Circular Economy: Transition for Future Sustainability

This course provides a fundamental yet multidimensional understanding of the meaning and evolution of a circular economy, including the roles of material science, economic and institutional structures, and technology. We will begin with a global perspective of circularity and its measurement and assessment at this scale, carefully comparing and contrasting biotic and abiotic cycles. We will then look at circular economies through a systems approach, examining frameworks and policy at an institutional level and making use of analytical tools that allow us to evaluate circularity. Finally, we will explore innovation and evolution in this area with a focus on circular economies at corporate and social levels, looking at specific examples like water, metals, and waste recycling. 

Circular Economy: Transition for Future Sustainability, with curriculum developed and taught by MIT faculty, is delivered in collaboration with Global Alumni. Contact Global Alumni for more information about this program:

• professionalprograms@mit.edu or 
• call:+1 617 870 0270 USA  +34 660 558 464 EUROPE.

Global Alumni is an ed-tech company that collaborates with institutions to manage enrollments (including all payment services and invoicing), technology, and participant support. 
 

In the Circular Economy course, you will understand the foundations of circular economy and how you can apply it in your organization. Further, you will: 

• Define the different ways of reaching a circular economy through technology and material science and how to quantify circularity. 
• Develop strategies for a more equitable distribution of costs and benefits.
• Determine institutional and economic structures and policies that enable the possibility of a circular economy policy. 
• Explore successful and unsuccessful case studies in sustainability and circular economies. 
• Further apply the importance of recycling plastics and electronics to tackle environmental concerns and e-waste. 
• Gain an understanding of how material transport plays an influential role in sustainability. 
• Study the circular economy lifecycle and apply the best energy alternatives for circular economies. 
• Uncover the importance of co-mingled waste.

Links and Resources

News/Articles:

Why Sustainability is Key to the Future of Professional Education
With tightening environmental regulations in a number of global markets—and with people beginning to experience the impacts of climate change in their everyday lives—sustainability has become a top-of-mind concern for companies across sectors. But many business leaders lack the foundational sustainability-related knowledge needed to drive change within their organizations.

A wide range of professionals may benefit from this program, including: 

• Industry leaders in sustainability, managers and engineers in companies that want to be more sustainable, academics and policy leaders in sustainability 
• Industry analysts and investors 
• Climate Consortium  
• Industries and sectors that are very materials-intensive 
• Managerial level audience (every industry including finance)  
• Major companies in English-speaking, Spanish-speaking, and Portuguese-speaking markets