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Towards clean material cycles: Is there a policy conflict between circular economy and non-toxic environment?

Johansson, Nils ; Velis, Costas and Corvellec, Hervé LU orcid (2020) In Waste Management & Research 38(7). p.705-707
Abstract
Lately, the idea of ‘non-toxic’ (or ‘clean’) material cycles has become increasingly popular as a starting point for the consideration of circular economy strategies among leading regulating actors, such as the European Commission (2017). However, it should be apparent that, by default, circular economy aspirations awaken a potential policy conflict between increased circulation of resources and reduction of exposure to hazardous substances (human- and eco-toxic substances of concern). Here, we build upon the great tradition of Waste Management & Research editorials on the topic debated, and not least on the recent opinion piece by Stanisavljevic and Brunner (2019). We argue that non-toxic material cycles are indeed a desirable vision,... (More)
Lately, the idea of ‘non-toxic’ (or ‘clean’) material cycles has become increasingly popular as a starting point for the consideration of circular economy strategies among leading regulating actors, such as the European Commission (2017). However, it should be apparent that, by default, circular economy aspirations awaken a potential policy conflict between increased circulation of resources and reduction of exposure to hazardous substances (human- and eco-toxic substances of concern). Here, we build upon the great tradition of Waste Management & Research editorials on the topic debated, and not least on the recent opinion piece by Stanisavljevic and Brunner (2019). We argue that non-toxic material cycles are indeed a desirable vision, but that they will not come naturally in a world of circulated material resources – at least not without major supply chain disruptions and persistent conscious efforts. Let us elaborate. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Waste, Circular Economy
in
Waste Management & Research
volume
38
issue
7
pages
3 pages
publisher
SAGE Publications
external identifiers
  • pmid:32627717
  • scopus:85087473721
ISSN
0734-242X
DOI
10.1177/0734242X20934251
project
Relations in Circular Business Models
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
b814e94c-8838-44cc-b9f4-b340c9d32df3
date added to LUP
2020-07-08 05:57:03
date last changed
2022-12-23 23:33:15
@article{b814e94c-8838-44cc-b9f4-b340c9d32df3,
  abstract     = {{Lately, the idea of ‘non-toxic’ (or ‘clean’) material cycles has become increasingly popular as a starting point for the consideration of circular economy strategies among leading regulating actors, such as the European Commission (2017). However, it should be apparent that, by default, circular economy aspirations awaken a potential policy conflict between increased circulation of resources and reduction of exposure to hazardous substances (human- and eco-toxic substances of concern). Here, we build upon the great tradition of Waste Management & Research editorials on the topic debated, and not least on the recent opinion piece by Stanisavljevic and Brunner (2019). We argue that non-toxic material cycles are indeed a desirable vision, but that they will not come naturally in a world of circulated material resources – at least not without major supply chain disruptions and persistent conscious efforts. Let us elaborate.}},
  author       = {{Johansson, Nils and Velis, Costas and Corvellec, Hervé}},
  issn         = {{0734-242X}},
  keywords     = {{Waste; Circular Economy}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{07}},
  number       = {{7}},
  pages        = {{705--707}},
  publisher    = {{SAGE Publications}},
  series       = {{Waste Management & Research}},
  title        = {{Towards clean material cycles: Is there a policy conflict between circular economy and non-toxic environment?}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0734242X20934251}},
  doi          = {{10.1177/0734242X20934251}},
  volume       = {{38}},
  year         = {{2020}},
}