Material circularity in the UK’s foundation industries

IF 10.4 1区环境科学与生态学 Q1 ENGINEERING, ENVIRONMENTAL

Resources Conservation and Recycling Pub Date : 2026-03-01 Epub Date: 2025-12-03 DOI:10.1016/j.resconrec.2025.108728

Natanael Bolson , Masoud Ahmadinia , Rossi Setchi , Sam Evans , Jonathan Cullen

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Abstract

As the UK advances toward its 2050 net-zero target, moving beyond energy efficiency to comprehensive resource management is essential. This study evaluates how circular economy principles can reshape the use of aluminium, lead, steel, glass, and paper in the UK’s foundation industries. Using a circularity index, we assess current performance and identify improvement pathways, quantifying the potential of enhanced recycling and material reuse. Results show that circularity strategies alone could reduce emissions by 42% and energy use by 17%, with reductions rising to 69% and 56% respectively, when combined with best-practice energy intensities. While aluminium and steel offer the largest gains, barriers remain for lead, glass, and paper due to technical and quality constraints. These findings highlight the opportunities and the complexities of industrial circularity, providing evidence to guide policymakers and industry leaders in accelerating the transition to a more sustainable and resource-efficient economy.

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英国基础工业的材料循环

随着英国向2050年净零排放目标迈进，从提高能源效率转向全面资源管理至关重要。这项研究评估了循环经济原则如何重塑英国基础工业中铝、铅、钢、玻璃和纸张的使用。使用循环指数，我们评估当前的性能和确定改进途径，量化加强回收和材料再利用的潜力。结果表明，如果与最佳实践的能源强度相结合，仅循环策略就可以减少42%的排放和17%的能源使用，分别减少69%和56%。虽然铝和钢铁的涨幅最大，但由于技术和质量的限制，铅、玻璃和纸张仍然存在障碍。这些发现突出了工业循环的机遇和复杂性，为指导政策制定者和行业领导者加速向更可持续和资源节约型经济转型提供了证据。

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来源期刊

Resources Conservation and Recycling 环境科学-工程：环境

CiteScore

22.90

自引率

6.10%

发文量

625

审稿时长

23 days

期刊介绍： The journal Resources, Conservation & Recycling welcomes contributions from research, which consider sustainable management and conservation of resources. The journal prioritizes understanding the transformation processes crucial for transitioning toward more sustainable production and consumption systems. It highlights technological, economic, institutional, and policy aspects related to specific resource management practices such as conservation, recycling, and resource substitution, as well as broader strategies like improving resource productivity and restructuring production and consumption patterns. Contributions may address regional, national, or international scales and can range from individual resources or technologies to entire sectors or systems. Authors are encouraged to explore scientific and methodological issues alongside practical, environmental, and economic implications. However, manuscripts focusing solely on laboratory experiments without discussing their broader implications will not be considered for publication in the journal.