Saudi Arabia, which has traditionally been a leader in this field, is once again paving the path for sustainable development. Their latest effort, “Green Roads,” is a sincere commitment to establishing a greener future through the sustainable development of road infrastructure throughout the country, as announced by The King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST).
The effort centers around the removal of waste from the sides of highways and the employment of creative and novel technologies that allow collected plastic waste to be converted into long-lasting bitumen, also known as asphalt. Tony Chan, President of KAUST, added:
We are proud to have KAUST champion an initiative that helps realize the sustainability goals of both the Kingdom and the United Nations, while engaging and empowering local communities to play their part in the transition from a linear economy to a circular one.
Tony Chan via Zaywa
But, first and foremost, what is a circular economy? It is a type of economics that employs a restorative approach to economic activity, with the goal of eliminating waste through the design of materials, products, and systems. Hence, a circular economy minimizes material consumption and repurposes items to be less resource-intensive.