Cranfield Science for a Circular Economy. How to tackle the Water, Energy, Food nexus. Conference Proceedings

Abstract

With the ever-increasing pressures on the limited resources of our planet, there is today a recognised need to evolve from the “take-make-dispose” model to a more circular model. In the former, mankind's economic activities and lifestyles tend to deplete finite resources and create products that end up in polluting landfills and incinerators. Instead, a circular economy aims at reducing the use of finite resources and reintroducing waste in the production cycle as a raw material.

Transitioning toward a circular model requires us to act now upon the three fundamental components, water-energy-food. The inherent interconnections between these components are complex and must be identified and accounted for to avoid promoting one at the expense of another.

Organised by Cranfield’s School of Water, Energy and Environment Doctoral Communities, this conference is a platform to promote collaboration between scientists and industries to explore, interrogate, and challenge ideas related to making our production and use of water, energy, and food more sustainable.