Dr Praveena Nair Sivasankaran is a senior lecturer at the School of Engineering, Faculty of Innovation & Technology of Taylor’s University. Her focus is on green and sustainable materials, emphasising eco-friendly solutions in engineering.
In our relentless march of progress, we have adhered to a model of “take, make, dispose.”
This linear path has led us to an unsustainable reality where the demand for virgin resources has spiralled out of control and waste piles up around us. But what if there was another way?
Enter the circular economy—a vision of a world where resources are cherished, cycled and used to their fullest potential.
At its heart, the circular economy revolutionises how we think about growth. It is not just about profits and productivity but about creating a system that benefits everyone—businesses, society and the environment.
This model challenges us to eliminate waste and pollution, keep products and materials in use for as long as possible and regenerate our natural systems.
By shifting away from a linear model, we can reduce the extraction of virgin resources, minimise waste generation and create a more resilient ecosystem of materials.
According to the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, adopting a circular economy could cut greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 22-44% by 2050, significantly mitigating climate change impacts.
The World Economic Forum (WEF) estimates that transitioning to a circular economy could generate US$4.5 trillion in economic benefits by 2030, highlighting its immense potential for sustainable growth.
Principles and benefits of the circular economy
This transformative approach to material use has profound implications. No longer do we rip resources from the earth only to discard them after a single use. Instead, we prioritise sustainable sourcing, opting for materials with minimal environmental impact.
Products are designed for longevity, easy disassembly and are crafted from recycled or renewable materials. When these products reach the end of their initial life, efficient systems are in place to collect, sort and recycle them, giving materials new life through processes such as remanufacturing.
Embracing the circular economy catalyses both environmental and socio-economic transformation, leading to fewer GHG emissions, less pollution and a lighter touch on our natural resources.
This shift creates new economic opportunities such as recycling plants, repair workshops and remanufacturing facilities.
Moreover, resource security becomes a reality as reliance on finite sources diminishes in favour of a stable supply of recycled and renewable materials, fostering a resilient economy prepared for future challenges.
Collaborative efforts in driving circularity
Adopting the circular economy model necessitates a paradigm shift, where sustainability becomes the cornerstone of innovation and development. Future designers, engineers and innovators must embed sustainability into every facet of their work.
This includes considering the entire lifecycle of products—from design to end-of-life disposal—to ensure materials are chosen not just for performance but also for their environmental impact and recyclability.
Higher education institutions (HEIs) play a pivotal role in this transformation to ensure that the circular economy becomes a tangible reality rather than just an ideal.
HEIs should incorporate sustainability modules into their curricula with interdisciplinary programmes that integrate principles of the circular economy with engineering, design, business and environmental science, and foster a culture of environmental responsibility and innovation.
For example, students should engage in hands-on professional practice projects that challenge them to create solutions for real-world sustainability issues, with exposure to cutting-edge technologies and methodologies that promote critical thinking and problem-solving skills tailored to the circular economy.
We can cultivate a generation of professionals who are both aware of the importance of sustainable practices and equipped with the skills and knowledge to implement them effectively.
Governments are recognising the need for a circular economy shift. In Malaysia, the National Circular Economy Council (NCEC) has agreed to legislative changes for nationwide solid waste management. This legislative push aims to create a comprehensive act covering the product lifecycle from production to post-consumer use.
Once hailed as a miracle material, plastics produced by the linear economy have become one of humanity’s biggest blunders. About 91% of plastic wastes were never recycled but ended up polluting oceans and landfills.
This stark reality underscores the need for a shift towards bio-based materials.
Innovative concepts such as biomimicry and cradle-to-cradle (C2C) design are crucial in this transition. Biomimicry draws inspiration from natural systems and organisms to create efficient and resilient sustainable processes and products for human use.
Meanwhile, cradle-to-cradle design considers the entire lifecycle of a product, ensuring it can be fully reclaimed or reused at the end of its life, unlike the traditional cradle-to-grave approach.
Working in tandem
Waste-to-energy (WTE) initiatives are pivotal in advancing sustainable material use by converting non-recyclable waste into usable energy such as heat, electricity and fuel.
This reduces landfill dependency, cuts GHG emissions and aligns with the principles of a circular economy, promoting efficient resource use and minimising waste.
WTE processes embody circular economy principles by transforming waste into energy, closing the material loop.
This ensures waste is repurposed rather than disposed of, reducing the need for virgin materials and promoting a sustainable material lifecycle by enhancing resource efficiency and minimising waste.
WTE solutions effectively address environmental concerns by managing waste and reducing landfill use while producing renewable energy, lessening reliance on fossil fuels.
Economically, WTE can lower waste disposal costs, create jobs and drive innovation within the engineering industry, attracting investments and supporting sustainable development.
Current trends include advancements in gasification, which converts organic material into syngas, a versatile fuel for energy production, pyrolysis that decomposes waste at high temperatures without oxygen to produce fuel and anaerobic digestion, which breaks down organic waste in an oxygen-free environment, generating biogas.
Innovations such as improved energy recovery efficiency, enhanced emissions control and smart grid integration are poised to revolutionise WTE practices.
These developments will enable more effective waste management and renewable energy production, significantly contributing to sustainable material use.
The views expressed here are the writer’s own.
