Certificate Programme on Enacting a Circular Economy: AI-Powered Innovations for Sustainability
This course is structured into five modules, each covering key aspects of the circular economy and the role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in advancing circular practices.
Foundations of the Circular Economy
Duration: 6 Hours
- Objective: Understand the principles, policies, and need for a circular economy.
- Topics Covered:
• Introduction to Circular Economy (CE) vs. Linear Economy.
• Principles: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Recover, and Regenerate.
• Policy and Regulatory Frameworks (EU Green Deal, India's CE Policy, UN SDGs).
• Business Case for CE: Benefits for Industries & Governments.
• Real-World Case Studies: Successful Circular Models (e.g., IKEA, Patagonia). - AI in Circular Economy:
• AI for Material Flow Analysis & Circular Supply Chains.
• Case Example: Predictive analytics for waste reduction. - Hands-on Session:
• Circular Economy Mapping Tool using AI-based simulations.
Circular Design and Sustainable Materials
Duration: 6 Hours
- Objective: Explore sustainable materials and AI-driven eco-design.
- Topics Covered:
• Eco-Design & Life Cycle Thinking
o AI-powered design for product longevity
o Digital Twin Technology in product development
• Sustainable Material Innovations
o Biodegradable & Recyclable materials
o AI-driven material optimization & selection
• Smart Manufacturing & AI Integration
o 3D Printing & AI for material efficiency
o Role of Generative AI in eco-design - Hands-on Session:
• AI-driven Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) for product sustainability
AI-Driven Waste Management and Reverse Logistics
Duration: 6 Hours
- Objective: Learn AI applications in waste management & circular supply chains.
- Topics Covered:
• Smart Waste Management
o AI-based sorting & waste classification systems
o Blockchain for waste tracking & transparency
• Reverse Logistics & Product Recovery
o AI-powered demand forecasting for remanufacturing
o Automated waste collection & sorting
• Waste-to-Energy Innovations
o AI models for efficient energy recovery from waste
Hands-on Session:
• AI-powered waste stream analytics using Python.
Business Models & AI-Powered Circular Economy
Duration: 6 Hours
- Objective: Understand sustainable business models & AI-driven innovations.
- Topics Covered:
• Circular Business Models
o Product-as-a-Service (PaaS)
o Sharing Economy & AI-powered Platforms (e.g., Uber, Airbnb)
• AI for Sustainable Finance & Carbon Tracking
o AI-based ESG reporting tools
o Climate risk assessments using AI
• Digital Marketplaces & AI
o AI-powered material exchange platforms
o B2B platforms for recycled materials
Hands-on Session:
• Build an AI-powered circular business model canvas
Circular Cities and Policy Implementation
Duration: 6 Hours
- Objective: Explore AI-driven urban sustainability & policy strategies.
- Topics Covered:
• Circular Cities: AI for Urban Sustainability
o Smart Grids & AI-based energy efficiency solutions
o AI-driven water management systems
• Policy & Governance for CE
o AI-driven policy simulations for circular economy
o Public-private partnerships in CE transition
• Ethical AI & Circular Economy Risks
o AI ethics in sustainable development
o Bias in AI-driven waste management models
Hands-on Session:
• AI-based Circular City Simulation Model
