Crafting the IDEALL Circular Carbon Economy Roadmap

An Inclusive, Diverse, and Equal Circular Carbon Economy for ALL

Carbon is an essential element in fuels and as a feedstock for many consumer products vital to daily life (e.g., detergents, pharmaceuticals, paints and polymers). The carbon in these products is largely obtained from fossil fuel inputs such as crude oil and natural gas, with some more recently from renewable feedstocks (e.g., palm oil; and agriculture and forestry residues). The reliance on fossil-based carbon for feedstock and energy requirements makes the chemical sector the UK’s second-highest industrial emitter.

The Circular Carbon Economy (CCE) presents an opportunity to reduce carbon emissions by reusing and recycling carbon resources in a closed loop, promoting sustainable growth. A CCE can reduce inequality by creating more job opportunities, promoting sustainable production and consumption patterns, and improving access to essential resources, thereby reducing the wealth gap and enhancing social equity. However, there is a risk that the CCE transition may be exclusionary and reinforce inequalities if it is not designed to consider the needs of all members of society.

This project aims to co-develop a roadmap with industry and policy stakeholders that integrates EDI considerations into CCE transformation initiatives to create a fair and inclusive future economy.

The multidisciplinary team will work together with industry and policy partners to develop new understandings of the EDI factors that may emerge when transitioning towards CCE.

Funded by CE-Hub, UKRI National Interdisciplinary Circular Economy Research Theme