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Biocircularity: a Framework to Define Sustainable, Circular Bioeconomy.
Nicholas M Holden1,2, Andrew M Neill2,3, Jane C Stout2,3
1School of Biosystems and Food Engineering, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.
Circular Economy and Sustainability
|March 27, 2023
Summary
The bioeconomy must adopt biocircularity, an integrated approach, to ensure sustainable production of renewable materials. This avoids linear economic models and protects natural capital for future resource needs.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Sustainable Systems
- Circular Economy
Background:
- The current bioeconomy model risks replicating linear
- take-make-dispose
- patterns, increasing land demand.
Purpose of the Study:
- To propose biocircularity as an integrated systems approach for sustainable renewable material production.
- To address the need for circularity in the bioeconomy to prevent resource depletion.
Main Methods:
- Conceptualizing biocircularity as a framework.
- Analyzing challenges in sustainable production, consumption, and integration with existing systems.
Main Results:
- Biocircularity integrates extended use, reuse, recycling, and design for degradation.
- It aims to minimize waste, energy demand, and end-of-life failures.
Conclusions:
- Biocircularity provides a theoretical foundation and success metrics for a sustainable circular bioeconomy.
- It emphasizes maintaining natural capital alongside biomass production.
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