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2018　Resource Efficiency and Circular Economy

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Academic unit or major
Breadth courses
Instructor(s)
Ota Eri  Michael George Norto 
Class Format
Lecture     
Media-enhanced courses
Day/Period(Room No.)
Tue3-4(S517)  Fri3-4(S517)  
Group
-
Course number
LAW.X428
Credits
2
Academic year
2018
Offered quarter
4Q
Syllabus updated
2018/10/10
Lecture notes updated
-
Language used
English
Access Index

Course description and aims

The current ‘linear’ economy takes natural resources from the environment (air, water, minerals, biological resources). They enter the production system and are used to create goods which are sold in the market to consumers. Consumers then use the goods and at the end of their useful life, discard them as waste.Since there are clear limits on the ability of the environment to provide these resources and to absorb the wastes, the linear economy is not sustainable. There have thus long been calls for the economy to move to a circular economy whereby materials are used much more efficiently than at present, and reduce the burden on the environment.
This course provides a foundation for engineers to understand the underlying forces driving the move towards circularity, and the changes that may result in future jobs.

Student learning outcomes

By the end of this course students should be able to understand the underlying forces driving the move towards circularity, and the changes that may result in future jobs- especially for engineers.

Keywords

Resource efficiency, resource depletion, recycle technology, design for recycling, circular economy

Competencies that will be developed

Specialist skills ✔ Intercultural skills ✔ Communication skills ✔ Critical thinking skills Practical and/or problem-solving skills

Class flow

Course will include international perspective, problem definition and solution, and communication related to the theme.

Course schedule/Required learning

  Course schedule Required learning
Class 1 Course introduction. The linear economy and its consumption of resources and impacts on the environment. 　Background to the current state of the linear economy, growth since the 1950s, unsustainable growth rates in demands for resources and increasing environmental impacts. Understand the contents
Class 2 Limits to growth: Debate on physical and institutional limits to growth. Concept of planetary boundaries and evidence on the extent to which these are being exceeded. Understand the contents
Class 3 Life cycle assessment: Following the linear economy through specific examples of products across their whole life cycle Understand the contents
Class 4 Measures to improve resource utilization: Japan’s policy for recycling, organisational structures and performance; national targets etc. Understand the contents
Class 5 Studies on the circular economy and its potential impact: Ellen MacArthur Foundation and Club of Rome work modelling more circular economies Understand the contents
Class 6 Role of engineering: Design for a circular economy. Circular economy requires that materials stay longer in their useful economic life, and can efficiently return their resources to re-use at the end of life. Systems thinking. Understand the contents
Class 7 Role of Engineering (continued): Major waste stream recycling technologies and progress-paper, plastics, base metals etc. Understand the contents
Class 8 Role of Engineering (continued): Examples of products which have included concern for circularity in their design. Understand the contents
Class 9 Critical materials and their recovery: Chemical elements which are very important for high-tech (low carbon energy, IT and communications etc.). Current supplies, and selecting and defining critical materials. Understand the contents
Class 10 Future supply issues on Critical Materials: This includes limits to availability, declines in ore quality and ultimate limits on society’s acceptance of environmental impacts of increasing extraction. Recovery and recycling of critical materials Understand the contents
Class 11 Group work focusing on a current product life-cycle and examining ways of reducing energy and resource use. Understand the contents
Class 12 Intermediate discussion from group work. Prepare for discussion
Class 13 Circular economy and globalization: Global supply chains are linear and not compatible with circularity. How should they change? Understand the contents
Class 14 Group presentations. Prepare presentation
Class 15 Summary and overview Summary

Textbook(s)

Course material supplied by power point. Internet accessible sources provided in lectures.

Reference books, course materials, etc.

Course material supplied by power point. Internet accessible sources provided in lectures.

Assessment criteria and methods

Attendance, some group work and final project.

Related courses

  • LAW.X427 ： Our Climate Future

Prerequisites (i.e., required knowledge, skills, courses, etc.)

Course will be given in English

Other

The first class will start from Tuesday 4th December (there will be no class on 30th November)

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