Circular Economy Education Approaches to Water Use in the Industrial Sector

Anupam Khajuria^1*Ritika Rajput¹Jian Pu²

• ¹United Nations University, Tokyo, Japan
• ²Toyo University, Tokyo, Japan

As global industrial waste demands rise alongside increasing water scarcity, there is an urgent need to adopt circular economy principles within industrial water management, which becomes increasingly crucial. This paper explores the intersection of circular economy education and industrial water use. It examines patterns of industrial water consumption and the challenges faced, highlighting how circular economy strategies can transform traditional linear water management models. Through case studies and best practices, this research illustrates successful implementations of circular water economy principles, demonstrates the implementation of closed-loop water systems, cascading reuse and zero liquid discharge technologies can reduce freshwater intake in industrial applications and emphasises the role of public-private partnerships in promoting water reuse projects. The paper also addresses the challenges and barriers to implementation, focusing on regulatory issues, resource limitations, and gaps in awareness. This paper concludes by proposing future directions for integrating circular economy principles into industrial water management and offers policy recommendations to foster circular water economy education. This research contributes qualitative analysis to the growing body of knowledge on sustainable water management practices and provides valuable insights for policymakers and industry professionals seeking to advance circular economy approaches in industrial water use.