The Role of Circular Economy in Mitigating Climate Change Impacts: Thermal Insulation Materials’ Assessment in Developing Countries

Abstract

AbstractConventional thermal insulation materials in buildings account for large amount of embodied energy and GHG emissions, hence impact climate change. Natural thermal insulation materials, as agricultural waste, and exploiting the concept of circular economy are an optimum solution to reduce energy consumption and carbon emissions. This paper presents a study of thermal insulation materials’ status in developing countries through different examples using insulation. It also highlights the concept of circular economy by assessing the use of natural thermal insulation materials as agricultural waste. Agricultural residues can be exploited to replace conventional thermal insulation materials in buildings. The objective of this work focuses on highlighting the gap in the lack of adaptation of thermal insulation materials in Egyptian projects. An analysis has been conducted to identify, classify, and select the most significant governorates in terms of the largest average crops’ areas that can be utilized as natural thermal insulation materials. The study methodology depends on theoretical and analytical approaches. The study also utilizes the Circular Economy (CE) concept to mitigate the climate change impacts through the proposal of agricultural waste usage instead of conventional thermal insulation materials, followed by the identification of Egypt’s strategic agricultural crops’ areas that can be used in the potential manufacturing of natural thermal insulation materials. Results show that Egypt’s codes for thermal insulation materials are considered theoretical accomplishments; as they are not enforced regarding environmental efficiency that includes adequate thermal insulation materials. The CE is effective in mitigating CO2 emissions by using natural thermal insulation materials represented in agricultural waste in developing countries.KeywordsCircular economyAgricultural wasteThermal insulation materialsCO2 emissions mitigationClimate change