Abstract
Current management of mining waste is based on linear economy thinking. However, the use of mining waste as a raw material resource can be one solution to the limited metal supply. The objective of this study was to fill in the knowledge gaps of business opportunities, drivers, needs and barriers for tailings valorization, since the transformation towards a circular economy needs advancements in understanding these factors. Based on a workshop and theme interviews, the utilization of tailings in the mining industry is currently in its infancy, but there is clear raw material potential for the future. The handling of sidestreams at mine sites depends on mine lifecycle. The identified opportunities and drivers were categorized under the circular economy mindset, technological, environmental, institutional and economic drivers. The needs were new value chains, technology development, the decrease in the amount of waste, stability, taxation, and predictability of regulation. Challenges and bottlenecks were categorized under new value chains, technological, environmental, institutional, economic and knowledge bottlenecks. The identified needs and barriers need to be properly addressed to speed up the transformation towards the circular economy in the mining industry.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 153-160 |
| Number of pages | 8 |
| Journal | Journal of Cleaner Production |
| Volume | 228 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | E-pub ahead of print - 16 Apr 2019 |
| MoE publication type | A1 Journal article-refereed |
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Keywords
- Circular economy
- Mining
- Tailings
- Valorization
- Waste
Cite this
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Towards circular economy in mining : Opportunities and bottlenecks for tailings valorization. / Kinnunen, Päivi H.M. (Corresponding Author); Kaksonen, Anna H.
In: Journal of Cleaner Production, Vol. 228, 16.04.2019, p. 153-160.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Scientific › peer-review
TY - JOUR
T1 - Towards circular economy in mining
T2 - Opportunities and bottlenecks for tailings valorization
AU - Kinnunen, Päivi H.M.
AU - Kaksonen, Anna H.
PY - 2019/4/16
Y1 - 2019/4/16
N2 - Current management of mining waste is based on linear economy thinking. However, the use of mining waste as a raw material resource can be one solution to the limited metal supply. The objective of this study was to fill in the knowledge gaps of business opportunities, drivers, needs and barriers for tailings valorization, since the transformation towards a circular economy needs advancements in understanding these factors. Based on a workshop and theme interviews, the utilization of tailings in the mining industry is currently in its infancy, but there is clear raw material potential for the future. The handling of sidestreams at mine sites depends on mine lifecycle. The identified opportunities and drivers were categorized under the circular economy mindset, technological, environmental, institutional and economic drivers. The needs were new value chains, technology development, the decrease in the amount of waste, stability, taxation, and predictability of regulation. Challenges and bottlenecks were categorized under new value chains, technological, environmental, institutional, economic and knowledge bottlenecks. The identified needs and barriers need to be properly addressed to speed up the transformation towards the circular economy in the mining industry.
AB - Current management of mining waste is based on linear economy thinking. However, the use of mining waste as a raw material resource can be one solution to the limited metal supply. The objective of this study was to fill in the knowledge gaps of business opportunities, drivers, needs and barriers for tailings valorization, since the transformation towards a circular economy needs advancements in understanding these factors. Based on a workshop and theme interviews, the utilization of tailings in the mining industry is currently in its infancy, but there is clear raw material potential for the future. The handling of sidestreams at mine sites depends on mine lifecycle. The identified opportunities and drivers were categorized under the circular economy mindset, technological, environmental, institutional and economic drivers. The needs were new value chains, technology development, the decrease in the amount of waste, stability, taxation, and predictability of regulation. Challenges and bottlenecks were categorized under new value chains, technological, environmental, institutional, economic and knowledge bottlenecks. The identified needs and barriers need to be properly addressed to speed up the transformation towards the circular economy in the mining industry.
KW - Circular economy
KW - Mining
KW - Tailings
KW - Valorization
KW - Waste
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85065083131&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.jclepro.2019.04.171
DO - 10.1016/j.jclepro.2019.04.171
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85065083131
VL - 228
SP - 153
EP - 160
JO - Journal of Cleaner Production
JF - Journal of Cleaner Production
SN - 0959-6526
ER -