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W4_lecture1_CE examples_generic(1)

Module Overview

  • ENVE4610: Engineering the Circular Economy

    • Focus on Circular Economy and relevant case studies throughout the modules.

Circular Economy Sectors

Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions

  • Measured in tonnes of carbon dioxide-equivalents over a 100-year timescale.

    • Global Sources include:

      • Electricity and heat

      • Transport

      • Manufacturing and construction

      • Agriculture

    • Total GHG metrics reveal significant contributions to climate change from human activity.

Australia GHG Emissions

  • Shows similar sectors to global emissions with distinguishing amounts specific to Australia.

Construction Industry Impact

  • Construction accounts for:

    • 43 billion tonnes of mineral-based materials.

    • 36% of global energy use.

    • Nearly 40% of extraction leads to end-of-life waste.

    • Significant percentage of carbon emissions sourced from construction.

Circular Economy Trends in Construction

  • Design for Disassembly: Enable component recovery.

  • Modular Construction: Reduces waste during production.

  • Material Marketplaces: Connect end-of-life materials to new users.

Plastics & Textiles Impact

Plastics

  • Production around 350Mt with leakage of 60-90Mt into the environment.

  • Global CO2 emissions related to plastics reach about 400 million tonnes annually.

Textiles

  • 90 million tonnes of fibre used in textiles with 92 million tonnes of clothing waste.

  • Significant water use and pollutant generation throughout production.

CE Trends in Textiles

  • Focus on chemical reduction, durable clothing, and high-quality recycling solutions.

Innovations and Case Studies

Fuji Xerox

  • Successful recycling scheme with a high diversion rate from landfills.

Mud Jeans

  • Highlight sustainable practices with recycled materials and rental options.

Nofir/Aquafil

  • Recycling discarded fishing nets into new products.

Food Waste Addressing Initiatives

  • Significant global and local impact, with notable initiatives aimed at improving resource utilization and waste reduction.

Ellen MacArthur Foundation

  • Focus on educational efforts and partnerships to promote circular economy practices.

Circular Economy Models

Loop System

  • Collaborative efforts among corporations to promote reusable packaging.

Corporate Efforts toward Circularity

  • A focus on companies addressing plastic waste and utilizing sustainable practices for production.

Summary

  • Address circular economy principles and the importance of sustainable practices across all sectors highlighted through the course.