3D Printing

An additive manufacturing process that creates three-dimensional objects by depositing materials layer by layer, enabling on-demand production and reducing waste in manufacturing processes. This technology allows for precise control over material use, reducing excess and enabling the creation of complex geometries that would be difficult or impossible with traditional manufacturing methods. 3D printing can be used in various industries, including construction, healthcare, and automotive, to produce custom parts, prototypes, and even entire structures.

Source: Ellen MacArthur Foundation

Additive Manufacturing

A process of creating objects by adding material layer by layer, as opposed to subtractive manufacturing methods. This technique can reduce material waste and enable more complex, efficient designs. Additive manufacturing encompasses various technologies, including 3D printing, and is used to produce everything from aerospace components to medical implants. By building objects layer by layer, additive manufacturing minimises waste and allows for the use of advanced materials that can enhance product performance and longevity.

Source: Ellen MacArthur Foundation

Advanced Materials

Engineered materials with superior properties (e.g., strength, durability, lightness) that can enhance product performance and longevity, contributing to resource efficiency. These materials include composites, nano-materials, and biomaterials, and are designed to meet specific performance requirements in demanding applications. Advanced materials can improve the sustainability of products by reducing weight, increasing strength, and extending lifespans, thereby reducing the need for frequent replacements and conserving resources.

Source: Ellen MacArthur Foundation

Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Computer systems capable of performing tasks that typically require human intelligence, used in circular economy applications for optimising resource use and predicting maintenance needs. AI can analyse large datasets to identify patterns and make decisions, enabling more efficient operations and reducing waste. In the context of the circular economy, AI can be used for predictive maintenance, optimising supply chains, and improving recycling processes by identifying and sorting materials more accurately.

Source: Ellen MacArthur Foundation

Augmented Reality (AR)

Technology that overlays digital information onto the real world, potentially used in circular economy for enhancing repair and maintenance processes. AR can provide technicians with real-time information and guidance, reducing errors and improving efficiency. In manufacturing and construction, AR can be used to visualise designs, simulate assembly processes, and provide step-by-step instructions for complex tasks, thereby reducing the need for physical prototypes and minimising waste.

Source: Ellen MacArthur Foundation

Automation

The use of technology to perform tasks with minimal human intervention, potentially increasing efficiency and precision in circular economy processes. Automation can streamline manufacturing, reduce waste, and improve product quality by minimising human error. In the context of the circular economy, automation can be used to optimise resource use, enhance recycling processes, and enable more efficient production methods, contributing to sustainability and resource conservation.

Source: Ellen MacArthur Foundation

Big Data

Large, complex datasets that can be analysed to reveal patterns and trends, particularly useful in optimising resource use and predicting maintenance needs in a circular economy. Big data analytics can help identify inefficiencies, optimise supply chains, and enable predictive maintenance to extend product lifespans.

Source: Ellen MacArthur Foundation

Biofabrication

The production of complex biological products from raw materials such as living cells, molecules, extracellular matrices, and biomaterials, often used in creating sustainable alternatives to traditional materials. This emerging field has applications in developing biodegradable packaging, textiles, and construction materials.

Source: Ellen MacArthur Foundation

Blockchain

A decentralized, digital ledger technology that can enhance transparency and traceability in supply chains, supporting circular economy principles. Blockchain can help track materials and products throughout their lifecycle, enabling better management of resources and facilitating the circular flow of materials.

Source: Ellen MacArthur Foundation

Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS)

Technologies designed to capture carbon dioxide emissions from industrial processes or the atmosphere and store them long-term, reducing greenhouse gas emissions. CCS can play a role in mitigating climate change impacts while transitioning to a circular economy.

Source: Ellen MacArthur Foundation

Circular Design Software

Digital tools that assist in designing products for longevity, repairability, and recyclability, supporting circular economy principles. These software solutions can help designers consider the entire lifecycle of a product from the outset, enabling more sustainable design choices.

Source: Ellen MacArthur Foundation

Cloud Computing

The delivery of computing services over the internet, enabling more efficient resource use and supporting remote work and collaboration in circular business models. Cloud computing can facilitate sharing of resources and information, supporting the transition to more circular practices.

Source: Ellen MacArthur Foundation

Computer-Aided Design (CAD)

Software used to create precise 2D and 3D models of products, supporting efficient design and potentially reducing material waste. CAD tools can help optimize designs for circularity, minimizing material use and facilitating end-of-life disassembly and recycling.

