Circularity, Resilience and Responsibility: A Moment for Energy Systems

The idea of a circular economy is often presented as an environmental aspiration. Today, it is something more immediate and more strategic. It is about resilience, responsibility and how we design energy systems that can withstand an increasingly uncertain world.

For decades, much of the global economy has operated on a linear model: extract, produce, consume and discard. This approach has delivered scale and affordability, but it has also created vulnerabilities. Recent disruptions in global energy markets have made this clear. Supply chains have been strained, trade routes challenged and dependencies exposed.

Circularity offers a different path. By keeping materials in use for longer, by recovering value from waste and by reducing reliance on primary resources, circular systems can strengthen resilience while also addressing environmental pressures.

But this transition will not happen through industry action alone.

In many cases, circular solutions require new value chains, new infrastructure and new forms of coordination. They may not always be the most economically attractive option in the short term, particularly in energy markets that remain highly price-sensitive. This is where a broader societal responsibility comes into play.

Governments, regulators and international institutions have a critical role in shaping the conditions under which circularity can develop. Policy frameworks need to recognise not only emissions reductions, but also the value of resilience, diversification and resource efficiency. Without this, investments in circular systems will remain constrained.

Within the energy sector, Liquid Gas provides a clear illustration of both the opportunity and the challenge.

Liquid Gas, through the global LPG industry, is already part of a resilient global system, with diverse sources of supply, flexible trade flows and established infrastructure. Increasingly, it is also part of a circular system through the development of renewable and recycled-carbon Liquid Gas, or rLG.

rLG is produced from renewable and waste-based feedstocks, including agricultural residues, industrial by-products and biogases. In doing so, it captures value from materials that would otherwise be discarded. It is chemically identical to conventional LPG so can be used within existing infrastructure, making it a practical and immediate pathway to lower emissions.

This is circularity in action. Waste is transformed into energy. By-products become resources. Systems become more efficient and, importantly, more resilient.

Yet the scaling of rLG, and circular energy solutions more broadly, depends on factors that extend beyond the control of industry.

Access to sustainable feedstocks is one example. As demand grows across multiple sectors, from transport to aviation, competition for these resources is intensifying. Ensuring that feedstocks are available, sustainably sourced and transparently verified requires coordinated frameworks, clear standards and effective oversight.

Infrastructure is another. Circular systems often rely on the ability to collect, process and redistribute materials at scale. This requires investment, planning and, in many cases, public-private collaboration.

There is also a need for policy recognition. Too often, energy discussions focus narrowly on specific sectors or technologies. Circular fuels that can serve multiple applications, including heating, cooking and industry, are not always fully reflected in policy design. This can limit their development, despite their potential to contribute to both emissions reduction and energy security.

Finally, there is a role for civil society and the broader public conversation. Circularity requires a shift in how value is understood. It is not only about lowest cost, but about long-term sustainability, reduced waste and stronger, more resilient systems. Building this understanding is essential to support the transition.

For the Liquid Gas industry, the opportunity is clear. Circular solutions such as rLG can contribute to more sustainable and more resilient energy systems. They can extend the value of existing infrastructure, support energy access and reduce environmental impact.

But realising this potential requires alignment across the system.

It requires governments to create enabling frameworks, international organisations to recognise the full role of circular fuels and markets that value resilience alongside cost.

In a world defined by uncertainty and change, this alignment is not just desirable, it is essential.

James Rockall
Managing Director and CEO
World Liquid Gas Association