3.3.2 The circular economy
Content
- Geographic inquiry and concept(s)
- Possibilities for managing resources sustainably and power over the decision-making process
- Geographic knowledge and understanding
- Resource stewardship strategies, including: the value of the circular economy as a systems approach for effective cycling of materials and energy
- Case study or detailed examples
- Neither required by the syllabus
- Aims of this lesson
- Knowledge and understanding of the value of the circular economy as a systems approach for effective cycling of materials and energy.
Base knowledge and understanding
News article
UK can create 5,400 jobs if it stops plastic waste exports, report finds
Campaigners say closure of loophole making it cheaper to export rather than recycle will boost circular economy
The Guardian · 25 November 2025
Key terms
- Circular economy
- A model of production and consumption, which involves sharing, leasing, reusing, repairing, refurbishing and recycling existing materials and products as long as possible.
- Systems approach
- Based on the generalisation that everything is interrelated and interdependent.
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Review
- Suggest one named example that supports the idea that technological innovation can overcome resource limits. [2]
- Explain how Boserup's theory provides an optimistic view of the relationship between population growth and food production. [2]
- Technological innovation will always prevent a global resource crisis. To what extent do you agree with this statement? [10]
- Boserup's optimism about population and resources is more convincing than the views of neo-Malthusian thinkers. To what extent do you agree with this statement? [10]