ECONOMIC PATHWAYS TOWARDS A MORE SUSTAINABLE MATERIAL FLOW. CASE STUDY: PRODUCT SERVICE SYSTEMS

Humankind engaged in the global material flow many substances that fall outside the biogeochemical cycles, but also outside economic cycles. Consequently a linear pattern emerged hindering both the availability of natural resources and the safety of environmental conditions. Closing the loop is an issue of technical innovation but the economic underpinning of material flows indicates the need of a novel model for a more sustainable material flow. Several models already emerged and they are aggregated in a policy document that proposes the model of circular economy. Along with reuse and recycling the rethinking of value chain is an important contribution that will harness consumption's potential to contribute to sustainability. Product Service Systems by widening the system boundaries allow more optimization opportunities to improve eco-efficiency of products.