17
contributions to the local community and environment
after the active mining phase.
Despite the numerous benefits of integrated water
management, smaller mining companies in particular face
considerable challenges in implementing it. This concerns
financial and technical resources as well as regulatory hur-
dles and the need for comprehensive stakeholder coopera-
tion. Policy measures, funding programs, public-private
partnerships and intensive research initiatives are needed to
overcome these obstacles. Interdisciplinary research teams
and pilot projects can help identify best practices and dem-
onstrate long-term economic benefits through improved
water efficiency and avoided environmental penalties.
An adaptive, comprehensive approach to water man-
agement is essential to meet the challenges of climate
change and the increasing demand for critical raw materi-
als. Integrated water management that incorporates tech-
nological innovations and sustainable practices is critical to
the long-term profitability and environmental sustainabil-
ity of the mining industry.
Circularity in the Context of the Blue Mining Approach
The transition to a circular economy, as defined by 58, offers
the mining sector the opportunity to evolve towards a more
sustainable model. By adopting business models that focus
on reducing resource consumption and waste, reusing mate-
rials whenever possible, recycling resources and recovering
materials throughout the production, distribution and
consumption process, mining can contribute to sustain-
able development. This approach not only addresses envi-
ronmental concerns, but also aims to improve economic
prosperity and social equity, benefiting both current and
future generations. Incorporating the circular economy
into mining is therefore an important step towards achiev-
ing environmental quality and aligning the industry with
the broader Sustainable Development Goals 58. The circular
economy and circularity are complementary concepts that
share the goal of sustainability, but operate in different areas
and at different levels of application. In contrast, circularity
focuses specifically on the operational aspects of economic,
technical and environmental systems and the integration of
the 10 Rs of the circular economy at an operational level:
Circular economy in action perse, which is concerned with
recovery, recycling, reuse, remanufacturing, refurbishment,
repair, rewinding, reduction, rethinking and waste along
the entire life cycle of a mine, minimizing inputs, reducing
waste generation and maximizing reuse of circularity, and
optimizing all processes involved in the life of the mining
project 59–61.
Both terms are often used as synonyms, with the cir-
cular economy concept taking a process-oriented approach
rather than focusing on economic factors. In practice, the
application of the 10Rs in mining has led to innovations
such as the use of more efficient extraction techniques that
produce less waste and emissions, the use of waste rock in
construction or the reuse of overburden, the development
of reclamation techniques that ensure the land can return
to a natural or useful state, including the secondary eco-
nomic use of mining infrastructure after mining, or the use
of mining by-products in new industries. In addition, the
BM approach has integrated circularity as one of the criti-
cal aspects to be considered when planning future mines.
Figure 10. Vision of a multi-use mine based on the Blue Mining approach, including the four
aspects of energy, ergonomics, water and circularity
contributions to the local community and environment
after the active mining phase.
Despite the numerous benefits of integrated water
management, smaller mining companies in particular face
considerable challenges in implementing it. This concerns
financial and technical resources as well as regulatory hur-
dles and the need for comprehensive stakeholder coopera-
tion. Policy measures, funding programs, public-private
partnerships and intensive research initiatives are needed to
overcome these obstacles. Interdisciplinary research teams
and pilot projects can help identify best practices and dem-
onstrate long-term economic benefits through improved
water efficiency and avoided environmental penalties.
An adaptive, comprehensive approach to water man-
agement is essential to meet the challenges of climate
change and the increasing demand for critical raw materi-
als. Integrated water management that incorporates tech-
nological innovations and sustainable practices is critical to
the long-term profitability and environmental sustainabil-
ity of the mining industry.
Circularity in the Context of the Blue Mining Approach
The transition to a circular economy, as defined by 58, offers
the mining sector the opportunity to evolve towards a more
sustainable model. By adopting business models that focus
on reducing resource consumption and waste, reusing mate-
rials whenever possible, recycling resources and recovering
materials throughout the production, distribution and
consumption process, mining can contribute to sustain-
able development. This approach not only addresses envi-
ronmental concerns, but also aims to improve economic
prosperity and social equity, benefiting both current and
future generations. Incorporating the circular economy
into mining is therefore an important step towards achiev-
ing environmental quality and aligning the industry with
the broader Sustainable Development Goals 58. The circular
economy and circularity are complementary concepts that
share the goal of sustainability, but operate in different areas
and at different levels of application. In contrast, circularity
focuses specifically on the operational aspects of economic,
technical and environmental systems and the integration of
the 10 Rs of the circular economy at an operational level:
Circular economy in action perse, which is concerned with
recovery, recycling, reuse, remanufacturing, refurbishment,
repair, rewinding, reduction, rethinking and waste along
the entire life cycle of a mine, minimizing inputs, reducing
waste generation and maximizing reuse of circularity, and
optimizing all processes involved in the life of the mining
project 59–61.
Both terms are often used as synonyms, with the cir-
cular economy concept taking a process-oriented approach
rather than focusing on economic factors. In practice, the
application of the 10Rs in mining has led to innovations
such as the use of more efficient extraction techniques that
produce less waste and emissions, the use of waste rock in
construction or the reuse of overburden, the development
of reclamation techniques that ensure the land can return
to a natural or useful state, including the secondary eco-
nomic use of mining infrastructure after mining, or the use
of mining by-products in new industries. In addition, the
BM approach has integrated circularity as one of the criti-
cal aspects to be considered when planning future mines.
Figure 10. Vision of a multi-use mine based on the Blue Mining approach, including the four
aspects of energy, ergonomics, water and circularity