An indisputable fact is that humanity already consumes more natural resources than the planet can replenish. Traditionally, the production processes are characterized by use of natural (raw material) in the manufacture of products for human consumption which residues resulting are taken to a landfill. This operational dynamics can be termed as Linear Economy. Unlike the Linear Economy model, the Circular Economy seeks efficiency in product manufacturing and reuse solid waste contributing in this way to avoid the exhaustion of the planet's natural resources. Adopting the principles of Circular Economy is critical because of the need of human beings to make better their natural resources to avoid their future exhaustion and not cause so many negative impacts on the environment.

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THE CIRCULAR ECONOMY TO AVOID DEPLETION OF NATURAL
RESOURCES OF PLANET EARTH
Fernando Alcoforado *
An indisputable fact is that humanity already consumes more natural resources than the
planet can replenish. The current rate of consumption is a threat to the future prosperity
of mankind. In the last 45 years, demand for natural resources on the planet doubled due
to the high standard of life in rich and emerging countries and the increasing world
population. Today humanity uses 50% of the planet's fresh water. In 40 years will use
80%. For two centuries the extraction of mineral resources has become more intense,
removing increasing amounts of nature. The concern is that most of these resources are
not renewable, ie they are not replenished by nature. If the pace of extraction continues
as it is, humanity will surely see some minerals become extinct. Based on existing
reserves today, certain mineral resources already have a possible date to run out, among
them we can mention gold, tin, nickel and oil.
Traditionally, the production processes are characterized by use of natural resources
(raw material) in the manufacture of products for human consumption whose waste
resulting are taken to a landfill. This operational dynamics, which can be termed as
Linear Economy, tends to contribute to the continued depletion of natural resources of
the planet. Unlike the Linear Economy model, the Circular Economy is concerned with
sustainable development by seeking efficiency in manufacturing products and reusing
solid waste contributing in this way to avoid the exhaustion of the planet's natural
resources. The Circular Economy concept is to transform waste into raw materials for
the production of new products. As in nature, in which the remains of fruits consumed
by animals are decomposed and transformed in fertilizer for plants closing the loop,
used appliance parts can be reprocessed and reintegrated into the production chain.
One of the main concepts of the Circular Economy is the Cradle to Cradle (Cradle to
Cradle), which argues that innovation is the way to transform the waste in a production
chain components and materials to another. Other concepts are important to understand
the Circular Economy. One is the Biomimicry, who studies the processes of nature and
apply them to solve problems, ie it is to imitate nature to solve human challenges.
Another important concept is the Industrial Ecology, which tied the Biomimicry and
Cradle to Cradle, aims to create closed-loop processes, designing production systems
adapted to local ecosystems.
In the Circular Economy, natural resources, which are used as primary raw materials in
the manufacturing process, turn into products for human consumption will generate
solid waste that after its transformation into secondary raw materials are used in
manufacturing products and thus successively. According to Ellen MacArtur
Foundation, this new way of thinking about supply chains brings micro and macro
economic benefits, as well as stimulates innovation. Products and materials that are now
developed should return to production chain. Thus, the extraction of raw materials
decreases and natural resources entering the production cycle are used for longer,
preserving the environment. The need to recycle and reuse materials promotes the
development of new relationships between companies, which are now also suppliers
and consumers of materials that will be reincorporated to the production cycle
[Nat.Genius Economia Circular (Circular Economy) Posted on the website <http: //
www. .natgenius.com / EconomiaCircular.aspx>].

