T$ is technology.

Genuine Progress Indicator (GPI)

An economic measurement tool proposed by Daly and Cobb in 1989 to complement or replace GDP by deducting environmental damage, leisure loss, and underemployment costs.

Sustainable Yield

An ecological principle formulated by Herman Daly stating that the extraction rate of renewable resources must not exceed their natural rate of regeneration.

Sustainable Disposal

An ecological principle by Herman Daly stating that project waste generation rates must not exceed the natural assimilation capacity of the surrounding environment.

Sustainable Substitute

An ecological principle stating that the depletion of non-renewable resources must be offset by an equal production of renewable energy or material alternatives.

Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC)

An inverted U-shaped economic hypothesis proposed by Selden and Song asserting that environmental degradation initially worsens with GDP growth but improves as nations adopt cleaner technologies.

Biocapacity

The functional capacity of natural ecosystems to regenerate renewable resources and absorb human-generated wastes and carbon pollution.

Social Sustainability

The dimension of sustainable development focused on equity, quality of life, diversity, social cohesion, fair employment, and democratic governance.