Kolcykeln

Kolcykeln is a conceptual framework used to describe cyclical flows of materials and energy within an industrial system. It emphasizes the loop from raw material extraction through processing, use, and end-of-life management, where products are reclaimed and reintegrated as inputs. The concept is used in sustainability and circular economy discourse, particularly in Swedish- and Nordic-language literature.

The core idea is to map material and energy stocks and their transformation processes to close the loop. A Kolcykel may include stages such as supply, manufacturing, distribution, use, collection, sorting, recycling or reuse, and remanufacturing. It highlights feedbacks between stages, reduction of losses, and the role of design in enabling efficient recovery.

The term is adaptable to different scales, from single product lifecycles to city-wide or regional systems. It can encompass various material types, including metals, plastics, and nutrients, and can integrate energy flows alongside material flows. In practice, Kolcykeln is used with tools such as material flow analysis and life-cycle assessment.

In policy and industry, Kolcykeln informs strategies for resource efficiency, extended producer responsibility, and recycling infrastructure. Proponents argue it supports decoupling economic activity from virgin resource use, while critics note challenges in data availability, allocation, and the risk of oversimplification.

Etymology notes that kol means cycle in several Nordic languages and that the suffix -cykeln reflects a cycle. The term is sometimes used interchangeably with circular economy concepts, though Kolcykeln specifically foregrounds the cyclical loops of material and energy.