Design, Materials, and Extrusion-Based Additive Manufacturing in Circular Economy Contexts: From Waste to New Products

The transition toward circular economy models has been progressively promoted in the last few years. Different disciplines and strategies may significantly support this change. Although the specific contribution derived from design, material science, and additive manufacturing is well-established, their interdisciplinary relationship in circular economy contexts is relatively unexplored. This paper aims to review the main case studies related to new circular economy models for waste valorization through extrusion-based additive manufacturing, circular materials, and new design strategies. The general patterns were investigated through a comprehensive analysis of 74 case studies from academic research and design practice in the last six-year period (2015–2021), focusing on the application fields, the 3D printing technologies, and the materials. Further considerations and future trends were then included by looking at the relevant funded projects and case studies of 2021. A broader number of applications, circular materials, and technologies were explored by the academic context, concerning the practice-based scenario linked to more consolidated fields. Thanks to the development of new strategies and experiential tools, academic research and practice can be linked to foster new opportunities to implement circular economy models.

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The Key Strategies to Implement Circular Economy in Building Projects—A Case Study of Taiwan

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su13020754 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (2) ◽

pp. 754

Author(s):

H.-Ping Tserng ◽

Cheng-Mo Chou ◽

Yun-Tsui Chang

Keyword(s):

Case Studies ◽

Circular Economy ◽

Building Industry ◽

Structured Interviews ◽

Pilot Projects ◽

Building Projects ◽

The World ◽

Project Phases ◽

Future Project

The building industry is blamed for consuming enormous natural resources and creating massive solid waste worldwide. In response to this, the concept of circular economy (CE) has gained much attention in the sector in recent years. Many pilot building projects that implemented CE concepts started to appear around the world, including Taiwan. However, compared with the pilot projects in the Netherlands, which are regarded as the pioneer ones by international society, many CE-related practices are not implemented in pilot cases in Taiwan. To assist future project stakeholders to recognize what the key CE-related practices are and how they could be implemented in their building projects in Taiwan, this study has conducted a series of case studies of Dutch and Taiwanese pilot projects and semi-structured interviews with key project stakeholders of Taiwanese pilot projects. Thirty key CE-related practices are identified via case studies, along with their related 5R principles (Rethink, Reduce, Reuse, Repair, Recycle) and project phases. Suggestion on CE-related practices, their 5R principles, project items, and phases to implement in building projects in Taiwan is also proposed while discussion on differences between two countries’ pilot projects is presented.

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A Framework for Implementing and Tracking Circular Economy in Cities: The Case of Porto

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su11061813 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 11 (6) ◽

pp. 1813 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

António Cavaleiro de Ferreira ◽

Francesco Fuso-Nerini

Keyword(s):

Economic System ◽

Case Studies ◽

Circular Economy ◽

Research Gaps ◽

Meso Level ◽

Population Research ◽

Key Concepts ◽

Significant Barrier ◽

The City

Circular economy (CE) is an emerging concept that contrasts the linear economic system. This concept is particularly relevant for cities, currently hosting approximately 50% of the world’s population. Research gaps in the analysis and implementation of circular economy in cities are a significant barrier to its implementation. This paper presents a multi-sectorial and macro-meso level framework to monitor (and set goals for) circular economy implementation in cities. Based on literature and case studies, it encompasses CE key concepts, such as flexibility, modularity, and transparency. It is structured to include all sectors in which circular economy could be adopted in a city. The framework is then tested in Porto, Portugal, monitoring the circularity of the city and considering its different sectors.

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Describing Ship-Design

10.5957/smc-2013-p06 ◽

2013 ◽

Author(s):

Ties van Bruinessen ◽

Hans Hopman ◽

Frido Smulders

Keyword(s):

Industrial Structure ◽

Complex Structure ◽

Academic Research ◽

Design Strategy ◽

Ship Design ◽

Design Strategies ◽

Complex Interactions ◽

Blank Sheet ◽

Offshore Industry ◽

Engineering Practices

The majority of European ship-design industry concentrates on the development of complex, one-off ‘specials’ for the offshore industry, like dredgers, drill ships, pipe-laying ships, et cetera. This industry is complex, not just in terms of the industrial structure but also in the terms of the object. To control the complexity the industry uses large and expansive knowledge basis that support the design, engineering and manufacturing activities. Within academic research the focus is close to practice and dominantly aims at developing knowledge and tools that supports engineering practices. As these strategies are aimed at controlling the complexity, they leave very little room for more innovative developments. On the other side of the spectrum there is a ship-design practice that does allow radical ship design: design and engineering from a blank sheet of paper. Not surprising that these projects are laborious and expensive. The space in between these two design strategies seems unaddressed in literature. The literature on the design of complex structures appears to be scarce, even though this is an area where European ship-design industry is heavily involved. The research this paper reports on aims to develop a design strategy for complex ships in between incremental and radical innovation. We interviewed stakeholders from ship industry, looked into the design literature to describe the present situation and finally performed case-studies in other fields of application for inspiration. Based on these studies we illustrate an alternative design strategy that leaves more space for innovation without the requirement to start from scratch. The approach focuses on the complex interactions between the different levels of decomposition in a complex structure such as a ship.

