Sustainability Flashcards
What is the Circular economy?
an economic system based on the reuse and regeneration of materials or products, especially as a means of continuing production in a sustainable or environmentally friendly way. Mimics environemental processes
Examples of Circular economy (recycling)
1) Cycling of materials eg biogeochemical cycles and recycling
2) Design of products for end of life reuse eg vehicles
3) technologies to design new products and improve efficiency of systems- improved designs to increase energy use, reduced material use and enable dismantling for reuse.
4) Seperation of technical and biological materials eg seperating metal from waste for reuse
Examples of Circular economy
1) Energy derived from renewable source. eg wind and solar
2) supporting ecosystems eg ecosystem conservation in forestry and fisheries
3) Connected systems where the aste product of one process is the raw material for another eg biogeochemical cycles
4) optimum production rather than maximum production eg MSY dont overdo it!
Describe the factors that affect the size of a country’s per capita ecological footprint (4 marks)
- population density eg low pop=greater travel distances for waste collection
- the affluence of a country- means they can buy more consumer goods.
- how developed a country is- may have greater manufacturing industry means increased footprint due to transport
- population size
- environmental awareness eg det choices
Explain why an increase in per Capita GDP often reduces the sustainability of lifestyles (4 marks)
- as people get richer they can afford increased goods eg multiple cars.
- larger/multiple houses which requires more energy use.
- increased energy use overall by population eg increase in service industry
- ability to afford new energy-using appliances such as Jacuzzis
