scholarly journals CO-CREATING SYSTEMIC CHANGES FOR A CIRCULAR ECONOMY IN/UNDER CONSTRUCTION, PRELIMINARY LESSONS FROM THE FLEMISH LIVING LAB ON CIRCULAR CONSTRUCTION

2021 ◽  
Vol 855 (1) ◽  
pp. 012012
Author(s):  
Waldo Galle ◽  
Wim Debacker ◽  
Yves De Weerdt
Keyword(s):  
Circular Economy ◽  
System Analysis ◽  
System Modelling ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Value Network ◽  
Living Lab ◽  
New Knowledge ◽  
Under Construction ◽  
Important System ◽  
Current Practices

Abstract Like any persistent challenge, the transition from a linear to a circular construction economy requires systemic changes. To divert from current practices that maintain the take-make-waste logic, we need new ways of doing and thinking within the value network of construction. In search for those enduring changes, a compass group advises the Flemish Living Lab on Circular Construction. This lab is a three-and-a-half-year project of study and experiment initiated by policy. During four participatory workshops, the compass group identified the most important system hurdles and necessary changes for achieving a circular construction economy, through subsequent steps of system analysis, translation and reflection. These outcomes have been synthesized and validated during the last workshop and are presented in this paper as a preliminary outcome of lab. Further, by bringing together forerunners of construction and co-creating together new knowledge, it is demonstrated how a well-guided compass group allows to bring into practice ‘participatory system modelling’. By consequently translating the resulting insights into the requirements for a targeted call for experiments, it is finally shown that this co-created knowledge has been ‘actionable’ for the policy makers of Circular Flanders, and triggered dozens of partnerships to submit an experiment.

scholarly journals Living lab on sharing and circular economy: The case of Turin

2021 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 146045822098727
Author(s):  
Federico Cuomo ◽  
Nadia Lambiase ◽  
Antonio Castagna
Keyword(s):  
Circular Economy ◽  
Common Ground ◽  
Swot Analysis ◽  
Research Question ◽  
Environmental Benefits ◽  
Production Cycle ◽  
Living Lab ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
Living Labs ◽  
Past Experiences

Cities with their innovative capacity are key places to address critical climate, environmental and health challenges. Urban experimentations, such as Living Labs, can represent a starting point to reintroduce resources into the production cycle and reduce environmental impacts, embracing the paradigm of the circular economy (CE). According to recent studies, Living Labs at a city scale could generate significant environmental benefits, improvements in quality of life and positive impacts on citizens’ health.1 This paper aims at presenting the case of the Torino Living Lab on Sharing and Circular Economy (LLSC) to point out possible future scenarios of urban sustainable policies. The case study is analysed in five sections: (1) the description of the new permanent laboratory proposed by the City of Turin; (2) the past experiences of Living Labs in Turin; (3) the birth of LLSC and the involvement strategy; (4) the introduction of the eight admitted experimentations. In the light of the results collected, the last paragraph (5) came up with the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Treaths (SWOT) analysis in the LLSC. Eventually, it deals with the research question by offering a common ground for global and local policies focused on sustainability and CE.

scholarly journals Environmental Consequences of Closing the Textile Loop—Life Cycle Assessment of a Circular Polyester Jacket

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 2964
Author(s):  
Gregor Braun ◽  
Claudia Som ◽  
Mélanie Schmutz ◽  
Roland Hischier
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle Assessment ◽  
Life Cycle ◽  
Environmental Impacts ◽  
Circular Economy ◽  
Textile Industry ◽  
System Analysis ◽  
Action Plan ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Environmental Consequences ◽  
Energy And Material Flows

The textile industry is recognized as being one of the most polluting industries. Thus, the European Union aims to transform the textile industry with its “European Green Deal” and “Circular Economy Action Plan”. Awareness regarding the environmental impact of textiles is increasing and initiatives are appearing to make more sustainable products with a strong wish to move towards a circular economy. One of these initiatives is wear2wearTM, a collaboration consisting of multiple companies aiming to close the loop for polyester textiles. However, designing a circular product system does not lead automatically to lower environmental impacts. Therefore, a Life Cycle Assessment study has been conducted in order to compare the environmental impacts of a circular with a linear workwear jacket. The results show that a thoughtful “circular economy system” design approach can result in significantly lower environmental impacts than linear product systems. The study illustrates at the same time the necessity for Life Cycle Assessment practitioners to go beyond a simple comparison of one product to another when it comes to circular economy. Such products require a wider system analysis approach that takes into account multiple loops, having interconnected energy and material flows through reuse, remanufacture, and various recycling practices.

