Science 101: What is a Circular Economy?

Argonne’s Science 101 series takes you back to the basics, with plain-language explanations of the scientific concepts behind our pivotal discoveries and our biggest innovations.

In this Science 101 video, principal materials scientist Jessica Macholz and postdoctoral scholar Sam Hunt delve into the forefront of scientific innovation aimed at propelling society towards a circular economy, significantly curbing waste and the depletion of natural resources.

In our throwaway culture, a significant portion of potentially recyclable products fails to reach recycling facilities, inundating waste streams, polluting the environment, and depleting vital resources. Across the globe, researchers, including those at Argonne National Laboratory, are pioneering new low-cost approaches to reduce, reuse, recycle and repurpose discarded items and to design products with sustainability as a primary consideration from the start.

ABOUT ARGONNE

Argonne National Laboratory seeks solutions to pressing national problems in science and technology. The nation’s first national laboratory, Argonne conducts leading-edge basic and applied scientific research in virtually every scientific discipline. Argonne researchers work closely with researchers from hundreds of companies, universities, and federal, state and municipal agencies to help them solve their specific problems, advance America’s scientific leadership and prepare the nation for a better future. With employees from more than 60 nations, Argonne is managed by UChicago Argonne, LLC for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Science.

The U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Science is the single largest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences in the United States and is working to address some of the most pressing challenges of our time. For more information, visit the Office of Science website.