Division of Environmental Sciences, College of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Brunel University London, Kingston Ln, Uxbridge, London, UB8 3PH, UK.
College of Arts and Sciences, Center for Sustainable Development, Qatar University, P.O. Box: 2713, Doha, Qatar.
Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. 2021 May;28(19):24785-24806. doi: 10.1007/s11356-020-11725-9. Epub 2020 Dec 7.
Circular economy (CE) is extensively discussed around the globe. Presently, discussions are mostly concerned with the importance of achieving CE and the benefits associated therewith, with the various barriers surrounding its implementation being less debated. Understanding the context in which circularity can flourish is a prerequisite in building the capabilities to deal with the multi-faceted challenges that currently hamper progress in closing the material, component and product loops. In this study, we discuss the importance of systems thinking in understanding the way resource recovery systems operate, and in promoting deep transformational change. We suggest that transformational change needs to go beyond closing materials, components and products (MCPs) loops, and promote sustainability in the way resources are exploited, used and managed throughout the system. By adopting a system of systems approach, we postulate that there are five interconnected sub-systems that need to be considered for supporting transitions to CE, namely, resource flows and provisioning service; governance, regulatory framework and political landscape; business activities and the marker; infrastructure and innovation; and user practices. This holistic approach provides a useful means to cutting through systemic complexity, and focuses on the dynamics between processes, values and actors in the value chain, and their dependence on cultural, spatial and temporal characteristics. We conclude that a systems-based approach can build up the capabilities required to identify and understand persistent linear trends and, in turn, support forward-thinking and time investment in enabling sustainable transitions. This, in turn, can help to align priorities and transform our current practices, speeding up the process of closing the MCP loops in a sustainable manner. Graphical abstract.
循环经济（CE）在全球范围内得到了广泛讨论。目前，讨论主要集中在实现 CE 的重要性及其相关益处上，而对其实施所面临的各种障碍的讨论则较少。了解循环经济可以蓬勃发展的背景是建立应对当前阻碍材料、组件和产品循环闭合的多方面挑战的能力的前提。在这项研究中，我们讨论了系统思维在理解资源回收系统运作方式和促进深度转型变革方面的重要性。我们认为，转型变革需要超越闭合材料、组件和产品（MCP）的循环，在整个系统中促进资源的开发、利用和管理的可持续性。通过采用系统的系统方法，我们假设需要考虑五个相互关联的子系统，以支持向 CE 的过渡，即资源流动和供应服务；治理、监管框架和政治格局；商业活动和市场；基础设施和创新；以及用户实践。这种整体方法提供了一种有用的手段来消除系统的复杂性，并关注价值链中过程、价值和参与者之间的动态及其对文化、空间和时间特征的依赖。我们得出的结论是，基于系统的方法可以建立识别和理解持续线性趋势所需的能力，从而支持前瞻性思维和时间投资，实现可持续转型。这反过来又有助于调整优先级，转变我们当前的实践，以可持续的方式加速闭合 MCP 循环的进程。