Source: Ellen MacArthur Foundation

Cradle to Cradle Design

A biomimetic approach to product design that models human industry on nature's processes, viewing materials as nutrients circulating in healthy, safe metabolisms. This concept aims for a beneficial ecological footprint rather than just reducing negative impacts, aligning closely with circular economy principles.

Source: Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute

Cybersecurity

The practice of protecting systems, networks, and programs from digital attacks, crucial for maintaining the integrity of digital circular economy systems. As circular economy models often rely on digital technologies and data sharing, robust cybersecurity measures are essential to protect sensitive information and maintain trust.

Source: Ellen MacArthur Foundation

Data Analytics

The process of examining data sets to draw conclusions about the information they contain, used in circular economy to optimise resource use and identify inefficiencies. Advanced analytics can help businesses make data-driven decisions to improve circularity and resource efficiency.

Source: Ellen MacArthur Foundation

Digital Marketplace

Online platforms that facilitate the buying, selling, or sharing of products and services, supporting circular economy business models like sharing and resale. These platforms can help extend product lifespans and maximise resource utilisation by connecting users and enabling new forms of consumption.

Source: Ellen MacArthur Foundation

Digital Twin

A virtual representation of a physical object or system, used to simulate and optimise performance, potentially reducing resource use and extending product lifespans. Digital twins can help predict maintenance needs, optimise operations, and improve product design for circularity.

Source: Ellen MacArthur Foundation

Distributed Ledger Technology

A digital system for recording transactions and related data in multiple places at the same time, of which blockchain is one type, supporting transparency in circular supply chains. This technology can enhance traceability and trust in circular economy systems, facilitating more efficient resource management.

Source: Ellen MacArthur Foundation

Drones

Unmanned aerial vehicles used for various purposes including monitoring and inspection in circular economy applications, potentially reducing resource use and improving efficiency. Drones can be used for tasks such as infrastructure inspection, waste management monitoring, and precision agriculture, supporting circular practices.

Source: Ellen MacArthur Foundation

E-waste Recycling Technologies

Advanced methods for recovering valuable materials from electronic waste, supporting the circular economy principle of keeping resources in use. These technologies can include processes for extracting precious metals, separating plastics, and safely disposing of hazardous components, enabling the reuse of materials in new products and reducing the need for virgin resource extraction.

Source: Ellen MacArthur Foundation

Edge Computing

A distributed computing paradigm that brings computation and data storage closer to the location where it is needed, potentially reducing energy use in data processing. In circular economy applications, edge computing can enable more efficient resource management and real-time optimization of processes, leading to reduced waste and improved energy efficiency.

Source: Ellen MacArthur Foundation

Energy Storage Technologies

Systems designed to store energy for later use, crucial for integrating renewable energy sources into circular energy systems. These technologies, which can include batteries, pumped hydro storage, and thermal storage, allow for better matching of energy supply and demand, reducing waste and improving the efficiency of renewable energy systems.

Source: Ellen MacArthur Foundation

Genetic Engineering

The direct manipulation of an organism's genes to achieve desired traits, potentially used to develop more sustainable and resilient crops or materials. In a circular economy context, genetic engineering could be used to create plants that require fewer resources to grow, or to develop biodegradable materials that can safely return to natural systems.

Source: Ellen MacArthur Foundation

Geographic Information System (GIS)

A system designed to capture, store, manipulate, analyze, manage, and present spatial or geographic data, useful in optimizing resource use and logistics in circular systems. GIS can be used to map material flows, identify opportunities for industrial symbiosis, and optimize transportation routes to reduce waste and emissions.

Source: Ellen MacArthur Foundation

Green Chemistry

The design of chemical products and processes that reduce or eliminate the use and generation of hazardous substances, supporting circular economy principles. Green chemistry aims to create safer, more efficient processes that minimize waste and environmental impact throughout the lifecycle of chemical products.

Source: Ellen MacArthur Foundation

Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT)

The use of IoT technologies in manufacturing and industrial processes, enabling more efficient resource use and predictive maintenance. IIoT can help optimize production processes, reduce waste, and extend the lifespan of equipment through real-time monitoring and data analysis.

Source: Ellen MacArthur Foundation

Industrial Symbiosis

A form of brokering to bring companies together in innovative collaborations, finding ways to use the waste from one as raw materials for another. This approach creates closed-loop systems within industrial ecosystems, reducing waste and resource consumption while creating new value streams for businesses.

Source: Ellen MacArthur Foundation

Internet of Things (IoT)

The interconnection of computing devices embedded in everyday objects, enabling them to send and receive data and supporting more efficient resource use. In circular economy applications, IoT can facilitate product tracking, enable predictive maintenance, and optimize resource consumption across various sectors.

