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Hervé Corvellec.

Hervé Corvellec

Professor

Hervé Corvellec.

Towards clean material cycles: Is there a policy conflict between circular economy and non-toxic environment?

Author

  • Nils Johansson
  • Costas Velis
  • Hervé Corvellec

Summary, in English

Lately, the idea of ‘non-toxic’ (or ‘clean’) material cycles has become increasingly popular as a starting point for the consideration of circular economy strategies among leading regulating actors, such as the European Commission (2017). However, it should be apparent that, by default, circular economy aspirations awaken a potential policy conflict between increased circulation of resources and reduction of exposure to hazardous substances (human- and eco-toxic substances of concern). Here, we build upon the great tradition of Waste Management & Research editorials on the topic debated, and not least on the recent opinion piece by Stanisavljevic and Brunner (2019). We argue that non-toxic material cycles are indeed a desirable vision, but that they will not come naturally in a world of circulated material resources – at least not without major supply chain disruptions and persistent conscious efforts. Let us elaborate.

Department/s

  • Department of Service Studies

Publishing year

2020-07-01

Language

English

Pages

705-707

Publication/Series

Waste Management & Research

Volume

38

Issue

7

Document type

Journal article

Publisher

SAGE Publications

Topic

  • Business Administration

Keywords

  • Waste
  • Circular Economy

Status

Published

Project

  • Relations in Circular Business Models

ISBN/ISSN/Other

  • ISSN: 0734-242X