Sustainability Flashcards
What are some materials used in the linear human systems?
Fossil fuels and mineral resources
What is the Circular Economy?
An analysis of human activities and an assessment of how using the principles of natural systems would create more sustainable lifestyles.
What are the principles of the Circular Economy?
Cycling of materials, energy derived from renewable resources, human activities should support ecosystems, diverse systems are more resistant to change, connected systems, design of products for extended use, design of products for end of life reuse, separation of technological and biological materials, optimum production rather than maximum productions and technologies to design new products and improve system effectiveness
What is meant by optimum production over maximum production?
Natural systems often over-produce so that the surplus supports processes upon which the whole system relies, for example, plant products which support pollinators, seed dispersal agents and soil microbes including decomposers and mycorrhizal fungi, this can be contrasted with agroecosystems which aim for maximum harvest yields
What are some land uses?
Urban development, agriculture, forestry, aquaculture and mineral exploitation
How can some of these land uses be planned to incorporate biodiversity?
Gardens, parks and public green spaces in urban development, agri-environmental schemes, mixed-species plantations and indigenous species, reduced bycatch methods and site restoration after mining
How can mineral resources by managed to increase sustainability?
Increasing reserves by exploiting low-grade ores, extending product lifespans, no planned obsolescence, replaceable parts and reduce unnecessary use
What are the 6Rs for waste management?
Repair, reuse, repurpose, refurbish, recycle and redesign
How can pollution be controlled to increase sustainability?
A move from post-production treatment to non-release e.g. industrial synergy (wastes become resources), better designs, change from internal combustion engines to fuel cells, change from flue-gas desulfurisation to fuel desulfurisation
How can food production be made more sustainable?
Natural processes for nutrient supply, pest control and soil maintenance
What EU initiatives have supported the conservation of biodiversity?
Better protection for ecosystems, development of green infrastructure, better management of fish stocks and more sustainable agriculture/ forestry
What EU initiatives have supported waste management and pollution control?
Better control of urban waste water, minimal use of landfill, more recycling of electronic appliances, reduction of food waste/packaging and increased use of composted materials
What EU initiatives have supported energy use?
More use of biofuels and other renewables in transport, improved energy efficiency of fridges and freezers, increased use of waste for energy generation and increased use of renewables
What EU initiatives have supported the design of manufactured appliances?
Improved design for repairs/reuse/recycle, reduced use of toxic materials, easier battery replacement, reduced use of toxics in vehicles and vehicle manufacture using recycled/recyclable materials
What is biocapacity?
A measure of the biological productivity of an area
