From the circular economy to a green economy. Note 1. Chitin Nanofibrils as natural by-products to manage the human and environment ecosystems

Abstract

The transition to a high level of human development has created a negative ecological footprint, putting a disproportionate burden on the environment. Thus the necessity for increasing the resource efficiency, minimizing both harmful greenhouse gas emissions and waste material, to transform the actual circular economy to a green economy with waste near to zero. The transition to a green economy could reduce the risks of global climate changes and ameliorate the energy security, because of its capacity to use in a better way both natural resources and waste materials. The annual cost in natural capital degradation, in fact, is estimated at US$ 7.3 trillion, almost six time the cost of greening the economy, while ~2 billion tons of wasted food is produced on the planet together with 50 million tons of electrical waste. Therefore, the necessity to change our way of living is a must of our society. Among the use of industrial by-products, a major use of raw materials, as chitin nanofibrils obtained from crustaceans waste, will certainly contribute to accelerate the passage from a circular economy to a green economy, safeguarding the planet biodiversity also. Data and examples of this use will be reported.