Salt Lofoten AS, Postboks 91, 8301 Svolvær, Norway; Aalborg University, Fredrik Bajers vej 7K, 9220 Aalborg East, Denmark.
Salt Lofoten AS, Postboks 91, 8301 Svolvær, Norway; Norwegian Institute for Water Research, Økernveien 94, Oslo, Norway.
Sci Total Environ. 2022 Jul 20;831:154913. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.154913. Epub 2022 Mar 28.
Circular economy (CE) strategies are central in solving the waste management challenges of today, yet the global nature of the waste trade results in emissions and the export of negative environmental externalities to low-income countries. Here, we target a systemic challenge in the current indicators developed to measure more sustainable consumption and production progress. We argue that sustainable, circular solutions to recycling need to account for the negative externalities caused by the physical distance of the waste trade. We define the new concept "Small Circles" (SC) and suggest a new circularity indicator that can better ensure sustainability in implementing closed-loop strategies and thereby provide critical criteria to consider in pursuing CE. The SC approach advocates the need to manage the waste within a smaller geographical area of its origin to reduce the environmental burdens originating from the transboundary export of waste. Further, it ensures that the waste-producing regions take responsibility for their waste generation and management. If implemented appropriately, we argue that the SC approach could improve the transparency of the fate of waste and boost local opportunities through job creation and allow for the development of symbiotic relations among regional industries. The SC concept demands commitment from all stakeholders across the product value chain to extract value from the waste without jeopardizing sustainability goals. The application of the SC concept is explained by describing the sustainability challenges and opportunities related to plastic waste management in Europe. To concretize the SC approach and the circularity indicator further, the management of the plastic waste sourcing from the Norwegian fishing sector and plastic waste management in the US are used as case examples.
循环经济 (CE) 策略是解决当今废物管理挑战的核心，但废物贸易的全球性导致排放和负面环境外部性向低收入国家出口。在这里，我们针对当前用于衡量更可持续消费和生产进展的指标所存在的系统挑战。我们认为，可持续的循环回收解决方案需要考虑废物贸易的物理距离所造成的负面外部性。我们定义了“小循环”（SC）的新概念，并提出了一个新的循环性指标，该指标可以更好地确保在实施闭环战略时的可持续性，从而为追求循环经济提供关键的考虑标准。SC 方法主张需要在废物的起源地的较小地理区域内管理废物，以减少源于废物越境出口的环境负担。此外，它确保了废物产生地区对其废物的产生和管理负责。如果得到适当实施，我们认为 SC 方法可以提高废物去向的透明度，通过创造就业机会促进当地机会，并允许区域产业之间建立共生关系。SC 概念要求整个产品价值链的所有利益相关者都承诺从废物中提取价值，而不会危及可持续性目标。通过描述与欧洲塑料废物管理相关的可持续性挑战和机遇，解释了 SC 概念的应用。为了进一步具体说明 SC 方法和循环性指标，我们将挪威渔业部门的塑料废物来源管理和美国的塑料废物管理用作案例示例。
