Geology Reference
In-Depth Information
ings should be considered a future opportunity for mineral recovery rather than an
environmental burden. The recovery of critical metals in slags and landfills must
likewise be an important future economic activity.
Reflection 4: Regardless of the industrial step, one must think in cycles. Hence,
any material leakage or any ine
cient use of energy affects environment and society
and is in fact a lost opportunity for new technological, business and job market
development. But a Circular Economy permits an analysis as to how things might
influence each other. One must thus always advocate “systems thinking” in which
everything is interrelated and emergent properties arise (see p. 478). Such systems
although more intricately complex and non-linear are also more resource e
cient,
durable and much closer to natural cycles.
Worthy of note is the following statement from Ellen MacArthur Foundation
(2010):
“Towards 2025, there is a chance for circularity to go mainstream, and for savings
to move beyond the 20% mark .. . The mainstreaming phase will involve organising
reverse-cycle markets, rethinking taxation, igniting innovation and entrepreneur-
ship, stepping up education, and issuing a more suitable set of environmental
guidelines and rules - especially with regards to properly accounting for exter-
nalities. Moving manufacturing away from wasteful linear material consumption
patterns could prove to be a major innovation engine, much as the renewable
energy sector is today. Such a transition offers new prospects to economies in
search of sources of growth and employment. At the same time, it is a source of
resilience and stability in a more volatile world. . .. . . governments and companies
have started looking at the circular model not only as a hedge against resource
scarcity but as an engine for innovation and growth. . .”
Principle 12: Replacement
Nature is the most precious thing we have. It belongs to all of us that have lived, are
living and that will live. Nothing should be taken from “her” that cannot be replaced.
Likewise, anything taken that can be replaced, should be replaced.
Corollary 1: The greater the cost of replacement, i.e. the greater its rarity, the
more a resource should be preserved.
Corollary 2: Biological products are replaced by the sun, geological ones by the
internal heat of the Earth combined with eons of meteorisation. Take care of
both but take even better care of the latter.
Corollary 3: If you respect and work with Nature, “she” will work for you.
Reflection: The shortage of minerals will be definitive. The idea of replace-
ment, restoration, remediation or exergy repair could easily be extended to many
other non-renewable resources of biogeological origin such as forests, landscapes,
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