The so-called Butterfly circular economy diagrams represent two separate "wings" for biological and technical cycles. This creates an artificial divide that doesn't exist in reality. In fact, the technical cycle is fundamentally a subset of the broader biological cycle, or biosphere. Here's why:
- Material Origins: All materials used in the technical cycle, whether metals, plastics, or synthetics, ultimately originate from biological sources. Even the most advanced synthetic materials are derived from naturally occurring elements and compounds.
- Energy Dependence: The technical cycle relies entirely on energy sources that are part of the biological cycle. Whether it's fossil fuels (ancient biological matter) or renewable energy (dependent on current biological processes), the technical cycle cannot operate outside the energy flows of the biosphere.
- Waste Assimilation: No matter how efficient the technical cycle becomes, it will always produce some waste that must be assimilated by biological systems. This includes emissions, non-recyclable materials, and the eventual breakdown of technical products.
- Biological Impacts: Every stage of the technical cycle, from resource extraction to manufacturing to disposal, has direct impacts on biological systems. These impacts aren't separate from the biological cycle but are integral to it.
- Biomimicry and Bio-based Solutions: Many innovations in the technical cycle are inspired by or directly use biological processes, further blurring the line between the two "wings."
- Human Factor: Humans, as biological entities, are the drivers and beneficiaries of the technical cycle. Our biological needs and limitations shape the technical cycle in fundamental ways.
By presenting the technical cycle as a separate wing, the Butterfly Diagram may inadvertently reinforce the flawed notion that human technical systems operate independently from natural systems.
In reality, a more accurate representation of this circular economy diagram would show the technical cycle nested within the larger biological cycle, emphasizing our dependence on and responsibility to the biosphere.
This perspective is crucial for developing truly sustainable circular economy practices that recognize the technical cycle's place within, not apart from, the Earth's biological systems.
