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The first phase of waste management was characterized by garbage disposal in dumps and its environmental remediation. The next phase was marked by recycling emergence, and, in the third phase, it was presented the specific recycling for higher added value materials. Circular Economy corresponds to the fourth phase of waste management. The Circular Economy policies have become a worldwide trend and promote the materials use maximization, aiming to reduce the unrestrained natural resources extraction, prolonging the devices’ useful life, avoiding programmed obsolescence, and reducing, as much as possible, the landfills waste final deposition. These policies are expected to reduce the mineral commodities consumption, and this can seriously impact producing markets. In this scenario, mineral nanotechnology appears as an alternative for materials supply in accordance with new sustainability policies. This paper presents the evolution of the Circular Economy concept and defines mineral nanotechnology as an important raw material resource for efficient and durable device manufacture, which generates less waste in its production processes and can be reintegrated into the materials chain after losing its original function. |
