Circular Economy in Basic Supply: Framing the Approach for the Water and Food Sectors of the Gulf Cooperation Council Countries

The circular economy concept can enhance sustainability through restructuring consumption and production patterns using innovative designs and business models. This core premise is highly relevant for the interlinked water and food supply sectors in arid regions, which are threatened by natural scarcity and resource overuse. This paper transfers the idea of the circular economy into the practice of the water and food sectors using the example of the region of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). It develops a framework for identifying circular economy strategies and issues applicable to basic supply sectors. In analyzing the value chain and circular strategies of the water and food sectors, the circular economy idea has resulted in numerous industrial applications. The range of applications is illustrated in the key industries of wastewater and local food production. Expanding the reuse options for municipal wastewater and valorizing organic waste represent important circular economy directions for the basic supply sector of the GCC. Incorporating these ideas is positive, but a more comprehensive set of measures is needed to generate low-carbon and low-metabolism economic development in the region. In addition to the current sporadic supply-side initiatives, there is a need for non-technical circular economy strategies related to demand management and waste reduction. (C) 2021 Institution of Chemical Engineers. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

The concept of circular economy is crucial for water and food supply sectors in arid regions, restructuring consumption and production patterns for sustainability through innovative designs and business models. Industrial applications of circular economy ideas in key industries such as wastewater and local food production are expanding, with a focus on municipal wastewater reuse and organic waste valorization for the basic supply sector of the GCC. Comprehensive measures beyond sporadic supply-side initiatives are needed to achieve low-carbon and low-metabolism economic development in the region, including non-technical circular economy strategies related to demand management and waste reduction.