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Circular EconomyIntermediateFREE COURSE · CERTIFICATE

Circular Economy & Sustainable Materials Management

From take-make-waste to regenerative systems: circular business models, design strategies, waste management and policy.

4.8(96 ratings)
1,120 enrolledUpdated 2026-09
8 weeks 8 modules · 54 lessons ~3 hours of learning English Certificate of completion
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Taught by
Dr. Wanjiru Kamau
Free$49FOREVER
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What You'll Learn

Define the circular economy and distinguish it from the linear and recycling-only economic models.
Describe the three core principles of the circular economy: eliminate waste and pollution, circulate products and materials, and regenerate nature.
Explain the butterfly diagram and the difference between technical and biological material cycles.
Identify at least three global drivers pushing businesses and governments toward circularity (resource scarcity, climate change, e-waste, population growth).
Define Sustainable Materials Management (SMM) and explain how it differs from traditional waste management.
Apply life-cycle thinking to assess environmental and social impacts of materials from extraction to end-of-life.
Conduct a basic material flow analysis (MFA) for a simple product or process.
Identify the environmental, economic, and social costs of unsustainable material use.

About This Course

Circular Economy & Sustainable Materials Management equips learners to rethink how products, materials and value chains work. Eight modules move from the foundations of circularity and life-cycle thinking, through circular business models, the 9R design framework and real waste-management systems, to policy tools like Extended Producer Responsibility — closing with a module on applying circular economy thinking to the built environment. Rich case studies (Fairphone, Philips Pay-per-Lux, Agbogbloshie) and hands-on activities make the concepts concrete.

How it works

  • Enroll free in the Tapi Learn app — no payment, no ads
  • Learn lesson-by-lesson; pass each module quiz (60%) to progress
  • Score 80%+ on the final assessment to earn your certificate

Course Curriculum

8 modules · 54 lessons · ~3h total
What is a Circular Economy? History and definitions
9 min
The Linear Economy and its limits: take-make-waste
3 min
Eliminate Waste and Pollution
2 min
Circulate Products and Materials
2 min
Why now? Global drivers (climate, resources, waste, population)
2 min
Case Study: Fairphone is a Dutch social enterprise founded in 2013 in Amsterdam, b
3 min
Hands-On Activity
2 min

Your Instructor

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Dr. Wanjiru Kamau

Materials Scientist, Circular Design

ACLA Faculty

Materials scientist specializing in circular design, life-cycle thinking and waste-to-value innovation in African industries.

PhD Materials Engineering, TU DelftCircular economy advisor, KAMACLA Faculty

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