The hierarchy of resource use for a sustainable circular economy

2019 ◽  
Vol 47 (1) ◽  
pp. 27-40 ◽  
Author(s):  
Heidi Rapp Nilsen
Keyword(s):  
Resource Use ◽  
Circular Economy ◽  
Real Option ◽  
Action Plan ◽  
Safety Net ◽  
Raw Material ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Theoretical Possibility ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Closing The Loop

Purpose The original principles of the hierarchy of resource use seem to have been forgotten. The purpose of this paper is to address the necessity of these principles in order for a circular economy (CE) to be sustainable. Design/methodology/approach This is a general review paper explaining today’s shortcomings in a CE and in the waste hierarchy. Its theoretical contribution is illustrated using the example of marine plastic waste in the Arctic, as well as the EU’s action plan for a CE: “Closing the loop”. Findings There is a need to reduce raw materials into the economy directly and not only as a potential result of recycling. This is supported theoretically and by illustrating that the EU’s action plan is closing the loop primarily from the output side. Research limitations/implications The theoretical possibility of complete recycling rests on a premise that is now at odds with a sustainable development. Social implications The power of existing raw material production cycles must be challenged to allow reduction to be a real option. If not, a CE may exacerbate a moral trade-off by the current generation reducing the safe operating space of future living beings. Originality/value The theoretical possibility of recycling everything, also known as the technology-optimist view, has played the role of a safety net for humanity. As we are now exceeding planetary boundaries for a safe and just space for humanity, this theoretical safety net is no longer valid. Instead, we must reinforce the basic principles of the hierarchy of resource use.

scholarly journals Towards a Circular Economy Taxation Framework: Expectations and Challenges of Implementation

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leonidas Milios
Keyword(s):  
Circular Economy ◽  
Action Plan ◽  
Policy Instruments ◽  
Policy Instrument ◽  
Detailed Examination ◽  
Raw Material ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Material Resource ◽  
Waste Hierarchy ◽  
Tax Relief

AbstractThe transition to a circular economy is a complex process requiring wide multi-level and multi-stakeholder engagement and can be facilitated by appropriate policy interventions. Taking stock of the importance of a well-balanced policy mix that includes a variety of complementing policy instruments, the circular economy action plan of the European Union (COM(2020) 98 final) includes a section about “getting the economics right” in which it encourages the application of economic instruments. This contribution presents a comprehensive taxation framework, applied across the life cycle of products. The framework includes (1) a raw material resource tax, (2) reuse/repair tax relief, and (3) a waste hierarchy tax at the end of life of products. The research is based on a mixed method approach, using different sources to analyse the different measures in the framework. More mature concepts, such as material resource taxes, are analysed by reviewing the existing literature. The analysis of tax relief on repairs is based on interviews with stakeholders in Sweden, where this economic policy instrument has been implemented since 2017. Finally, for the waste hierarchy tax, which is a novel proposition in this contribution, macroeconomic modelling is used to analyse potential impacts of future implementation. In all cases, several implementation challenges are identified, and potential solutions are discussed according to literature and empirical sources. Further research is required both at the individual instrument and at the framework level. Each of the tax proposals needs a more detailed examination for its specificities of implementation, following the results of this study.

Analyzing critical success factors for a successful transition towards circular economy through DANP approach

2020 ◽  
Vol 31 (3) ◽  
pp. 505-529 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shahbaz Khan ◽  
Annayath Maqbool ◽  
Abid Haleem ◽  
Mohd Imran Khan
Keyword(s):  
Circular Economy ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Critical Success Factors ◽  
Success Factors ◽  
Action Plan ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Five Dimensions ◽  
Successful Transition ◽  
Critical Success ◽  
Research Findings

