Review article
https://doi.org/10.31306/s.62.4.4
Implementing the concept of circular economy and industrial ecology as a contribution to sustainable development and environment protection
Sanja Miketić-Curman
orcid.org/0000-0002-0435-336X
Abstract
Industrial ecology focuses on the transformation of industrial processes from the linear systems, shown as an open-loop type where resources and capital investments move through the system ending as waste at the end, to the circular, i.e. closed-loop systems, where the resulting waste is used in new processes. Circular economy is a model of production and consumption that involves re-use, restoration, and recycling of existing products in order to extend their useful life and to reduce the amount of waste. There are a number of different concepts relating to the basic concept of circular economy, one of those being 'cradle-to-cradle' concept which imitates nature and the harmony of ecosystems in the attempt to completely eliminate waste. The paper analyzes the relevant scientific literature with the objective to formulate the concepts of industrial ecology and circular economy and stresses the advantages of their implementation, such as resource cost minimization, easier storage and disposal, in particular industrial disposal, with the end goal of achieving sustainable development.
Keywords
Hrčak ID:
248879
URI
Publication date:
28.12.2020.
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