What Is the Idea of a Circular Economy?

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The global economy currently operates under linear model, predicated on three main things, take, make, and waste. The inverse of a linear economy is a circular economy in which extraction and waste are both minimized as much as possible. So I work on circular economy policies from a mineral standpoint because earthworks tries to protect communities on the front lines of mineral extraction. That means that I'm advocating for policies in which minerals that are already extracted are recycled, reused, and substituted.

Mining exploration around the world is picking up as companies seek new deposits of elements like lithium and copper to support the energy transition. Research by S&P Global Sustainable1 finds there is overlap between existing mines and exploration sites and some of the world’s most important areas for biodiversity.

In this episode of the ESG Insider podcast, we explore what the mining industry is doing to reduce its impact on nature and local communities — including by recycling minerals.

To understand the industry perspective on this topic, we talk with Rohitesh Dhawan, President and CEO of the International Council on Mining and Metals. ICMM is an industry group that aims to enhance the contribution of mining and metals to sustainable development. It works with 26 of the largest mining companies in the world that collectively represent about a third of the global metals and mining industry.

To understand what kind of investments are being made in recycling critical minerals, we speak to Brian Menell, Chairman and CEO of private mining investment and operating company TechMet. Brian founded TechMet in 2017 to invest in metals needed for clean energy technologies as well as battery recycling.

And to learn more about the circular economy, we talk with Raquel Dominguez, who is the Circular Economy Policy Advocate at Earthworks. That's an environmental group that aims to protect communities and the environment from the adverse impacts of mineral and energy development while also promoting sustainable solutions such as critical minerals recycling.

Read S&P Global Sustainable1's report titled "Rocks and hard places: The complicated nexus of energy transition minerals and biodiversity" here: https://www.spglobal.com/esg/insights/featured/special-editorial/rocks-and-hard-places-the-complicated-nexus-of-energy-transition-minerals-and-biodiversity

Listen to our preview of what to expect at COP15, the big UN biodiversity conference taking place in Montreal, Canada, in December, here: https://www.spglobal.com/esg/podcasts/cop15-preview-what-will-make-un-s-big-biodiversity-conference-a-success

We'd love to hear from you. To give us feedback on this episode or share ideas for future episodes, please contact hosts Lindsey Hall (lindsey.hall@spglobal.com) and Esther Whieldon (esther.whieldon@spglobal.com).

Photo source: Getty Images

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