Making Natural Resources More Productive and Sustainable: Key Ideas from the Webinar
- The GFCC
- Sep 4
- 3 min read
Updated: Sep 9
Natural resources are the backbone of everyday life and a vital supply for industries worldwide. From energy and manufacturing to technology and agriculture, these critical assets shape global competitiveness strategies and policies.
Their importance has never been greater, as nations and the tech industry race to secure access to critical minerals and other resources essential for innovation, sustainable growth, and economic security. According to the United Nations Environment Programme, global material extraction rose from 30 billion tons in 1970 to 106.6 billion tons in 2024.
It has become unsustainable to fuel economic models through resource extraction alone. First, because these resources are scarce and limited — if extraction-only practices continue, they may one day be depleted. Second, because new extraction sites often create social and environmental impacts that harm the planet and damage ecosystems.
On August 20, the GFCC invited Prof. Ken Sloan, Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive Officer at Harper Adams University, and Daniel Litvin, CEO & Founder of Resource Resolutions, for a conversation about boosting productivity and regenerating natural resources. GFCC Chairman Chad Holliday moderated the discussion. This topic was previously highlighted as a strategic Action Area in the 2024 Call to Action: Achieving a Sustainable Future for All.
"The whole world is still looking for ways to keep economies growing, but what we're trying to do is shift from an old model — where we simply consume, create waste, and allow consequences to happen to our biosphere — to a new model that finds ways to reuse, repurpose, and scale existing resources and systems," explains Prof. Sloan.
During the webinar, the GFCC released a new paper written in partnership with Harper Adams University, surveying strategies and providing actionable recommendations to improve natural resource productivity.
“Dispute over natural resources are going to get worse for a while before they get better. Demand for many of these resources, especially critical minerals, continues to rise, intersecting with geopolitical divisions, social polarization, and ideological differences", argues Mr. Daniel Litvin.
Below, you will find four ideas to help tackle this challenge now:
Shit Mindset to Incorporate Circular Models
The circular economy is transforming how industries use resources. In construction, materials are no longer simply discarded — they are reused and repurposed to extend the life of the built environment. In the food system, byproducts are redirected back into feed and soil, closing the loop and reducing waste. Investing in circularity maximizes resource efficiency, cuts costs, and promotes sustainable growth across sectors.
Update Metrics to Capture Impact Across the Whole Value Chain
Traditional sustainability metrics that measure only carbon per kilogram tell just part of the story. To truly advance sustainable systems, we must adopt metrics that account for the entire value chain, assessing the product's economic use and environmental impacts. By updating metrics to reflect value in circular models, industries and governments can make more informed decisions and accelerate global collaboration for sustainable growth.
Engage Soft Power Over Hard Power to Solve Conflict
Conflicts over natural resources often stem from social divisions, polarization, and a lack of trust between project developers and local communities. The lesson from decades of global experience is clear: soft power works better than hard power. Building long-term partnerships, fostering dialogue, engaging in joint fact-finding, and ensuring tangible local and national benefits deliver more sustainable and secure access to resources than top-down deals imposed without community support and stakeholder engagement.
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