Circular Economy: Questions for Responsible Minerals, Additive Manufacturing and Recycling of Metals

Damien Giurco, Anna Littleboy, Thomas Boyle, Julian Fyfe and Stuart White
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Damien Giurco: Institute for Sustainable Futures, University of Technology, Sydney (UTS), P.O. Box 123, Broadway, NSW 2007, Australia
Anna Littleboy: Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Queensland Centre for Advanced Technologies, P.O. Box 887, Kenmore, QLD 4069, Australia
Thomas Boyle: Institute for Sustainable Futures, University of Technology, Sydney (UTS), P.O. Box 123, Broadway, NSW 2007, Australia
Julian Fyfe: Institute for Sustainable Futures, University of Technology, Sydney (UTS), P.O. Box 123, Broadway, NSW 2007, Australia
Stuart White: Institute for Sustainable Futures, University of Technology, Sydney (UTS), P.O. Box 123, Broadway, NSW 2007, Australia

Resources, 2014, vol. 3, issue 2, 1-22

Abstract: The concept of the circular economy proposes new patterns of production, consumption and use, based on circular flows of resources. Under a scenario where there is a global shift towards the circular economy, this paper discusses the advent of two parallel and yet-to-be-connected trends for Australia, namely: (i) responsible minerals supply chains and (ii) additive manufacturing, also known as 3D production systems. Acknowledging the current context for waste management, the paper explores future interlinked questions which arise in the circular economy for responsible supply chains, additive manufacturing, and metals recycling. For example, where do mined and recycled resources fit in responsible supply chains as inputs to responsible production? What is required to ensure 3D production systems are resource efficient? How could more distributed models of production, enabled by additive manufacturing, change the geographical scale at which it is economic or desirable to close the loop? Examples are given to highlight the need for an integrated research agenda to address these questions and to foster Australian opportunities in the circular economy.

Keywords: additive manufacturing; megatrends; industrial ecology; circular economy; stewardship; recycling (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2014
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (9)

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