Circular Economy

2021 ◽  
pp. 47-57
Author(s):  
Dipanwita Jena
Keyword(s):  
European Commission ◽  
Circular Economy ◽  
Social Sustainability ◽  
Multinational Companies ◽  
Recent Time ◽  
Sustainable Growth ◽  
Critical Aspect ◽  
Zero Waste ◽  
Key Players ◽  
Ideological Dimension

The ongoing discourse of zero-waste and the circular economy in recent time have been underscored by key players, such as the European Commission, NGOs, INGOs, academia, and multinational companies. The discourse revolves around the fact that capitalist form of development has pushed the environment to the brink of destruction. The need of the hour is sustainable growth through the model of the circular economy. Thus, the idea of growth is being de-politicized by a post-growth narrative. This chapter wants to delve into the critical aspect of circular economy which propounds itself as a solution to capitalism driven growth. The first theme it addresses the actual materialization of circular economy whether it is actually a possible phenomenon or not. The second theme it deals with the concept of social sustainability and fulfillment of human wants. The last theme revolves around ideological dimension of post-growth, how the circular growth in the garb of post-growth ideology propels and legitimizes a more growth -driven society.

scholarly journals Integrated Mechanistic Engineering Models and Macroeconomic Input-Output approach to Model Physical Economy for Evaluating the Impact of transition to Circular Economy

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Venkata Sai Gargeya Vunnava ◽  
Shweta Singh
Keyword(s):  
Circular Economy ◽  
Emerging Technologies ◽  
Low Carbon ◽  
Input Output ◽  
Zero Waste ◽  
Engineering Models ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Sustainable Transition

Sustainable transition to low carbon and zero waste economy requires a macroscopic evaluation of opportunities and impact of adopting emerging technologies in a region. However, a full assessment of current...

scholarly journals A Review of Bioplastics and Their Adoption in the Circular Economy

Polymers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (8) ◽  
pp. 1229
Author(s):  
Alberto Di Bartolo ◽  
Giulia Infurna ◽  
Nadka Tzankova Dintcheva
Keyword(s):  
European Union ◽  
Life Cycle Assessment ◽  
Life Cycle ◽  
European Commission ◽  
Circular Economy ◽  
Environmental Risks ◽  
Plastic Waste ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Sustainable Society ◽  
Net Zero

The European Union is working towards the 2050 net-zero emissions goal and tackling the ever-growing environmental and sustainability crisis by implementing the European Green Deal. The shift towards a more sustainable society is intertwined with the production, use, and disposal of plastic in the European economy. Emissions generated by plastic production, plastic waste, littering and leakage in nature, insufficient recycling, are some of the issues addressed by the European Commission. Adoption of bioplastics–plastics that are biodegradable, bio-based, or both–is under assessment as one way to decouple society from the use of fossil resources, and to mitigate specific environmental risks related to plastic waste. In this work, we aim at reviewing the field of bioplastics, including standards and life cycle assessment studies, and discuss some of the challenges that can be currently identified with the adoption of these materials.

scholarly journals Method for Zero-Waste Circular Economy Using Worms for Plastic Agriculture: Augmenting Polystyrene Consumption and Plant Growth

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 43
Author(s):  
Samuel Ken-En Gan ◽  
Ser-Xian Phua ◽  
Joshua Yi Yeo ◽  
Zealyn Shi-Lin Heng ◽  
Zhenxiang Xing
Keyword(s):  
Plant Growth ◽  
Circular Economy ◽  
Food Source ◽  
Food Additives ◽  
Poultry Feed ◽  
Zero Waste ◽  
Dragon Fruit ◽  
Hylocereus Undatus ◽  
Natural Solution ◽  
And Control

Polystyrene (PS) is one of the major plastics contributing to environmental pollution with its durability and resistance to natural biodegradation. Recent research showed that mealworms (Tenebrio molitor) and superworms (Zophobas morio) are naturally able to consume PS as a carbon food source and degrade them without observable toxic effects. In this study, we explored the effects of possible food additives and use of worm frass as potential plant fertilizers. We found that small amounts of sucrose and bran increased PS consumption and that the worm frass alone could support dragon fruit cacti (Hylocereus undatus) growth, with superworm frass in particular, supporting better growth and rooting than mealworm frass and control media over a fortnight. As known fish and poultry feed, these findings present worms as a natural solution to simultaneously tackle both the global plastic problem and urban farming issue in a zero-waste sustainable bioremediation cycle.

