Squaring the Circular Economy

Course goals

Content

The course will provide the background on the concept of a circular economy, its origins, policy background, and goals, and provide the (calculation and policy) tools to evaluate the transition to a circular economy. Next to lectures you will work on exercises to help understand and apply the concepts introduced in the lectures. You will also participate in a group project focusing on applying the course material and tools in a 'real world' situation with a real client (user of the project outcomes). The project will contribute to the transition to a circular economy.

The course will treat the following issues:

• The concept of the circular economy – history, definition and goals
• Relationship between circular economy and sustainable development
• Production of materials and products: energy, climate and environment
• Transitioning to a circular economy
  • Systems Perspective (supply chain, value web)
  • Business Perspective (business models)
  • Society Perspective (social, consumption, degrowth)
• Measuring and monitoring the circular economy
  • Tool: Material Flow Analysis
  • Tool: Life Cycle Analysis (building on previous courses)
  • Tool: Life Cycle Costing
• Closing the loop; opportunities for material efficiency and circularity:
  • R-Ladder,
  • Technical & other opportunities
  • Analysis of impacts
• Applying the concepts (lecture combined with assignment):
  • Material Perspective: Steel/Plastic
  • Product Perspective: Packaging
• Critical Review of CE (looking back on the course)