Special Issue "Circular Economy Strategies for Sustainable Development: Applications and Impacts"

A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 January 2022.

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Ana Ramos
E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute of Science and Innovation in Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Campus da FEUP (Faculdade de Engenharia da Universidade do Porto), 4200-465 Porto, Portugal
Interests: environment; circular economy; sustainability; waste-to-energy

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The continuous and excessive production of goods and the expanded service offer to attend the actual society’s requirements, has lead to an impasse in the environmental reservoirs and the non-renewable resources’ availability. Mass consumption with no restrictions to the end-use has devastating effects, as reflected by the waste arriving in our shores. Indeed, the pollution generated while seeking to satisfy today’s needs, accounts as another factor contributing to an announced devastation scenario, where biodiversity is endangered and social dissimilarities are enlarged. Some of the ongoing changes in the Earth’s climate systems are already considered irreparable, implying a state of planetary emergency.

Nine planetary boundaries have been defined as the safe operating space for humanity, supporting a long-lasting and thriving development for generations to come. More than half of these boundaries have already been crossed, compromising this safety zone and the overall wellbeing on the planet. Currently, two of these planetary boundaries are settled in an “uncertainty zone”, while three are considered at high-risk level, reinforcing the threat for large-scale abrupt and irreversible changes. A catastrophic situation may escalate from a cascade of tipping points, multiple earth systems reaching a point of no return. The loss of the West Antarctic ice sheet and the Amazon rainforest, or extensive melting of permafrost, as well as other key components of the climate system are close to crossing critical thresholds to a steep and irrevocable change, the main responsibilities being attributed to climate change.

These are the main challenges that our biosphere and communities face in the upcoming decades and immediate action needs to be taken to reverse their progression. Hence, it is imperative to act fast, unparalleled changes being taken to limit the climate change catastrophe, guaranteeing a sustainable development from now onwards.

Circular economy appears as a response to the need to create a more balanced society, which guarantees sustainable development and promotes the regeneration of resources. Specific circular strategies include designing longer lasting products, enhanced services and business models among other approaches, calling upon alternative reusable and recyclable options to lower fossil-based resources consumption, within more energy-efficient processes to emit less or no CO2 emissions. These contribute to limiting the pollution of natural systems and to restore biodiversity, as resource recirculation for instance in value cascades or repurpose routes are applied instead of end-of-life scenarios. Decarbonising the economy and decoupling growth from the intensive consumption are the ultimate goals to achieve sustainability and a more resilient society.

This Special Issue is dedicated to original full length works, reviews or case study applications describing circular economy schemes, as well as their impacts in the environment and in society, as enablers of a healthier environment, a balanced humanity and a successful achievement of sustainable development.

Dr. Ana Ramos
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All papers will be peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1900 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • circular economy
  • sustainability
  • environmental assessment
  • climate change
  • sustainable development goals
  • socio-economic impacts
  • sustainability indicators
  • energetic efficiency
  • industrial engineering
  • innovation

Published Papers (1 paper)

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Review

Review
A Systematic Review on Seaweed Functionality: A Sustainable Bio-Based Material
Sustainability 2021, 13(11), 6174; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13116174 - 31 May 2021
Viewed by 973
Abstract
Sustainable development is an integrated approach to tackle ongoing global challenges such as resource depletion, environmental degradation, and climate change. However, a paradigm shift from a fossil-based economy to a bio-based economy must accomplish the circularity principles in order to be sustainable as [...] Read more.
Sustainable development is an integrated approach to tackle ongoing global challenges such as resource depletion, environmental degradation, and climate change. However, a paradigm shift from a fossil-based economy to a bio-based economy must accomplish the circularity principles in order to be sustainable as a solution. The exploration of new feedstock possibilities has potential to unlock the bio-based economy’s true potential, wherein a cascading approach would maximize value creation. Seaweed has distinctive chemical properties, a fast growth rate, and other promising benefits beyond its application as food, making it a suitable candidate to substitute fossil-based products. Economic and environmental aspects can make seaweed a lucrative business; however, seasonal variation, cultivation, harvesting, and product development challenges have yet not been considered. Therefore, a clear forward path is needed to consider all aspects, which would lead to the commercialization of financially viable seaweed-based bioproducts. In this article, seaweed’s capability and probable functionality to aid the bio-based economy are systematically discussed. The possible biorefinery approaches, along with its environmental and economic aspects of sustainability, are also dealt with. Ultimately, the developmental process, by-product promotion, financial assistance, and social acceptance approach are summarized, which is essential when considering seaweed-based products’ feasibility. Besides keeping feedstock and innovative technologies at the center of bio-economy transformation, it is imperative to follow sustainable-led management practices to meet sustainable development goals. Full article
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