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Barriers and challenges to plastics valorisation in the context of a circular economy: Case studies from Italy

Journal of Cleaner Production ◽

10.1016/j.jclepro.2019.118149 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 241 ◽

pp. 118149 ◽

Cited By ~ 17

Author(s):

Angelo Paletta ◽

Walter Leal Filho ◽

Abdul-Lateef Balogun ◽

Eleonora Foschi ◽

Alessandra Bonoli

Keyword(s):

Case Studies ◽

Circular Economy ◽

Barriers And Challenges

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Circular economy enabled by additive manufacturing: potential opportunities and key sustainability aspects

Balancing Innovation and operation ◽

10.35199/norddesign2020.4 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Mariia Kravchenko ◽

◽

Daniela C.A. Pigosso ◽

Tim C. McAloone

Keyword(s):

Additive Manufacturing ◽

Circular Economy

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BBusiness Models of eHealth Interventions to Support Informal Caregivers of People with Dementia in the Netherlands: Case Study Analysis (Preprint)

10.2196/preprints.24724 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Hannah Liane Christie ◽

Lizzy Mitzy Maria Boots ◽

Ivo Hermans ◽

Mark Govers ◽

Huibert Johannes Tange ◽

...

Keyword(s):

The Netherlands ◽

Case Studies ◽

Business Models ◽

Informal Caregivers ◽

Academic Research ◽

Study Analysis ◽

Case Study Methodology ◽

Case Study Analysis ◽

People With Dementia

BACKGROUND In academic research contexts, eHealth interventions for caregivers of people with dementia have shown ample evidence of effectiveness. However, they are rarely implemented into practice and much can be learned from their counterparts (from commercial, governmental, or other origins) that are already being used in practice. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to (1.) examine a sample of case studies of eHealth interventions to support informal caregivers of people with dementia, that are currently used in the Netherlands; (2.) investigate what strategies are used to ensure the desirability, feasibility, viability, and sustainability of the interventions, and (3.) apply the lessons learned from this practical, commercial implementation perspective to academically developed eHealth interventions for caregivers of people with dementia. METHODS In step one, experts (N=483) in the fields of dementia and eHealth were contacted and asked to recommend interventions that met the following criteria: (1.) delivered via the internet, (2.) suitable for informal caregivers of people with dementia, (3.) accessible in the Netherlands, either in Dutch or in English, and (4.) used in practice. The contacted experts were academics working on dementia and/or psychosocial innovations, industry professionals from eHealth software companies, clinicians, patient organisations, and people with dementia and their caregivers. In step two, contact persons from the suggested eHealth interventions participated in a semi-structured telephone interview. The results were analysed using multiple-case study methodology. RESULTS Twenty-one eHealth interventions for caregivers of people with dementia were suggested by experts. Nine of these 21 interventions met all four criteria and were included in the sample for case study analysis. Four cases were found to have developed sustainable business models. Five cases were implemented in a more exploratory manner and relied on research grants to varying extents, though some had also developed preliminary business models. CONCLUSIONS These findings suggest that the desirability, feasibility, and viability of eHealth interventions for caregivers of people with dementia are linked to their integration into larger structures, their ownership and support of content internally, their development of information and communication technology (ICT) services externally, and offering fixed, low-level pricing. The origin of the case studies was also important, as eHealth interventions that had originated in an academic research context less reliably found their way to sustainable implementation. In addition, careful selection of digital transformation strategies, more intersectoral cooperation, and more funding for implementation and business modelling research are recommended to help future developers bring eHealth interventions for caregivers of people with dementia into practice.

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Closing the Loop - Recycling Plastic Waste

10.26686/wgtn.17145728.v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

◽

Caitlin Bruce

Keyword(s):

New Zealand ◽

Additive Manufacturing ◽

Circular Economy ◽

Building Material ◽

New Technologies ◽

Plastic Waste ◽

Proof Of Concept ◽

Waste Production ◽

Closing The Loop ◽

3D Printed

<p>New Zealand is ranked among the top nations in waste production, including a million tonnes of plastic waste. Currently, there are methods for recycling plastic within New Zealand but these methods can be expensive and time-consuming, resulting in most of the plastic being thrown into the landfill. Because plastic does not fully degrade, it ends up in the ocean and other waterways, poisoning the water with toxins. The purpose of this research is to provide a solution to reducing plastic waste by creating an alternative method of recycling that utilises new technologies such as additive manufacturing, to create a building material that fits into the concept of the circular economy. The findings of this research explored the recycling of plastic by collecting plastic waste such as PLA (Polylactic Acid) from old 3D printed models. The plastic was recycled into filament for additive manufacturing (AM) and used to print building tile, establishing an initial proof of concept for the use of recycled plastic as a potential building material.</p>

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