A review of circular economy approaches in the mining sector of the Democratic Republic of Congo for responsible resource exploitation and sustainable development

In the face of escalating climate change concerns and the global push for greener technology, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) emerges as a pivotal player in the transition to a sustainable future. Renowned as a leading producer of cobalt and the second-largest producer of copper globally in 2023, the DRC boasts a wealth of mineral resources. The DRC, one of the 5 countries with the most natural resources in the world, continues to face sustainability issues in the exploitation of its resources, particularly mines. This study aims to assess the opportunities and benefits but also the challenges and barriers of adopting a circular economy (CE), an economic model not addressed in the DRC but which presents practices that can mitigate the problems currently observed in the country’s mining sector. The adoption of a CE would increase mining revenues through the exploitation of mining waste but also the reduction of dependence on raw materials, which is a gain for the environment. The CE and circular societies have the potential to unlock economic, environmental, and social value futures. This adoption would also be the basis for job creation. Several obstacles are technological, social, governmental, and even legislative. The successful adoption of the CE in the mining sector of the DRC requires practices that involve regulation, institutions, and financing. Nonetheless, we advocate for the continuation of implementation studies across the various mineral exploitation sectors in the DRC, a country characterized by extensive geological diversity.