Description
Regenerative economics offers a holistic framework to facilitate the transition towards a circular economy [1], [2]. But which tools (i.e., methods and indicators) can be used to study the complexity of human-made systems? And can these tools be applied at different levels of granularity? Here, we present two examples where we applied network-based quantitative tools to assess the regenerative potential of two different human-made systems. The first example takes a macro-level perspective on the material and energy flow metabolism of 27 EU Member States by using panel data from Eurostat [3], [4]. The second example zooms into the socio-economic metabolism of Samothraki, a Greek island in the north Aegean [5], [6] by using time-series data from socio-metabolic research [7]. Subsequently, we draw the most relevant insights, and we reflect on the challenges and limitations related to the application of these tools. Finally, we propose future research avenues which we think are important for developing further the upcoming scientific field of regenerative economics, and for contributing constructively to the transition towards a regenerative and inclusive circular economy.References
[1] Fath, B. D., Fiscus, D. A., Goerner, S. J., Berea, A., & Ulanowicz, R. E. (2019). Measuring regenerative economics: 10 principles and measures undergirding systemic economic health. Global Transitions, 1, 15–27. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.glt.2019.02.002
[2] Ulanowicz, R. E., Goerner, S. J., Lietaer, B., & Gomez, R. (2009). Quantifying sustainability: Resilience, efficiency and the return of information theory. Ecological Complexity, 6(1), 27–36. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecocom.2008.10.005
[3] Zisopoulos, F. K., Schraven, D. F. J., & de Jong, M. (2022). How robust is the circular economy in Europe? An ascendency analysis with Eurostat data between 2010 and 2018. Resources, Conservation & Recycling, 178(106032). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2021.106032
[4] Zisopoulos, F. K., Teigiserova, D., Schraven, D., de Jong, M., Tong, X., & Ulanowlcz, R. E. (2022). Are there limits to robustness? Exploring tools from regenerative economics for a balanced transition towards a circular EU27. Cleaner Production Letters, 3(100014). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clpl.2022.100014
[5] Zisopoulos, F. K., Noll, D., Singh, S. J., Schraven, D., de Jong, M., Fath, B. D., Goerner, S., Fiscus, D., & Ulanowicz, R. E. (2022). Regenerative economics at the service of islands: Assessing the socio-economic metabolism of Samothraki in Greece. 3rd Symposium on Circular Economy & Sustainability. https://3rd.circulareconomy2050.eu/
[6] Zisopoulos, F. K., Noll, D., Singh, S. J., Schraven, D., de Jong, M., Fath, B. D., Goerner, S., Webster, K., Fiscus, D., & Ulanowicz, R. E. (under review). Regenerative economics at the service of islands: Assessing the socio-economic metabolism of Samothraki in Greece, xx(xx).
[7] Noll, D., Lauk, C., Haas, W., Singh, S. J., Petridis, P., & Wiedenhofer, D. (2022). The sociometabolic transition of a small Greek island: Assessing stock dynamics, resource flows, and material circularity from 1929 to 2019. Journal of Industrial Ecology, 26(2), 577–591. https://doi.org/10.1111/jiec.13206
| Period | 4 Jul 2023 |
|---|---|
| Event title | 11th International Conference on Industrial Ecology |
| Event type | Conference |
| Location | Leiden, NetherlandsShow on map |
| Degree of Recognition | International |