Article Preview
TopIntroduction
A circular economy is an industrial system that is restorative or regenerative by intention and design, it replaces the “end of life” concept with restoration, shifts towards the use of renewable energy, eliminates the use of toxic chemicals, which impair re-use, and aims for the elimination of waste through the superior design of materials, products, systems and within this, business models (EMAR, 2015). Such an economy is based on a few simple principles. First, at its core, a circular economy aims to design out waste. Waste does not exist – products are designed and optimized for a cycle of disassembly and re-use. These tight components and product cycles define the circular economy and set it apart from disposal and even recycling where large amounts of embedded energy and labor are lost. Secondly, circularity introduces a strict differentiation between consumable and durable components of products. Unlike today, consumables in the circular economy are largely made of biological ingredients or “nutrients” that are at least non-toxic and possibly even beneficial and can be safely returned to the biosphere directly or in a cascade of consecutive uses (WEF, 2014). Durables such as engines or computers, on the other hand, are made of technical nutrients unsuitable for the biosphere, like metals and most plastics. These are designed from the start for re-use. Thirdly the energy required to fuel this cycle should be renewable by nature, again to decrease resource dependence and increase system resilience.
The circular economy construct has taken shape and is now a very large entity, with its thought leaders, language and delivery bodies, supported by a growing body of literature and academic research. It needs to remain focused on achieving economic and environmental outcomes through practical implementation as opposed to the pursuit of a perfect, and probably unachievable, economic model. It is very much looking forward to assisting policymakers by providing the technical and market information that will help to inform their future decision making on this important topic. Despite the presence of these drivers, a strong policy focus and clear thought leadership, the opportunities for implementing circular economy thinking are underexploited. In response to resource constraints, CSR concerns, and recycling obligations, the sector continues to improve the efficiency of that route (TechUk, 2015).
Objectives
For this paper, the ICT sector comprises the Information and Communications Technologies (ICT) and Consumer Electronics (CE) sectors. Businesses that make up this sector include IT hardware manufacturers, software developers, IT services companies, data center operators, telecommunications providers, consumer electronics manufacturers, system integrators and a huge range of associated service providers and consultancies.
The paper does not intend to define or redefine the circular economy or develops new thought leadership on circular economy frameworks or implementation but aims to explore the specific implications of the circular economy for the ICT sector; an assessment that thinks is somewhat overdue. It acknowledges the degree to which our businesses have already adopted circular economy models; articulates some of the barriers that are preventing wider deployment of circular thinking in the ICT sector, and tries to find ways to address them. It is important to be aware of circular approach limitations and also where it could if badly managed or too ideologically applied, compromise innovation within this rapidly changing sector.
Further, it reviews some successful examples of circular thinking by technology companies. A circular economy is desirable from an environmental point of view. However, implementing circular thinking presents some unexpected problems and challenges for the sector and hence we identify the market, technical, policy and cultural barriers that need to overcome: unless acknowledge them, unlikely to be in a position to address them effectively.