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Nanotechnology meets circular economy

Nature Nanotechnology volume 17, pages 682–685 (2022)Cite this article

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The transition from a linear ‘take–make–dispose’ economy to a circular economy is gaining momentum. Although there are many opportunities for using nanotechnology to enable circularity, the knowledge gaps related to (eco-)toxicological hazards and the presence of nanomaterials in waste streams constitute significant challenges.

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Fig. 1: Critical questions to be addressed for nanomaterials in a circular economy from development, over nanoproduct development, to nanoproduct life-cycle management.
Fig. 2: Distribution of products in the Nanodatabase according to categories of non-essential uses proposed by ChemSec.

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Acknowledgements

The financial support from the Mistra Environmental Nanosafety program is gratefully acknowledged.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Environmental and Resource Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark

    Steffen Foss Hansen, Maria Bille Nielsen, Oliver Foss Hessner Hansen, Lauge Peter Westergaard Clausen, Anders Baun & Alessio Boldrin

  2. Division of Environmental Systems Analysis, Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg, Sweden

    Rickard Arvidsson

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  1. Steffen Foss Hansen
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Correspondence to Steffen Foss Hansen.

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Nature Nanotechnology thanks Monica Distaso and Sushanta Mitra for their contribution to the peer review of this work.

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Hansen, S.F., Arvidsson, R., Nielsen, M.B. et al. Nanotechnology meets circular economy. Nat. Nanotechnol. 17, 682–685 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41565-022-01157-6

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