scholarly journals System Modelling and Analysis to Support Economic Assessment of Product-Service Systems

Systems ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 6
Author(s):  
Khaled Medini ◽  
Sophie Peillon ◽  
Martha Orellano ◽  
Stefan Wiesner ◽  
Ang Liu
Keyword(s):  
Business Models ◽  
Economic Assessment ◽  
Service Industries ◽  
Service Systems ◽  
System Modelling ◽  
Value Network ◽  
A Value ◽  
Product Service ◽  
Industrial Cleaning ◽  
Product Service Systems

The evolution towards more customer-centric operations within manufacturing and service industries gave rise to novel ways of value creation and delivery such as Product–Service Systems (PSS). PSS integrate tangible and intangible elements to create new values for both customers and providers. Therefore, a close collaboration is required among various actors in a value network to co-create values towards win–win gains. For companies to keep up with this pace, new decision support tools are needed to accompany PSS engineering and to adjust business models. This need is confronted with the scarcity of PSS-oriented economic assessment models and methods. This paper presents a comprehensive framework for the economic assessment of PSS. The framework relies on a novel combination of system modelling and analysis approaches to enable cost and revenue attribution to different actors in a value network. The applicability and relevance of the framework are demonstrated through a case study in the industrial cleaning sector.

Agents in bioinformatics

2005 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 117-125 ◽  
Author(s):  
MICHAEL LUCK ◽  
EMANUELA MERELLI
Keyword(s):  
Data Analysis ◽  
Simulation Models ◽  
Biological Data ◽  
System Modelling ◽  
Agent Based Simulation ◽  
Huge Amount ◽  
Agent Based ◽  
Information Agents ◽  
New Knowledge ◽  
Definition Of

The scope of the Technical Forum Group (TFG) on Agents in Bioinformatics (BIOAGENTS) was to inspire collaboration between the agent and bioinformatics communities with the aim of creating an opportunity to propose a different (agent-based) approach to the development of computational frameworks both for data analysis in bioinformatics and for system modelling in computational biology. During the day, the participants examined the future of research on agents in bioinformatics primarily through 12 invited talks selected to cover the most relevant topics. From the discussions, it became clear that there are many perspectives to the field, ranging from bio-conceptual languages for agent-based simulation, to the definition of bio-ontology-based declarative languages for use by information agents, and to the use of Grid agents, each of which requires further exploration. The interactions between participants encouraged the development of applications that describe a way of creating agent-based simulation models of biological systems, starting from an hypothesis and inferring new knowledge (or relations) by mining and analysing the huge amount of public biological data. In this report we summarize and reflect on the presentations and discussions.

Development of a sliding-leg tripod as an add-on device for manufacturing

Robotica ◽  
2001 ◽  
Vol 19 (3) ◽  
pp. 285-294 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fengfeng Xi ◽  
Wanzhi Han ◽  
Marcel Verner ◽  
Andrew Ross
Keyword(s):  
Laser Scanning ◽  
System Analysis ◽  
System Modeling ◽  
Kinematic Model ◽  
Joint Space ◽  
Cnc Machine Tools ◽  
System Control ◽  
System Modelling ◽  
Cnc Machine ◽  
Analysis System

This paper presents the work on developing a sliding-leg tripod as a programmable add-on device for manufacturing. The purpose is to enhance the capabilities of any machine by providing it with a more flexible range of motion. This device can be used as a toolhead for CNC machine tools and robots, or as a work stage for coordinate measuring machines and laser scanning systems. In this paper, system modelling, analysis and control of this device is presented. System modeling includes mobility study, kinematic model and inverse kinematics. System analysis includes workspace analysis, transmission ratio and stiffness analysis. System control includes path planning, joint space control and Cartesian space prediction. It is shown that the proposed device can provide flexibility and dexterity to machines.

scholarly journals Role of the national energy system modelling in the process of the policy development

