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- The circular bioeconomy: Its elements and role in European bioeconomy
clusters
Abstract: Publication date: May 2020Source: Resources, Conservation & Recycling: X, Volume 6Author(s): Paul Stegmann, Marc Londo, Martin JungingerBiomass is projected to play a key role in meeting global climate targets. To achieve a resource-efficient biomass use, European bioeconomy strategies increasingly consider the concept of a circular bioeconomy (CBE). We define the term CBE via a literature review and analyze the concept’s role in north-west European bioeconomy clusters through interviews. We identify strategies regarding the clusters’ feedstock and product focus, and investigate what role biorefineries, circular solutions, recycling and cascading play. Finally, we discuss gaps in CBE literature and the potential contributions of the CBE to sustainability. The analyzed bioeconomy clusters move towards a CBE by increasingly considering residues and wastes as a resource, developing integrated biorefineries and focusing more on material and high value applications of biomass. However, there is so far only little focus on the end-of-life of bio-based products, i.e. on circular product design, recycling and cascading. Key challenges for implementing circular strategies are policies and regulations, costs and the current small size of bio-based markets. Amongst the product sectors the interviewees identified as promising for the bioeconomy, plastics and construction & building materials have most recycling and cascading potential. While the CBE could contribute to improving the sustainability of the bioeconomy, the concept is not inherently sustainable and its potential trade-offs need to be addressed. Especially social aspects, cascading, circular product design, and aspects related to product use seem to be underrepresented in CBE literature, while the topics biorefinery, wastes and residues as well as waste management are significantly covered.Graphical abstract
- Behavioural factors on the adoption of sustainable supply chain practices
Abstract: Publication date: Available online 5 February 2020Source: Resources, Conservation & Recycling: XAuthor(s): Anil Kumar, Md. Abdul Moktadir, Syed Abdul Rehman Khan, Jose Arturo Garza-Reyes, Mrinal Tyagi, Yiğit KazançoğluSustainable supply chain management (SSCM) has become a popular research topic among scholars as evidence suggests it has significantly contributed to achieve more environmentally conscious and socially responsible supply chains. Operational excellence (OE), on the other hand, can be achieved by incorporating SSCM practices within existing supply chain operations. However, due to human expertise, involvement and commitment towards excelling at sustainable and operational performance, the effective deployment of SSCM practices now depends on various human-based behavioural factors (BFs). Human behaviour is dynamic in nature and hence has an effect on the implementation of SSCM practices. Nevertheless, research on BFs in view of SSCM practices is limited. To fill this knowledge gap, this study examines the nature of BFs for SSCM practices towards OE in supply chains, particularly within the context of the footwear industry of Bangladesh. In the first phase, the BFs were identified and determined through a literature review and empirical investigation. In the second phase, the Hesitant Fuzzy DEMATEL method was used to establish the cause-effect relationships among the factors. The influence of group validation by experts and a literature survey, along with managerial implications, was discussed and explained in the third phase of the study. The results suggest that the factor, ‘organisation culture’ is the most influencing behavioural factor, followed by ‘commitment from higher authority’. Both theoretical and practical contributions of the study are drawn from its findings, helping footwear industry managers to more effectively adopt SSCM practices in the supply chain operations of their organisations to achieve OE.Graphical 
- Reviewing circular economy rebound effects: The case of online
peer-to-peer boat sharing
Abstract: Publication date: January 2020Source: Resources, Conservation & Recycling: X, Volume 5Author(s): Jon Warmington-Lundström, Rafael LaurentiAbstractRenting instead of buying new products may be seen as the most efficient strategies of the circular economy. However, changes in the consumption inevitably liberates or binds scarce production or consumption factors such as raw materials, money and time which can potentially limit the potential to save resources. This phenomenon is known as environmental rebound effect and is currently under-researched in the context of resource sharing. This paper reviews the magnitude and tendency of environmental rebound effects of peer-to-peer boat sharing platform using a double-spending model (i.e. for lessors as well lessees). We found that environmental rebound effect was experienced by every lessee surveyed (n = 104) and in one-third of lessors (n = 29). 60 % of lessees experienced a rebound of over 20 %, losing one-fifth of the potential reductions in emissions through subsequent consumption behaviour enabled by the economic savings created by sharing resources. International air travel and increases in personal use of the boat were the biggest contributing factors towards environmental rebound effect. Users that increased consumption in these ways experienced a backfire effect in which their annual emissions actually increased. This backfire was experienced by 29 % of lessees with the worst scenario increasing emissions by a factor of over eight. We found statistically significant differences in the rebound of lessors and lessees. Greater awareness and non-economic mechanisms (such as symbolic rewards, information provision and nudging) tailored for lessors and lessees are needed to help prevent the likelihood of occurrence and the magnitude of environmental rebound effects from sharing resources.
