Activity One - Watch

Watch the youtube clip below and answer the following questions to find out what the circular economy is.

• • 1. What is the circular economy?

    2. How can biodegradable items work within the circular economy?

    3. How can the non-biodegradable materials work in the circular economy?

    4. What is the return and renew process?

    5. Why do they suggest not owning a product such as a car but leasing it?

Useful Resource

Activity Two - Models

Last lesson we were looking at two key views which focused on resources and the development of the country. Neo-Malthusian thought was very negative and Boserup was positive but where does the circular economy fit in and what is it trying to eradicate?

• • 1. What is the limits to growth model?

    2. Is the limits to growth model optimistic or pessimistic? 

    3. Describe a linear economy.

    4. Describe a circular economy.

    5. Why is the circular economy moving away from simply recycling?

    6. Give an example of the application of the circular economy at the local scale.

    7. Give an example of the application of the circular economy at the national scale.

    8. Give an example of the application of the circular economy at the global scale.

    9. Using the article in the 'Useful Resources' box describe how the circular economy helps to address the Sustainable Development Goals.

    10. How does the circular economy challenge the food supply-chain?

 Useful Resources

Geography for the IB Diploma Study and Revision Guide SL and HL Core - Pages 117-119

Done All a Meadows - Have we met the limits to growth? 

Activity Three - The idea

Ellen MacArthur has been at the forefront of developing the concept of the circular economy and encouraging the idea to become a global way of thinking. In 2015 the European Commission submitted a circular economy paper to the European Parliament for digestion. But who is Ellen MacArthur? And how did she get the idea of the circular economy? 

• • • • • Watch the youtube clip below and make notes on who Ellen MacArthur is and how the circular economy grew from her experiences.

Useful Resource

Activity Four - Detailed Examples

As you are now aware it is important to have detailed examples in Geography to help you to analyse whether ideas such as the circular economy are beneficial or not. Make notes on the youtube clip to create  detailed examples of how phones and jeans are changing to increase the level of recycling and are moving towards a circular economy.

• • • • • • • • A key focus are phones in London

              • Umicore and how they extract precious metals from phones

              • MUD Jeans

              • REMO Key

Useful Resources