2012 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. 703-715 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matevz Pusnik ◽  
Boris Sucic ◽  
Andreja Urbancic ◽  
Stane Merse
Keyword(s):  
System Analysis ◽  
Renewable Energy Sources ◽  
Research Work ◽  
Calculated Data ◽  
Energy Systems ◽  
Energy System ◽  
Alternative Possibilities ◽  
System Modelling ◽  
Small Energy ◽  
New Approach

Strategic planning and decision making, nonetheless making energy policies and strategies, is very extensive process and has to follow multiple and often contradictory objectives. During the preparation of the new Slovenian Energy Programme proposal, complete update of the technology and sector oriented bottom up model of Reference Energy and Environmental System of Slovenia (REES-SLO) has been done. During the redevelopment of the REES-SLO model trade-off between the simulation and optimisation approach has been done, favouring presentation of relations between controls and their effects rather than the elusive optimality of results which can be misleading for small energy systems. Scenario-based planning was integrated into the MESAP (Modular Energy System Analysis and Planning) environment, allowing integration of past, present and planned (calculated) data in a comprehensive overall system. Within the paper, the main technical, economic and environmental characteristics of the Slovenian energy system model REES-SLO are described. This paper presents a new approach in modelling relatively small energy systems which goes beyond investment in particular technologies or categories of technology and allows smooth transition to low carbon economy. Presented research work confirms that transition from environment unfriendly fossil fuelled economy to sustainable and climate friendly development requires a new approach, which must be based on excellent knowledge of alternative possibilities of development and especially awareness about new opportunities in exploitation of energy efficiency and renewable energy sources.

scholarly journals Towards a Circular Economy: Using Stakeholder Subjectivity to Identify Priorities, Consensus, and Conflict in the Irish EPS/XPS Market

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (23) ◽  
pp. 6834
Author(s):  
Jeffrey E Black ◽  
Kathrin Kopke ◽  
Cathal O’Mahony
Keyword(s):  
Circular Economy ◽  
Q Methodology ◽  
Action Plan ◽  
Expanded Polystyrene ◽  
Decision Makers ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Marine Litter ◽  
Policy Interventions ◽  
Single Use ◽  
Industry Policy

In European Seas, plastic litter from fishing activities, river transport, and poor waste management is one of the fastest growing threats to the health of the marine environment. Extruded polystyrene (XPS) and expanded polystyrene (EPS), specifically, have become some of the most prominent types of marine litter found around Europe’s coastlines. To combat this problem, the European Commission has ratified a series of regulations and policies, including the Single-Use Plastics Directive and the EU Action Plan for the Circular Economy. However, in order to ensure that the benefits of such regulations and policies are realized at a scale that can adequately address the scope of the problem, decision-makers will need to integrate the opinions, values, and priorities of relevant stakeholders who operate across the EPS/XPS product lifecycle. In this study, we apply a 35-statement Q-methodology to identify the priorities of stakeholders as they relate to the Irish EPS/XPS market and the wider societal transition to a circular economy. Based on the responses of nineteen individuals representing industry, policy-makers, and community leaders, we identified three distinct perspectives: System Overhaul; Incremental Upgrade; and Market Innovation. The results demonstrate that the type and format of policy interventions linked to Ireland’s EPS/XPS circular economy are heavily contested, which presents significant challenges for driving the debate forward. These results provide valuable information on viewpoints that can be used by different stakeholders at national and EU levels to address areas of conflict, ultimately fostering the development of more effective, broadly supported co-developed policies.

scholarly journals Why Do Companies Pursue Collaborative Circular Oriented Innovation?

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 635 ◽  
Author(s):  
Phil Brown ◽  
Nancy Bocken ◽  
Ruud Balkenende
Keyword(s):  
The Netherlands ◽  
Circular Economy ◽  
Solution Space ◽  
Innovation Process ◽  
Value Network ◽  
Innovation Activities ◽  
Systemic Level ◽  
Advance Knowledge

