The circular economy and space travel? At first glance, news that SpaceX has successfully launched and recovered its Falcon 9 rocket may not seem that relevant a topic for a sustainability blog. But on closer inspection you may just agree with me that reusable rockets are, if not an important component of a circular economy, prominently demonstrate what can be achieved. In fact, SpaceX report that they have saved more than 90% of the cost of a mission by ‘closing the loop’ and abandoning single-use launchers.

A Falcon 9 rocket costs $16m whereas the fuel costs a relatively paltry $200,000.

Unfortunately, Falcon 9 uses fossil fuels as a propellant but, as I previously found out while undertaking research for a European satellite company, rockets can be powered by liquid hydrogen produced from water using renewable energy. So, in theory at least, even space travel could be far more sustainable.

The progress made with Falcon 9 is surely encouraging to all of us facing up to the many challenges of delivering a more circular economy.  What could be more difficult than designing an efficient system to launch several hundred tonnes of metal into space and then safely recovering it? It even took SpaceX several attempts to get it right!

Seeing what SpaceX have achieved, I am reminded of the guiding principles of ‘natural capitalism’ which I have used many times to help clients re-vision their products and supply chain, unlocking new thinking and disruptive innovation. These can just as easily be applied to cars as rockets and remain goals to strive for to help achieve a circular economy:

• Radical resource productivity – try to do more with less. We need a factor 10 improvement in the efficiency with which we use resources. That means aiming to reduce resource use by 90%.
• Shift to biologically inspired business models – nature never wastes anything. Biomimicry is the model for closed loop thinking and zero waste.
• Move to a service-based economy - stop selling ‘stuff’, instead reinvent your business model to sell value through services.
• Reinvest in natural capital – all business relies on the continued health of planetary ecosystem. Securing these is fundamental to our economy and society.

And if the space industry can embrace the circular economy – how difficult could it be for the rest of us. Afterall, it isn't rocket science!

Craig Simmons is Anthesis' Chief Technical Advisor and is based in Oxford. Craig can be contacted via: craig.simmons@anthesisgroup.com.