Tools for Circularity
The transition to a net-zero and nature-positive future relies on metals and minerals. Continuing to increase circularity across mine sites and their value chains helps to minimise waste and maximise value throughout every stage of the life cycle, from sourcing, to production, to use and recovery.
These tools provide a unified language for understanding the role mining and metals play in enabling increased global circularity, highlight how a business case may be built to access the value that circularity opportunities present, and offer tangible examples of where this value has been realised.
Intended Audience
The tools have been developed for non-circularity specialists in the industry, and to enable key stakeholders to engage in possible opportunities for increased circularity.
Summary
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This series of short, accessible, and practical tools has been developed to support the continued implementation of circularity at both mine sites and across the mining and metals value chain.
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Circularity offers multiple co-benefits; regenerating and restoring nature, driving closure good practices, driving decarbonisation efforts, and helping to increase the resilience of local communities through circularity opportunities.
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Mining provides society with valuable, durable, and recoverable materials that are vital to enable a transition to a net-zero and nature-positive future.
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Increasing recycling rates will not meet the growing global demands for metal required for the rise in green technology. While many consider the goal of the circular economy as closed loops, a pragmatic understanding of the circularity focusses on not only existing material stocks but is also sensitive to the ways that materials are produced and consumed.
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Building a business case for circularity is key to ensure that the opportunities and value circularity may present, environmental, social, and financial, may be realised by internal and external stakeholders.
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Circularity is already being increased by ICMM members across their sites and value chains. From waste utilisation, tailings re-mining, by-product re-use, and e-waste processing, the industry continues to work to implement circular principles.
