Simplified Circular Economy Indicator for Mining Operations: A Case in the Chilean Mining Industry

Abstract

The circular economy is becoming increasingly important in mining operations as the industry faces pressure to become more sustainable and responsible. This article proposes a circularity indicator to solve the problem of comparing mining operations over time. This indicator considers total production, CO2 emissions, water consumption, and total energy used in production. The model responds to the industry's need to find indicators that are more adjusted to the data and less dependent on opinions. Results indicate that this indicator is relatively easy to implement and is demonstrated by comparing three mining plants over three years, evidencing the possibility of direct comparisons, and establishing the temporal progression of each mining plant.