We investigate why companies collaborate within the circular oriented innovation process. The purpose is to understand what motives trigger collaborative circular oriented innovation, as well as conditions, drivers and barriers. First, we define circular oriented innovation building on sustainable oriented innovation literature. Subsequently, we investigate 11 leading circular economy companies operating within the Netherlands, who developed collaborative circular oriented innovation activities. ‘Hard’ and ‘soft’ dimensions for innovation are identified and applied to delineate the drivers and barriers for collaborative circular oriented innovation. Our findings indicate that collaborations are conducted by entrepreneurially-minded actors through sharing a vision, enthusiasm, and crucially, a credible proposition for a circular economy. Furthermore, collaboration is sought early, to co-develop the problem and solution space and integrate disparate knowledge from across the value network, to mitigate increased complexity. Motives to collaborate vary between personal and organisational, and intrinsic and extrinsic levels. Collaborations start based on a relational basis between ‘CE front-runners’ to advance knowledge through experimentation. ‘Soft’ challenges to advance collaborations towards the competitive remain around culture, and the mindset to share rewards and risks. Without suitable solutions to these challenges, collaborative circular oriented innovation could remain underdeveloped within the transition towards the systemic level.

scholarly journals Understanding Public Views on a Dam Construction Boom: the Role of Values

2019 ◽  
Vol 33 (14) ◽  
pp. 4687-4700 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher Schulz ◽  
Julia Martin-Ortega ◽  
Klaus Glenk
Keyword(s):  
General Public ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Political Legitimacy ◽  
Household Survey ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Dam Construction ◽  
Hydroelectric Power ◽  
Value Conflict ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Under Construction

AbstractLarge numbers of dams for hydroelectric power production are currently planned or under construction in many areas around the world. While positive and negative social and environmental impacts of dams are increasingly well understood, little is known about attitudes of the general public towards dams, even though benefits to wider society are often cited to legitimise their construction. In Brazil’s Upper Paraguay River Basin, more than 100 mostly small-scale hydropower dams are planned or under construction in what can be considered a regional dam construction boom. Here we analyse public preferences for strategies to manage dam impacts in the area by investigating the value base that underpins such preferences, drawing on the recently proposed Value Landscapes Approach as our theoretical framework and data from a large representative household survey (N = 1067). We find that contrasting attitudes towards dams, expressed in preferences for economically or ecologically oriented water policies are informed by opposing underlying value landscapes, that is, groups of closely related fundamental, governance-related, and assigned (water) values. While such tensions between opposing values can never be fully eliminated, our research nevertheless gives insights to policy-makers seeking to minimise value conflict and to improve the political legitimacy of public decision-making on dam construction. Moreover, we find that a majority of members of the general public would prefer concentrating dam construction on some rivers while keeping others free-flowing, with direct implications for ecosystems and inland fisheries. This finding may guide policy-makers wishing to develop publicly supported water resources management strategies.

scholarly journals Ranking of EU national banking systems using multi-criteria analysis in the light of Brexit

2017 ◽  
Vol 67 (4) ◽  
pp. 473-509 ◽  
Author(s):  
Magdalena Radulescu ◽  
Aleksandra Fedajev ◽  
Djordje Nikolic
Keyword(s):  
System Analysis ◽  
Banking System ◽  
Entropy Method ◽  
Banking Union ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Promethee Ii ◽  
Banking Systems ◽  
Eu Member States ◽  
European Banking ◽  
Multi Criteria Analysis

In order to define and implement the most effective measures to overcome the difficulties of the post-crisis period, the policy-makers of ECB must identify not just main weaknesses of each banking system, but their strong points also. This requires the application of multi-criteria analysis, considering that policy-makers need to take into account a number of different aspects that, on the whole, indicate the quality of the banking system. Our aim is a comparative analysis of European banking systems right after the Brexit moment and within the framework of the tight new Basel III regulations. In this paper, we have ranked the banking systems of the 28 EU member states using multi-criteria analysis, specifically the PROMETHEE II method. The use of the PROMETHEE II method in combination with the entropy method offers a comprehensive insight into the banking system of each member state, given that the observed countries are ranked according to 9 conflicting criteria that are mostly used in banking system analysis. Our analysis shows that the banking systems in Central and Eastern Europe are the best performers, while the EMU’s developed banking systems such as the German, Italian, British, and French one are positioned among the last ranked. The Portuguese and Greek banking systems are, as expected, ranked in the last positions in our list. The obtained results also pointed out that the ECB should change its approach to the management and further development of a European Banking Union.

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