- Quantification of material stocks in existing buildings using secondary
data—A case study for timber in a London Borough
Abstract: Publication date: January 2020Source: Resources, Conservation & Recycling: X, Volume 5Author(s): Alejandro Romero Perez de Tudela, Colin M. Rose, Julia A. StegemannAbstractThe existing building stock represents a huge accumulation of physical resources: a material ‘reserve’ that could be mined in the future to improve resource efficiency. However, in the absence of systematically collected information about materials deposited in the built environment, the ability to manage and exploit them is limited. An approach to quantification of material stocks based on the use of secondary data from external research bodies, national statistics and a housing stock management database is used to estimate the timber stock in residential buildings constructed in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets before 1992. Results show a total timber accumulation of almost 67,000 tonnes across 68,000 dwellings, with a material intensity for timber between 20−34 kg/m2 of building floorspace (6.8–11.2 kg/m3 of gross building volume) for terraced houses and 5.4−11 kg/m2 (1.8–3.6 kg/m3) for flats and maisonettes. Generally, there is more timber in floors and roofs, and in older buildings. This method appears to be robust, as it results in comparable timber intensities to those determined using other methods in previous studies. It can be used for other materials and may be useful in other contexts where data is available (i.e., other scales, building types and materials), and capable of contributing to the growing understand of existing buildings as material banks.
- Food waste as the consequence of competing motivations, lack of
opportunities, and insufficient abilities
Abstract: Publication date: January 2020Source: Resources, Conservation & Recycling: X, Volume 5Author(s): Lisanne van Geffen, Erica van Herpen, Siet Sijtsema, Hans van TrijpAbstractThis study explores the motivations, opportunities, and abilities that consumers have for reducing food waste in everyday contexts that involve competing (food-related) goals. The framework of motivations, opportunities, and abilities is used to disentangle the complex array of factors that contribute to food waste. Results from 24 focus groups conducted in four European countries reveal that household food waste is the unintended result of balancing multiple competing goals. The results also indicate that abilities and opportunities influence the ease with which consumers can reduce food waste and act upon other goals (to which they assign greater value). These insights imply that, in addition to strengthening the importance that consumers attach to reducing food waste, interventions should focus on providing opportunities and abilities that will enable consumers to comply with multiple goals, including food-waste reduction.
- Using Material Flow Analysis (MFA) to generate the evidence on plastic
waste management from commercial fishing gears in Norway
Abstract: Publication date: January 2020Source: Resources, Conservation & Recycling: X, Volume 5Author(s): Paritosh C. Deshpande, Gaspard Philis, Helge Brattebø, Annik M. FetPlastic debris is an ever-growing concern adversely affecting the coastal and marine ecosystem. Among marine plastic waste, a particularly troublesome waste fraction is Abandoned, Lost or Discarded Fishing Gears (ALDFG) that continues to trap marine life for years upon releaseand has significant adverse environmental effects on coastal and marine ecosystems. However, lack of scientific data on the estimated contribution of ALDFG to marine plastics and associated reasoning hinders the management of fishing gear resources across the globe. This study presents a system-wide analysis of the typical fishing gears used in Norway for commercial fishing, i.e. trawls, seines (Danish and Purse), longlines, gillnets, and traps. Based on data from gear producers, suppliers, fishers, collectors, authorities, and waste management facilities, we model the flows of plastics polymers, polypropylene, polyethylene, and Nylon, used as the building blocks of advanced gears. A static Material Flow Analysis (MFA) is used to understand life cycle processes and further monitor gear quantities in and between the processes in the system. Our findings indicate that commercial fishing in Norway contributes to around 380 t/yr. mass of plastics from lost fishing gears and parts. Gillnets, longlines, and traps are the main contributors to ALDFG in the ocean due to gear design, practice, and ground deployment. Additionally, around 4000 tons of plastic waste is collected in Norway annually from derelict fishing gears out of which 24% is landfilled, and 21% is incinerated for energy recovery. The MFA approach shows significant potential as a holistic decision support tool for industry and policy-makers in exercising sustainable fishing gear resource management. The study also generates key evidence on regional level plastic pollution from the fishing sector and highlights possible mechanisms that may aid in proposed improvements.Graphical abstract
- Author response to comments on the manuscript titled “A multi-level
framework for metabolism in urban energy systems from an ecological
perspective”
Abstract: Publication date: January 2020Source: Resources, Conservation & Recycling: X, Volume 5Author(s): Paola Pulido-Barrera, Jesús Rosales-Carreón, Hugo J. de Boer
- Is this the end of end-of-waste' Uncovering the space between waste
and products
Abstract: Publication date: Available online 23 November 2019Source: Resources, Conservation & Recycling: XAuthor(s): N. Johansson, C. Forsgren
- Exploring Cost and Environmental Implications of Optimal Technology
Management Strategies in the Street Lighting Industry
Abstract: Publication date: Available online 12 November 2019Source: Resources, Conservation & Recycling: XAuthor(s): Rachel Dzombak, Ebru Kasikaralar, Heather E. DillonAbstractThe market for solid-state lighting (SSL) systems has expanded 40-fold in installed lamps since 2001. At the same time, systems which preserve materials over time and promote material reuse are getting increasing attention in light of calls for reducing consumption of natural resources. As new lighting technology products are designed and brought to market, consideration must be given to how products will be managed throughout the life-cycle as well as their end-of-life (EOL) fate. Lighting-as-a-service (LaaS) business models have emerged as a potential strategy for preserving the materials embedded in lighting products. In this paper, we examine the cost and environmental implications of technology management decisions in the context of the street lighting industry, employing life-cycle assessment and a Markov Decision Process model. The goal of the research is to determine a policy that minimizes expected costs and emissions for the system over a fixed time horizon thus reducing uncertainty for managers. The model used in the paper evaluates the optimal replacement strategies for street lighting products and additionally connects the result to the optimal EOL product trajectory, taking both costs and carbon emissions into account. In doing so, we are able to more deeply understand the role that LaaS business models might play in enabling closed-loop systems within the street lighting industry.
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