Zero Waste Strategy for a Green Campus

2021 ◽  
Vol 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gislaine Ap. Moreira ◽  
Emilia Wanda Rutkoskwi
Keyword(s):  
Circular Economy ◽  
Sustainable Development Goals ◽  
Education Institution ◽  
Exploratory Research ◽  
The Sustainable Development ◽  
Zero Waste ◽  
Management Measures ◽  
Sustainability Issue ◽  
Development Goals ◽  
Green Campus

When adopting the zero waste strategy for the implementation of waste management measures at a Higher Education Institution, the commitment in the institution is of fundamental importance, not only with solid waste, but with the sustainability issue under a circular economy perspective, which should gradually be incorporated to the different programs and routine actions from universities. Several directions can be taken in the construction of this path so that universities are managed under the sustainability’s premises. In this article, the zero waste strategy for implementation of a circular economy program will be analyzed as a way to consolidate the process Green Campus. A qualitative and exploratory research was undertaken on green campus and zero waste strategies, mainly in universities. Although there is still a limited number of universities committed to zero waste actions, it was possible to appoint the benefits when implementing institutional programs related to sustainability and the fulfillment of the Sustainable Development Goals.

scholarly journals Post-Workshop Report for Plug-N-Harvest Modular Façade Retrofit Workshop on Sustainable Places 2019

Proceedings ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 14
Author(s):  
Du ◽  
Streblow ◽  
Montalbá ◽  
Sendra
Keyword(s):  
User Interface ◽  
European Commission ◽  
Energy Management ◽  
Circular Economy ◽  
Management System ◽  
Business Models ◽  
Energy Management System ◽  
Workshop Report ◽  
Horizon 2020

As part of the European Commission Horizon 2020 Plug-N-Harvest project consortium, authors hosted a 90-minute workshop to discuss issues related the modular façade retrofit development in Europe on Sustainable Places 2019 conference at Cagliari, Italy on 6th June 2019. This post-workshop report outlined research outputs presented by four speakers from Cardiff University, RWTH Aachen University, ETRA I+D and Eco Intelligent Growth. It also presented the key information discussed during the workshop. The representatives from about ten H2020 projects joined the discussions. Workshop participants provided technical suggestions on façade design, user interface development for the energy management system, circular economy business models for modular façade and consortium building. The representatives agreed that strengthening the synergy among different Horizon 2020 projects would be a benefit for all.

scholarly journals Oil Press-Cakes and Meals Valorization through Circular Economy Approaches: A Review

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (21) ◽  
pp. 7432
Author(s):  
Petraru Ancuța ◽  
Amariei Sonia
Keyword(s):  
Dietary Fiber ◽  
Bioactive Compounds ◽  
Circular Economy ◽  
Food Industry ◽  
Oil Industry ◽  
Extraction Process ◽  
Research Field ◽  
Zero Waste ◽  
Oil Cakes ◽  
Pharmaceutical Industries

The food industry generates a large amount of waste every year, which opens up a research field aimed at minimizing and efficiently managing this issue to support the concept of zero waste. From the extraction process of oilseeds results oil cakes. These residues are a source of bioactive compounds (protein, dietary fiber, antioxidants) with beneficial properties for health, that can be used in foods, cosmetics, textile, and pharmaceutical industries. They can also serve as substrates for the production of enzymes, antibiotics, biosurfactants, and mushrooms. Other applications are in animal feedstuff and for composites, bio-fuel, and films production. This review discusses the importance of oilseed and possible valorization methods for the residues obtained in the oil industry.

Towards Zero Waste, Circular Economy Boost: Waste to Resources

2018 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
María-Laura Franco-García ◽  
Jorge Carlos Carpio-Aguilar ◽  
Hans Bressers
Keyword(s):  
Circular Economy ◽  
Zero Waste
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