The Connection of the Methanol Economy to the Concept of the Circular Economy and Its Impact on Sustainability

Abstract The idea of the circular economy is gaining ground as one of the means to realize a sustainable future. The concept of a circular economy is an innovative alternative model to society‘s current “linear” mode of operation. An alternative to fossil fuels is a cycle in which carbon and methanol play a major role. Carbon use plays a major role in mitigating global climate change, while methanol as a renewable fuel can also mitigate the negative e~ects of climate change and bridge the problems of scarcity of ecosystem resources and rising levels of consumption. Despite the fact that a circular economy reduces the environmental burden while providing business bene˚ts, not all circular solutions have a positive impact on sustainability. The use of CO2 as a feedstock can be a very e~ective tool for reducing global carbon dioxide concentration as well as reducing dependence on fossil fuels. At the same time, the environmental impacts of the technologies developed need to be accounted for in order to highlight that the technology pathway actually contributes to the sustainability goals.