The linear make-take-dispose economic model is not sustainable.
The annual extraction of natural resources required to make the global economy function rose from about 27 billion tons in 1970 to 92 billion tons in 2017, according to the Circularity Gap Reporting Initiative.
It’s likely impractical that humanity will be able to harvest significant resources on other planets for use on Earth—which is why interest in circular economies is increasing.
Humanity today uses resources 1.75 times faster than the Earth can replenish them and the demands on the natural world are only accelerating.
According to the United Nations, the expected global population of 9.6 billion in 2050 will require the equivalent of three planets’ worth of resources.
It’s likely impractical that humanity will be able to harvest significant resources on other planets for use on Earth—which is why interest in circular economies is increasing.
27B vs 92B tons
1.75 faster
9.6B people