Holden Nicholas M, Neill Andrew M, Stout Jane C, O'Brien Derek, Morris Michael A
School of Biosystems and Food Engineering, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.
BiOrbic Bioeconomy, SFI Research Centre, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.
Circ Econ Sustain. 2023;3(1):77-91. doi: 10.1007/s43615-022-00180-y. Epub 2022 Jun 8.
Bioeconomy is proposed as a solution to reduce reliance on fossil resources. However, bioeconomy is not always inherently circular and can mimic the conventional take, make, consume, dispose linear economic model. Agricultural systems will be relied on to provide food, materials, and energy, so unless action is taken, demand for land will inevitably exceed supply. Bioeconomy will have to embrace circularity to enable production of renewable feedstocks in terms of both biomass yield and maintaining essential natural capital. The concept of biocircularity is proposed as an integrated systems approach to the sustainable production of renewable biological materials focusing on extended use, maximum reuse, recycling, and design for degradation from polymers to monomers, while avoiding the "failure" of end of life and minimizing energy demand and waste. Challenges are discussed including sustainable production and consumption; quantifying externalities; decoupling economic growth from depletion; valuing natural ecosystems; design across scales; renewable energy provision; barriers to adoption; and integration with food systems. Biocircularity offers a theoretical basis and measures of success, for implementing sustainable circular bioeconomy.
生物经济被提议作为减少对化石资源依赖的一种解决方案。然而，生物经济并非天生就是循环性的，它可能会模仿传统的获取、制造、消费、处置的线性经济模式。农业系统将被依赖来提供食物、材料和能源，所以除非采取行动，土地需求将不可避免地超过供应。生物经济必须采用循环模式，以便在生物质产量和维持基本自然资本方面实现可再生原料的生产。生物循环性的概念被提议作为一种综合系统方法，用于可再生生物材料的可持续生产，重点在于延长使用、最大限度地再利用、回收以及从聚合物到单体的降解设计，同时避免生命周期结束时的“失效”，并将能源需求和废物降至最低。文中讨论了一些挑战，包括可持续生产和消费；量化外部性；使经济增长与资源消耗脱钩；评估自然生态系统；跨尺度设计；可再生能源供应；采用的障碍；以及与食品系统的整合。生物循环性为实施可持续循环生物经济提供了理论基础和成功衡量标准。
