The energy transition presents a pressing challenge for extractive economies: how to source critical minerals without breaching ecosystems’ biophysical limits or undermining local economic practices rooted in traditional knowledge and sustainable environmental use. This proposal advocates for integrating circular economy principles into mining processes and the value chains of transition minerals. By aligning extractive activities with ecosystem management, we can ensure the viability of diverse economic trajectories while safeguarding ecosystem functions.

Central to this approach are the issues of water use and carbon emissions, as the current extractivist model—driven by rising mineral demand—intensifies resource depletion, pollution, and land use changes. This threatens the survival of non-metallic economic practices that preserve biodiversity and cultural heritage. A circular economy framework offers an opportunity to harmonize ecological preservation with economic goals, promoting sustainable, equitable development in regions facing these pressures.