Global Circular Material: The BIG 5 - and their story behind

Global Circular Material: The BIG 5 – and their story behind

Global circular material
Type
Author
Eveline Lemke
Charlene Nessel
Publication Date
June, 2021
Country
Germany
Language for original content
Key Area
Scope

The circular economy offers new answers to the question of how 9 billion people can survive on this planet, accepting that there are planetary boundaries and climate change is ongoing.

The aim of this study is to identify drivers of the big five globally largest material flows by mass - ferrous metals, aluminium, paper, glass, asphalt - from a circular perspective and to understand the story behind them.

The focus is on what the development of the BIG 5 tells us about intentions, because this will also reveal the unintended. 

This study might inspire industrial managers to take the right decision and pave the pathways to a circular society that is just, balances out social and ecological needs and will provide a solid ground for survival of mankind on planet earth.