PurposeThe successful transition towards the circular economy is a requirement of this technological era. The objective of this study is to identify critical success factors behind the successful transition to the circular economy.Design/methodology/approachA systematic literature review and experts' inputs are used to identify the major critical success factors of a successful transition towards a circular economy. Further, DANP is applied to discover the interrelationships among the critical success factors dimensions by analyzing causal relations between the relevant critical success factors. Additionally, the ranking of significant critical success factors for the successful transition towards the circular economy is determined.FindingsThis study has used the DANP methodology to understand the relationships among the five dimensions and the twenty-two critical success factors and identified the key influencing critical success factors through their global weights. Research findings suggest that “vision regard to a circular economy” has the highest weights, followed by “financial sustainability” which is regarded as the most important CSF.Research limitations/implicationsThe outcomes of this work may help organizations on issues related to the transition of the linear economy towards circular economy, in understanding the degree of importance of the each critical success factors, based on which the organizations can formulate an effective strategy to systematically emphasize critical success factors as per their importance for the successful transition towards circular economy.Originality/valueThis study tries to explore and analyze critical success factors of the transition from the linear economy to a circular economy. Further, the finding of this study provides deeper insights into academia and mangers that helps to formulate their action plan for moving towards the circular economy.

On the industrial symbiosis of alumina and iron/steel production: Suitability of ferroalumina as raw material in iron and steel making

2021 ◽  
pp. 0734242X2199190
Author(s):  
Spiros Karamoutsos ◽  
Theofani Tzevelekou ◽  
Angeliki Christogerou ◽  
Eleni Grilla ◽  
Antonios Gypakis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Blast Furnace ◽  
Circular Economy ◽  
Raw Materials ◽  
Action Plan ◽  
Steel Production ◽  
Industrial Process ◽  
Graphite Crucible ◽  
Filter Press ◽  
Raw Material ◽  
Industrial Symbiosis

The biggest challenge for our society, in order to foster the sustainable circular economy, is the efficient recycling of wastes from industrial, commercial, domestic and other streams. The transition to a circular economy is the goal of the European Commission’s Circular Economy Action, which was first launched in 2015. In 2020 the above action plan announced initiatives along the entire life cycle of the product, with the aim to make sustainable products the norm in the EU. Therefore, it is anticipated that the above action will result in an increase in Europe’s economic competitiveness, sustainability, resource efficiency and resource security. Within this context, the suitability of ferroalumina as a raw material in the blast furnace is investigated. Ferroalumina is the product of the high-pressure filter press dewatering process of the Greek red mud generated during the production of alumina by means of the Bayer cycle. Ferroalumina is a low-cost raw material and its possible charging in the blast furnace and/or steelmaking aggregates is a step towards industrial symbiosis, where the wastes, namely by-products, of an industry or an industrial process, become the raw materials for another. In the present work the effect of ferroalumina addition as a raw material was examined by smelting ferroalumina, blast furnace-slag, lime and scrap at 1550°C in a graphite crucible and a constant slag basicity. The increase of the alumina content in the slag improves the desulfurization capacity. Moreover, the silicon exchange between slag and metal was examined. The results indicate that the alkalis’ capacity of the slag increases with the addition of ferroalumina. The analysis of the finally obtained slag suggests that it could be suitable for utilization in slag-cement production.

scholarly journals Colour management in circular economy: decolourization of cotton waste

2019 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
pp. 134-152 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marjo Määttänen ◽  
Sari Asikainen ◽  
Taina Kamppuri ◽  
Elina Ilen ◽  
Kirsi Niinimäki ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Circular Economy ◽  
Cotton Fabrics ◽  
Raw Material ◽  
Textile Fibre ◽  
Direct Dyes ◽  
Colour Removal ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Vat Dye ◽  
Cotton Waste ◽  
Dyeing Method

Purpose While aiming to create methods for fibre recycling, the question of colours in waste textiles is also in focus; whether the colour should be kept or should be removed while recycling textile fibre. More knowledge is needed for colour management in a circular economy approach. Design/methodology/approach The research included the use of different dye types in a cotton dyeing process, the process for decolourizing and the results. Two reactive dyes, two direct dyes and one vat dye were used in the study. Four chemical treatment sequences were used to evaluate colour removal from the dyed cotton fabrics, namely, HCE-A, HCE-P-A, HCE-Z-P-A and HCE-Y-A. Findings The objective was to evaluate how different chemical refining sequences remove colour from direct, reactive and vat dyed cotton fabrics, and how they influence the specific cellulose properties. Dyeing methods and the used refining sequences influence the degree of colour removal. The highest achieved final brightness of refined cotton materials were between 71 and 91 per cent ISO brightness, depending on the dyeing method used. Research limitations/implications Only cotton fibre and three different colour types were tested. Practical implications With cotton waste, it appears to be easier to remove the colour than to retain it, especially if the textile contains polyester residues, which are desired to be removed in the textile refining stage. Originality/value Colour management in the CE context is an important new track to study in the context of the increasing amount of textile waste used as a raw material.