Source: Ellen MacArthur Foundation

Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) Software

Digital tools that help assess the environmental impacts associated with all stages of a product's life, from raw material extraction through materials processing, manufacture, distribution, use, repair and maintenance, and disposal or recycling. LCA software is crucial for identifying opportunities to reduce environmental impact and improve circularity throughout a product's lifecycle.

Source: Ellen MacArthur Foundation

Machine Learning

A subset of artificial intelligence that provides systems the ability to automatically learn and improve from experience without being explicitly programmed, used in circular economy for predictive maintenance and resource optimization. Machine learning algorithms can analyze large datasets to identify patterns and make predictions, enabling more efficient resource use and waste reduction.

Source: Ellen MacArthur Foundation

Materials Informatics

The application of data-driven methods and informatics to materials science and engineering, potentially accelerating the development of sustainable materials. This field combines materials science with data science, machine learning, and AI to rapidly discover and optimize new materials with desired properties, supporting circular economy goals by enabling the creation of more durable, recyclable, or bio-based materials.

Source: Ellen MacArthur Foundation

Microfactories

Small, flexible manufacturing units that can be easily set up and moved, potentially enabling more localized, on-demand production in line with circular economy principles. These compact facilities can reduce transportation needs, minimize waste, and allow for rapid adaptation to changing market demands, supporting a more distributed and resilient manufacturing ecosystem.

Source: Ellen MacArthur Foundation

Nanotechnology

The manipulation of matter on an atomic, molecular, and supramolecular scale, potentially leading to more efficient use of resources and development of advanced materials. In circular economy applications, nanotechnology can enhance material properties, improve recycling processes, and create novel materials that are more durable, lightweight, or easily recyclable.

Source: Ellen MacArthur Foundation

Neural Networks

A series of algorithms that attempt to recognize underlying relationships in a set of data through a process that mimics how the human brain operates, used in various AI applications supporting circular economy. In circular contexts, neural networks can optimize resource use, predict maintenance needs, and improve waste sorting and recycling processes.

Source: Ellen MacArthur Foundation

Open Source Technology

Technology with its source code made freely available and may be redistributed and modified, potentially accelerating innovation in circular economy solutions. Open source approaches can foster collaboration, reduce barriers to entry, and speed up the development and adoption of circular technologies and practices.

Source: Ellen MacArthur Foundation

Photovoltaic Technology

The conversion of light into electricity using semiconducting materials, a key technology in renewable energy systems supporting circular economy. Photovoltaic systems can provide clean energy for circular processes and products, while advancements in the technology are improving the recyclability and longevity of solar panels themselves.

Source: Ellen MacArthur Foundation

Predictive Maintenance

The use of data analytics and machine learning to predict when equipment might fail so that maintenance can be scheduled proactively, extending product lifespans. This approach can significantly reduce downtime, optimize resource use, and prevent premature disposal of equipment, aligning with circular economy principles of keeping products in use for longer.

Source: Ellen MacArthur Foundation

Quantum Computing

A type of computation that harnesses the collective properties of quantum states to perform calculations, potentially revolutionizing areas like materials science and optimization problems relevant to circular economy. Quantum computing could accelerate the discovery of new materials, optimize logistics for circular supply chains, and solve complex system-level challenges in implementing circular economy models.

Source: Ellen MacArthur Foundation

Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID)

A technology that uses electromagnetic fields to automatically identify and track tags attached to objects, useful in inventory management and product tracking in circular supply chains. RFID can enhance traceability of materials and products throughout their lifecycle, facilitating more efficient reuse, repair, and recycling processes.

Source: Ellen MacArthur Foundation

Recycling Technologies

Advanced methods and machinery used to process and transform waste materials into new products or raw materials, supporting circular economy principles. These technologies can include chemical recycling, automated sorting systems, and innovative processes for handling complex or mixed materials, improving the efficiency and effectiveness of recycling efforts.

Source: Ellen MacArthur Foundation

Regenerative Design Tools

Software and methodologies that support the creation of systems that restore, renew, or revitalize their own sources of energy and materials. These tools can help designers and engineers create products, buildings, and systems that not only minimize negative impacts but actively contribute to ecosystem health and regeneration, aligning with circular economy principles.

Source: Ellen MacArthur Foundation

Remote Sensing

The scanning of the earth by satellite or high-flying aircraft to obtain information about it, useful in monitoring environmental changes and resource use. Remote sensing technologies can help track land use changes, urban growth patterns, and the health of ecosystems, supporting more informed decision-making in urban planning and environmental management.