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Na Economia Circular, os recursos naturais, que são utilizados como matérias primas
primárias no processo de fabricação, se transformam em produtos que vão para o
consumo humano gerando resíduos sólidos que, após sua transformação em matéria
prima secundária, são usados na fabricação de produtos e, assim sucessivamente. De
acordo com a Ellen MacArtur Foundation, essa nova forma de pensar as cadeias
produtivas traz benefícios micro e macro econômicos, além de estimular a inovação. Os
produtos e materiais passam a ser desenvolvidos para que voltem à cadeia de produção.
Com isso, a extração de matéria-prima diminui e os recursos naturais que entram no
ciclo produtivo são utilizados por mais tempo, preservando o meio ambiente. A
necessidade de reciclar e reaproveitar materiais promove o desenvolvimento de novas
relações entre as empresas, que passam a ser também fornecedoras e consumidoras de
materiais que serão reincorporados ao ciclo produtivo (Nat.Genius. Economia Circular.
Publicado no website <http://www.natgenius.com/EconomiaCircular.aspx>).
To improve and expand the cycle of closing experience is essential that consumers,
retail businesses, industries and government understand their role. This also means
changing the way of creating and using the products: they will no longer be consumed
and discarded, but used and processed into new products. Reverse logistics is a way to
break with the Linear Economics, where the raw material is extracted, transformed into
products and discarded after use. Reverse logistics is the area of logistics which deals
with the return of products, packaging or materials at its production center. The Reverse
logistics in the recycling process that causes the material to return to different
production centers in the form of raw material. Reverse logistics management activities
provide for the recycling and removal of waste and management of returns. With a
Circular Economy, where everything can be reused, can reduce the extraction of raw
materials and waste disposal on the environment.
Adopting the principles of Circular Economy is critical because of the need of human
beings to make better their natural resources to avoid their future exhaustion and not
cause so many negative impacts on the environment. To achieve its objectives, the
Circular Economy is primarily concerned with the following topics: 1) product
development using easily recyclable materials and non-hazardous; 2) Environmental
laws that encourage the sector; 3) the return of solid waste to the production chain; and,
4) Treatment and reuse of waste. Many universities in Europe now offer degrees in
Circular Economy as is the case in Germany that form Master and PhD in Economics
Circular, also known as Waste Economy [Portal Resíduos Sólidos. Economia Circular.
Circular Economy. Posted on the website <http: //www.portalresiduossolidos .com /
economy-circular />].
The Brazilian Institute for Public Law Advanced Studies (Instituto Brasileiro de Altos
Estudos de Direito Público) reports that in 2012 about 62 million tons of solid waste
were produced in Brazil. According to the Ministry of Environment, only 2% of the
material returned to the production chain. Residues which are not recycled end up in
landfills (17.8%), controlled landfills (24.2%) and landfills (58%). Failure reuse of solid
waste costs the country R$ 8 billion a year. Second report from the Ellen MacArthur
Foundation - nonprofit organization that studies and encourages the adoption of circular
economy - 65 billion tons of raw materials were inserted in the productive system
worldwide in 2010. Projections indicate that the institute until 2020, amount of raw
materials will rise to 82 billion tonnes per year [Instituto Brasileiro de Altos Estudos de

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Direito Público. Sustentabilidade: Resíduos sólidos: Economia Circular: Novo negócio:
Embraco (Sustainability: Solid waste: Circular Economy: New business: Embraco).
Published on the website <http://www.altosestudos.com.br/?p. = 52902>].
Nat. Genius advises that the implementation of Circular Economy is not a task that
involves only the companies. It is necessary that all involved in the life cycle of a
product to understand their role in this new model. In a world where the relations of
production and trade are becoming more global, the need to disseminate the concept of
Circular Economy becomes increasingly present, large-scale, including the consumer
population. The spread of the concept of Circular Economy has occurred in several
countries. Among them, China, where the Circular Economy is part of the Promotion of
Clean Production Law, enacted in 2002. Among the measures of public awareness are
eco-labeling of products, the dissemination of information on environmental issues in
the communications vehicles and the Cleaner Production courses offered by educational
institutions, which are designed to train professionals familiar with the Circular
Economy [Nat.Genius. Economia Circular (Circular Economy). Posted on the website
<http://www.natgenius.com/EconomiaCircular.aspx>] .
Nat. Genius also said that in Brazil, it was implemented the National Solid Waste
Policy, 2010 law, which aims to ensure shared responsibility for the lifecycle of
products, reverse operation and the sectoral agreement. The shared responsibility for the
lifecycle of products provides that all agents of the production cycle, consumers and
public services have responsibilities to minimize the volume of solid waste and
environmental impact.
*Fernando Alcoforado , member of the Bahia Academy of Education, engineer and doctor of Territorial
Planning and Regional Development from the University of Barcelona, a university professor and
consultant in strategic planning, business planning, regional planning and planning of energy systems, is
the author of Globalização (Editora Nobel, São Paulo, 1997), De Collor a FHC- O Brasil e a Nova
(Des)ordem Mundial (Editora Nobel, São Paulo, 1998), Um Projeto para o Brasil (Editora Nobel, São
Paulo, 2000), Os condicionantes do desenvolvimento do Estado da Bahia (Tese de doutorado.
Universidade de Barcelona, http://www.tesisenred.net/handle/10803/1944, 2003), Globalização e
Desenvolvimento (Editora Nobel, São Paulo, 2006), Bahia- Desenvolvimento do Século XVI ao Século XX
e Objetivos Estratégicos na Era Contemporânea (EGBA, Salvador, 2008), The Necessary Conditions of
the Economic and Social Development-The Case of the State of Bahia (VDM Verlag Dr. Muller
Aktiengesellschaft & Co. KG, Saarbrücken, Germany, 2010), Aquecimento Global e Catástrofe
Planetária (P&A Gráfica e Editora, Salvador, 2010), Amazônia Sustentável- Para o progresso do Brasil e
combate ao aquecimento global (Viena- Editora e Gráfica, Santa Cruz do Rio Pardo, São Paulo, 2011),
Os Fatores Condicionantes do Desenvolvimento Econômico e Social (Editora CRV, Curitiba, 2012) and
Energia no Mundo e no Brasil- Energia e Mudança Climática Catastrófica no Século XXI (Editora CRV,
Curitiba, 2015).