scholarly journals EFFECTIVE MINERAL POLICY AS A KEY FACTOR FOR SUSTAINABLE ECONOMY

2021 ◽  
pp. 34-40
Author(s):  
Guenter TIESS ◽  
Iryna SOKOLOVA ◽  
Serhii KLOCHKOV
Keyword(s):  
Circular Economy ◽  
Raw Materials ◽  
Action Plan ◽  
Mineral Resources ◽  
Raw Material ◽  
Added Value ◽  
Main Task ◽  
Mineral Raw Materials ◽  
Mineral Policy ◽  
By Products

The paper analyzes the changes in commodity market distortions, competing land use types, raw material demand for development, and rapid diffusion of key enabling technologies meeting the requirements of constant, dynamic development of major European industries. The author gives the relationship between the dynamics for mineral resources consumption growth, and changes in the conditions of production of these resources. Contains a critical review of methods for predicting the mineral resources dependency, including an estimated forecasting method based on guidelines for the evaluation of needs for natural resources and their substitutes.    One of the principles is comprehensive and integrated resource recovery. In a nutshell, this new approach argues that any operation should disturb a mine site only once and extract all useful materials using an optimised integrated flowsheet. This principle also requires that all by-products and residues are (re)used and that by-products and tailings at the end of life to be ‘future-proofed’, i.e. they should retain their ability to continue to be of value into the distant future where technology/economy may make feasible their use.    It is noted that access to and affordability of mineral raw materials are crucial for the sound functioning of the EU’s economy. A new 2020 list of critical mineral raw materials is presented and ways to compensate for the CRM deficit are described in detail.    Separately noted that the mineral policy is needed to be meticulously treated to facilitate company investment security, streamline permitting and access to minerals in a line with the European Green Deal, the Circular Economy Action Plan, the Bioeconomy Strategy and the European Industrial Strategy. Concerning, the latest steps towards Europe economically resilient by a framework for raw materials and the Circular Economy – creation of European Raw Materials Alliance recognized as particularly effective.    Global Industry Standard on Tailings Management represented as a robust, fit-for-purpose international standard for the safer management of tailings storage facilities.    The argument is given that since the land issue is one of the most delicate in a densely populated areas heavily dependent on agriculture, housing, infrastructure or other nonmineral development, a fair and equitable distribution of land is important for a mineral perspective.    There is also the need for strategic and open network between political, industrial and local communities through the exchange of information to enhance knowledge, experience and skills between stakeholders. Social acceptance of that idea is a fundamental element that must be addressed to develop a confl ict-free area for mineral development activities.    The conclusions indicate that we would like to emphasize that the main task of today is to create an effective system for monitoring the movement of raw materials along the entire added-value chain. The ability to quickly identify and respond to challenges in mineral policy will provide leadership in EU strategic technologies and industries. This process has already started with the creation of the European Raw Materials Alliance ERMA. State institutions, businesses, scientific institutions, and civil society in the close dialogue are able to ensure sustainable development and security of civilization as a whole. 

scholarly journals Towards the Circular Economy in Croatia - the Perspective of EU Green Deal on Regional Level

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mirjana Kovačić ◽  
Srđan Krčević ◽  
Emil Burić
Keyword(s):  
Circular Economy ◽  
Action Plan ◽  
Regional Level ◽  
Green Economy ◽  
Business Climate ◽  
Member States ◽  
Use Of Resources ◽  
Legislative Framework ◽  
Closing The Loop ◽  
National Economies

