“Inconvenient truths of the circular economy” is the title of an interview with prof. Markus Reuter for the Aurubis magazine. In the interview, prof. Reuter describes the main challenges and opportunities of recycling and the circular economy. The interview is included in the 2018-19 annual report. Prof. Markus Reuter (Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. mult.) is a.o. supervisor of one of the PhD-students part of the SOCRATES project.
In the interview, prof. Reuter explains: "The image of the closed loop of the CE is a convenient one. It conveys the impression that everything that enters the cycle also emerges in a way that can ultimately be used again without the use of energy. The inconvenient truth is that closing the loop is impossible! Therefore, an honest discussion involves speaking transparently about losses in the process: in the form of energy, metals, and dust, for example. There are technological and economic limits to closing the loop. As a result, policy conditions are necessary that promote recycling instead of hindering it."
Consequently, he pleads to seriously put into practice a design for recycling and to "prompt a consciousness shift in our utilization of our limited resources".
Full interview
The full interview can be read in the Aurubis 2018-19 annual report, see https://annualreport2018-19.aurubis.com/magazine/rethink/design-for-recycling or full pdf.
Full biography Markus Reuter
Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. mult. Markus A. Reuter is Director at Helmholtz Institute Freiberg for Resource Technology (Sept 2015): Industry: Chief Technologist Ausmelt Australia & Director Technology Management Outotec Australia and Finland 2006-2015. Mintek & Anglo American Corporation (South Africa). Academic: Professor at TU Delft (Netherlands 1996-2005); Honorary & adjunct professorships @ (i) TU BAF Freiberg (Germany 2015-); (ii) Aalto University (Finland 2012-2018); (iii) Central South University (China 2012-2017); (iv) Melbourne University (also full professor 2005-2018) & (v) Curtin University Perth (Australia 2018-). Education: D.Eng. & PhD Stellenbosch University (South Africa); Dr. habil. RWTH Aachen (Germany). Recent awards: Honorary Doctorates @ (i) University of Liège (Belgium) & (ii) University of Stellenbosch (South Africa); 2020 TMS Luncheon Lecture; TMS EPD Distinguished Lecture Award; 2015-2016 SME Henry Krumb Lecturer; 2013 Outotec technology award; 2013 Lead-author UNEP report on Metal Recycling. Publications and Patents: H-index 31 (Scopus), H-index 40 (Google), over 38 patents in 4 patent families. Has supervised 40 PhD students.