Source: Ellen MacArthur Foundation

Renewable Energy Technologies

Technologies that generate energy from renewable resources such as sunlight, wind, rain, tides, waves, and geothermal heat, supporting sustainable energy systems. In the context of circular built environments, these technologies can be integrated into buildings and urban infrastructure to reduce reliance on fossil fuels and decrease carbon emissions.

Source: Ellen MacArthur Foundation

Robotics

The design, construction, operation, and use of robots, potentially improving efficiency and precision in manufacturing and recycling processes. In construction, robotics can be used for tasks such as 3D printing of building components, automated assembly, and precision demolition, reducing waste and improving worker safety.

Source: Ellen MacArthur Foundation

Sensor Technology

Devices that detect and respond to some type of input from the physical environment, crucial for IoT applications in circular economy. In buildings, sensors can monitor energy use, occupancy, air quality, and equipment performance, enabling more efficient resource use and predictive maintenance.

Source: Ellen MacArthur Foundation

Singularity in AI

Often referred to as the "technological singularity," is a hypothetical future point where artificial intelligence surpasses human intelligence, leading to rapid and uncontrollable technological growth. This concept suggests that AI could reach a level of intelligence that allows it to continuously improve itself, resulting in an "intelligence explosion" that humans cannot comprehend or control.

Smart Buildings

Buildings that use automated processes to control various operations including heating, ventilation, air conditioning, lighting, security, and other systems. Smart buildings use sensors, actuators, and microchips to collect and manage data according to business functions and services, optimizing building performance and resource use.

Source: Ellen MacArthur Foundation

Smart Cities

Urban areas that use different types of electronic methods and sensors to collect data, used to manage assets, resources and services efficiently. This technology allows city officials to interact directly with community and city infrastructure to monitor what is happening in the city, how the city is evolving, and how to enable a better quality of life.

Source: Ellen MacArthur Foundation

Smart Contracts

Self-executing contracts with the terms of the agreement directly written into code, potentially automating and securing transactions in circular supply chains. In the built environment, smart contracts could facilitate more efficient and transparent processes for construction projects, property transactions, and facility management.

Source: Ellen MacArthur Foundation

Smart Grid

An electricity supply network that uses digital communications technology to detect and react to local changes in usage, supporting more efficient energy use. Smart grids can enable better integration of renewable energy sources and support more efficient energy distribution in urban areas.

Source: Ellen MacArthur Foundation

Smart Materials

Materials designed to change their properties in response to external stimuli, potentially extending product lifespans and improving performance. These materials can adapt to environmental conditions, self-heal, or change shape, color, or other properties, enabling more durable and efficient products in various applications including construction, automotive, and consumer goods.

Source: Ellen MacArthur Foundation

Supply Chain Management Software

Digital tools that help manage and optimize supply chain operations, supporting more efficient resource use and traceability in circular supply chains. These systems can track materials, optimize logistics, reduce waste, and enable better decision-making throughout the supply chain, facilitating the implementation of circular economy principles.

Source: Ellen MacArthur Foundation

Synthetic Biology

The design and construction of new biological parts, devices, and systems, or the redesign of existing, natural biological systems for useful purposes, potentially supporting the development of sustainable materials and processes. This field combines biology and engineering to create novel biological functions and systems, with applications in sustainable materials, biofuels, and waste treatment.

Source: Ellen MacArthur Foundation

Telematics

The branch of information technology that deals with the long-distance transmission of computerized information, used in tracking and optimizing transportation in circular supply chains. Telematics systems can monitor vehicle performance, optimize routes, and improve efficiency in logistics operations, supporting more sustainable and circular transportation practices.

Source: Ellen MacArthur Foundation

Virtual Reality (VR)

Computer-generated simulation of a three-dimensional image or environment that can be interacted with in a seemingly real or physical way, potentially used in product design and virtual prototyping to reduce material waste. VR can enable designers to test and refine products virtually, reducing the need for physical prototypes and associated material waste.

Source: Ellen MacArthur Foundation

XR (Extended Reality)

An umbrella term encompassing Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR), and Mixed Reality (MR), XR technologies blend the physical and virtual worlds to create immersive experiences. In the context of circular economy and regenerative practices, XR can be used for virtual prototyping, enhancing repair and maintenance processes, remote collaboration, and training, thereby reducing material waste and improving efficiency.

Source: Ellen MacArthur Foundation