Since the European Commission launched the Circular Economy Package in December 2015 named “Closing the loop: EU Action Plan for the Circular Economy”, many changes are expected both in European Union economy as well as in the Member States’ national economies. Due to new Package, a transposition of legislation is required as well as adjusting the business climate and citizens’ habits in order to fully implement the Package and experience the benefits of Circular Economy in Europe. The transition to a new economy pattern Commission perceived as essential due to new economic, global and environmental challenges. Assessing the waste management, the data showed that some member states already recycle almost 80 % of waste, while others are far away from achieving the Europe 2020 Strategy goals, including Croatia. The Circular Economy Package is nowadays part of EU Green Deal, one of the highest ranked strategic documents, which emphasizes the need for efficient use of resources by transition to the clean circular economy approach as well as to renew the biodiversity and to decrease the pollution. The authors analyse legislative framework and trends in green economy, with special attention on Croatia, and Primorje-Gorski Kotar county. This paper emphasizes the significance of the Circular Economy and its benefits and present the policy implementation capacities on the national and regional level to implement the circular approach to economic process.

Dhuan ‘n’ Dukhaan: a case of successful green venture start-up in Pakistan

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-31 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tehreem Fatima ◽  
Ahmad Raza Bilal ◽  
Muhammad Kashif Imran
Keyword(s):  
Value Chain ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Action Plan ◽  
Idea Generation ◽  
Local Economy ◽  
Raw Material ◽  
Bottom Line ◽  
Sustainable Operations ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Academic Level

Learning outcomes The case will offer insight to the students regarding the idea generation and development of a viable sustainable venture. It will promote the understanding of students regarding SDGs and how SMEs can contribute towards their attainment. They will learn to develop the action plan for a green business venture and understand how each of the business activity in each phase of value chain contributes towards environmental, economic and social sustainability. Case overview/synopsis Rana Waseem, a young business graduate started a small ecopreneurial venture to offer sustainable food from raw material till disposal in developing nation context named as Dhuaan ‘n’ Dukhaan (D ‘n’ D) in Sargodha, Pakistan. He had an aim to create a model of business that not only supports the local economy in terms of offering decent employment but also promotes a food business that generates nutritional self-sufficiency as per the triple bottom line concept. This case gives an exploratory insight into the actual sustainable operations that have survived eight months successfully and on the path of growth without profit being the sole aim. D ‘n’ D has benefited the lives of people in Sargodha by offering job opportunities, a decent wage, healthy food at affordable rates, reduction in diseases, reducing food wastage and efficient resource usage with a positive impact on the environment. Complexity academic level The case is suitable for undergraduate and post graduate students studying entrepreneurship and small business management. Supplementary materials Teaching Notes are available for educators only. Please contact your library to gain login details or email [email protected] to request teaching notes. Subject code CSS 3: Entrepreneurship

The circular economy concept needs to be geared to a resource-saving economic model to avoid running in circles (Statement)

elni Review ◽  
2016 ◽  
pp. 33-39
Author(s):  
Franz Fiala ◽  
Michela Vuerich
Keyword(s):  
Resource Use ◽  
Circular Economy ◽  
Resource Constraints ◽  
Action Plan ◽  
Massachusetts Institute Of Technology ◽  
Fundamental Change ◽  
Resource Saving ◽  
Limits To Growth ◽  
Institute Of Technology ◽  
Club Of Rome

