1827 Circular economy in mining is an approach that seeks to transform the life cycle of minerals—from extraction to disposal—into a more sustainable process. The focus is on reducing, reusing, and optimizing mineral resources and reserves, promoting the longevity of these finite resources. Ken Webster (2017), a pioneer in the theory, defines circular economy as “the possibilities of abundance, of meeting people’s needs by eliminating waste and recreating the kind of elegant abundance so evident in living systems”. According to ISO 59004:2024 standard, circular economy is described as an economic system based on the strategic use of resources, where materials are continuously recovered, retained, or valorized to ensure their permanence in the production cycle. The International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM) highlights circular economy as a system that maximizes the value of materials and products throughout their life cycle, minimizing environmental impacts, reducing waste, and restricting harmful emissions. In Brazil, Decree No. 12,082 of June 27, 2024, establishes the National Circular Economy Strategy, defining it as a model of production and consumption that seeks to preserve resources within the economic system for as long as possible, including mining resources. The mining industry is one of the main economic sectors of Brazil, specifically for iron ore extraction. As one of the world’s largest producers and exporters of iron ore, Brazil is a key supplier to steelmakers across Asia, Europe, and the Americas. The history of iron ore in Brazil is intertwined with the very history of the country and saw significant development in the 1940s with the creation of a state mining company, the then Companhia Vale do Rio Doce in Itabira city, Minas Gerais state. In the years that followed, several mines were opened in the Quadrilátero Ferrífero (Minas Gerais state) and Carajás (Pará state), and the production always sought highgrade ores. The plants operated with wet processing, which generated tailings, and consequently, several dams were built to contain these. Lower-grade ores were also deposited in waste rock piles. In the following decades, the company was privatized and renamed Vale S.A., who has invested in optimizing several plants, and with this, a new window of opportunity has emerged: recover tailings, iron ore waste piles and development of byproducts. Since 2023, more than 150 initiatives were assessed for potential reuse. In an era where society, markets, and environmental concerns demand sustainable solutions, Circular Mining has become a fundamental pillar of Vale’s strategy. 2. MATERIALS AND METHODS 2.1 Program Design Prior to the establishment of the program, circularity initiatives and projects were already present within the company, albeit dispersed across multiple areas and operational units. To optimize efforts, enhance value capture, and strengthen visibility among senior leadership and stakeholders, the Circular Mining Program was formally instituted in 2024 and developed in six stages (Figure 1). Figure 1 – Strategic planning process framework. To examine both internal and external perceptions of circularity in the mining sector, structured interviews were conducted with corporate executives, complemented by benchmarking against peer institutions and industry actors. Subsequently, workshops were organized to establish consensus regarding strategic vision, ambition, value creation potential, governance structures, and change management
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