Our project is slowly taking shape.
we are currently working through the introduction programme on EDX, a platform where lots of universities show their studies.
Further steps are to finish the introduction programme whilst making notes and creating a factsheet about the most important informations. After the introduction programme there is a a bit more enhanced [programme which we will have to work through as well. But for now all we do is make progress work step by step.
So far we have learned about Circular Economy and its four principles, as well as examples for each principle.
- Waste = food
- Build resilience through diversity
- Work with energy from renewable sources (such as the sun)
- We need to think in systems! (only if we think in systems we can enhance society, environment and economy)
Examples of the four principles
1.Waste = Food
- This principle considers the continuous cycling of materials and products. A material or product that is no longer used shouldn't become 'waste', but instead should be part of a new cycle of use.
Natural system, example:Birds eat berries. Bird droppings contain berry seeds. The bird droppings also act as a fertiliser for the seeds, enabling these to grow into plants. Bird 'waste' is ‘food’ for berry plants.
Man-made system, example:I drink wine from a glass bottle. When the bottle is empty I throw it in the glass recycling bin. The bottle is crushed, melted and formed into a new glass bottle. Glass bottle 'waste' therefore becomes ‘food’ for new glass bottles.
2. Build Resilience Through Diversity
Diverse systems i.e. systems with many different components, are more resilient. Resilient is defined as being capable of dealing with change while continuing to develop. This is particularly true if the components of a system respond differently to change and disruption. A particular disturbance is then unlikely to present the same risk to all components at once.
- Natural system, example:A jungle.
Man-made system, example:An organic farm with mixed crops (not one crop, but a variety of different foods)
3. Energy from Renewable Resources
- The sun is one of the major sources of renewable energy (wind power, tidal power and plant growth directly derive from sunlight), but not the only one. The other source is geothermal heat, generated deep within the earth.
Natural system, example:A green plant (sunlight converts CO2 and water into sugars: photosynthesis).
Man-made system, example:A solar cell (sunlight is converted into electricity).
4. Think in Systems
Natural system, example: The food chain. If one species goes extinct, it can affect many other species, because they are interdependent in complex ways.
Man-made system, example: Unexpected effects. We now have energy saving light bulbs. We feel good about these, because they save electricity. But now we are putting these light bulbs in places that were not illuminated before (gardens, for instance). As a result we are not saving as much electricity as we had expected.
Can you come up with better examples? Share your examples in the discussion below and enjoy the input from your fellow learners. Don't forget to come back to check whether someone has replied to your post, and join the conversation!
Annotate
It is too early to publish a file with all of the informations we have found. 
Sincerely Chiara & Tonia