In ‘The 30-year update’ of their Report to the Club of Rome concerning ‘The Limits to Growth’ (first published in 1972), the authors recalled in the preface the fundamental finding of the original report, namely that global ecological constraints related to resource use and emissions will have a significant influence on global developments in the twenty-first century. Resource constraints and the finite capacity of the Earth to absorb pollutants will – as a result of the necessary additional expenses to cope with these constraints – eventually lead to a (not necessarily abrupt) decline of the world economy. The authors initially “hoped that such deliberation would lead society to take corrective actions to reduce the possibilities of collapse”. However, despite all positive developments, the required course correction has not taken place and the global environmental status has become even worse. Some have dismissed the conclusions of a study conducted by a team of researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) headed by Dennis Meadows, as an overly pessimistic doomsday scenario disregarding the ability of the current economic system to adapt. The important issue is that the resources are finite and, sooner or later, the limits to further growth of material and energy flows will be reached. What matters much more in this context is the missed opportunity to initiate a fundamental change with a view to preventing the overshoot by driving the system in a sustainable direction. These are thoughts that also come to mind when examining the Commission communication, ‘Closing the loop - An EU action plan for the Circular Economy’, published in December 2015. It is rather difficult to see how this action plan could contribute to the desperately needed fundamental change of direction associated with significantly reduced resource use, as opposed to the concept of infinite growth enriched with circular flows. In this contribution the authors articulate ANEC’s perspective on the circular economy concept presented by the European Commission in December 2015.

European experience in transition to circular economy

2020 ◽  
Vol 19 (4) ◽  
pp. 598-617 ◽  
Author(s):  
S.V. Ratner
Keyword(s):  
European Union ◽  
Circular Economy ◽  
Raw Materials ◽  
Action Plan ◽  
National Level ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Scientific Methods ◽  
European Experience ◽  
General Scientific ◽  
The Eu

Subject. The article considers the concept of circular economy, which has originated relatively recently in the academic literature, and is now increasingly recognized in many countries at the national level. In the European Union, the transition to circular economy is viewed as an opportunity to improve competitiveness of the European Union, protect businesses from resource shortages and fluctuating prices for raw materials and supplies, and a way to increase employment and innovation. Objectives. The aim of the study is to analyze the incentives developed by the European Commission for moving to circular economy, and to assess their effectiveness on the basis of statistical analysis. Methods. I employ general scientific methods of research. Results. The analysis of the EU Action Plan for the Circular Economy enabled to conclude that the results of the recent research in circular economy barriers, eco-innovation, technology and infrastructure were successfully integrated into the framework of this document. Understanding the root causes holding back the circular economy development and the balanced combination of economic and administrative incentives strengthened the Action Plan, and it contributed to the circular economy development in the EU. Conclusions. The measures to stimulate the development of the circular economy proposed in the European Action Plan can be viewed as a prototype for designing similar strategies in other countries, including Russia. Meanwhile, a more detailed analysis of barriers to the circular economy at the level of individual countries and regions is needed.

scholarly journals Circular Bioeconomy Business Models to Overcome the Valley of Death. A Systematic Statistical Analysis of Studies and Projects in Emerging Bio-Based Technologies and Trends Linked to the SME Instrument Support

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 1899
Author(s):  
Fabiana Gatto ◽  
Ilaria Re
Keyword(s):  
Circular Economy ◽  
Success Factors ◽  
Business Models ◽  
Raw Materials ◽  
Action Plan ◽  
Future Perspective ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Strategic Orientations ◽  
Start Ups ◽  
Valley Of Death

Reducing the environmental pressure along the products life cycle, increasing efficiency in the consumption of resources and use of renewable raw materials, and shifting the economic system toward a circular and a climate-neutral model represent the heart of the current macro-trends of the European Union (EU) policy agendas. The circular economy and bioeconomy concepts introduced in the EU’s Circular Economy Action Plan and the Bioeconomy Strategy support innovation in rethinking economic systems focusing on market uptaking of greener solutions based on less-intensive resource consumption. In recent decades, industrial research has devoted enormous investments to demonstrate sustainable circular bio-based business models capable of overcoming the “Valley of Death” through alternative strategic orientations of “technological-push” and “market-pull”. The study highlights industrial research’s evolution on bio-based circular business model validation, trends, and topics with particular attention to the empowering capacity of start-ups and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to close the loops in renewable biological use and reduce dependence on fossil fuels. The research methodology involves a bibliographic search based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) approach and the European Innovation Council (EIC) Accelerator Data Hub investigation to understand SMEs’ key success factors and start-ups of the circular bioeconomy sector. Eco and bio-based materials, nutraceuticals, and microalgae represent the most sustainable industry applications, leading to circular bioeconomy business models’ future perspective.

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