The Circular Economy: The Butterfly Diagram, Systems Theory and the Economic Pluriverse

One of the most significant challenges facing policy makers and business alike is how to integrate sustainability policy and practice across economics, environment and society. The linkages between these arenas are fundamental to determining the direction of change required. The circular economy is seen as a part of the solution in terms of reducing natural and technological source-and-sink concerns, but significant issues arise concerning biological nutrients and with the concepts of resilience, regeneration and restoration, when viewed through the lens of systems theory. Supply chains represent essential elements in this process, having played active roles in shaping environmental and social history. The role of trade in cultural evolution is explored, highlighting socio-economic linkages. Challenges related to the classic butterfly diagram are identified and a further metamorphosis of this analogy is presented. The concept of an economic pluriverse, nested within a social and ecological pluriverse, is developed.