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Circular Economy and Sustainability
Number of Followers: 1  Hybrid journal (It can contain Open Access articles)ISSN (Print) 2730-597X - ISSN (Online) 2730-5988 Published by Springer-Verlag  [2469 journals]
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- Bullshit in the Sustainability and Transitions Literature: a Provocation
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Abstract: Research on sustainability and transitions is burgeoning. Some of this research is helping to solve humankind’s most pressing problems. However, as this provocation argues, up to 50% of the articles that are now being published in many interdisciplinary sustainability and transitions journals may be categorized as “scholarly bullshit.” These are articles that typically engage with the latest sustainability and transitions buzzword (e.g., circular economy), while contributing little to none to the scholarly body of knowledge on the topic. A typology of “scholarly bullshit” is proposed which includes the following archetypes: boring question scholarship, literature review of literature reviews, recycled research, master thesis madness, and activist rants. Since “scholarly bullshit” articles engage with the latest academic buzzwords, they also tend to accumulate significant citations and are thus welcomed by many journal editors. Citations matter most in the metric-driven logic of the academic system, and this type of scholarship, sadly, is thus unlikely to decrease in the coming years.
PubDate: 2022-05-20
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- Policies for Material Circularity: the Case of Lithium
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Abstract: Improper waste management carries social risks and dissipates high-value materials. Moreover, material market prices do not reflect these hidden costs and values. Two important questions are how prices can inform society about their resource use impact and how market-based policies optimize material circularity. This study adds to the literature by analyzing the effect of market-based policies aimed at promoting circular material reuse in a market defied by harmful waste but enhanced by recycling. The findings indicate that a landfill tax is a first-best policy since it targets the external costs of waste disposal, improves welfare, reduces damages, and boosts recycling. If a landfill tax is not feasible, other programs like taxes, subsidies, and a tax-subsidy scheme provide second-best results. Remarkably, recycling subsidies can stimulate higher raw material extraction and generate rebound effects. We also explore other non-market-based strategies to prevent waste and make recycling more cost-competitive and easier to recycle. The numerical results and sensitivity analysis of the lithium market illustrate the model's flexibility and prove why some policies are superior to others for reducing waste and creating value from used materials. Our study results serve as a guide to designing policies for optimal material circularity.
PubDate: 2022-05-17
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- Attitudes and Perceptions on Education for Sustainable Development
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Abstract: Environmental education (EE) has an important educational background in Greece as it appears in its precursory form in the 1980s. EE gradually, through international initiatives, shifted to education for sustainable development (ESD). This alteration of EE to ESD made ESD an educational current that has been constantly enhanced over the last decade. Due to its holistic character, ESD is compatible with the latest educational approaches. This was expected to lead to the implementation of ESD in the Greek education system without obstacles, something that did not happen as even today there is inertia regarding its introduction. The purpose of the paper is to analyze attitudes and perception on introducing sustainability issues on educational system based both on theoretical and empirical analysis. In particular, the theoretical analysis aims to identify the absence of ESD from the Greek education system and records the lack of the term sustainability from the school textbooks. For the empirical analysis, a questionnaire is used in order to estimate the perceptions of secondary teachers that apply different educational approaches to ESD as well as their desire to integrate it into their teaching. We conclude that teachers consider the lack of resources, materials, or intangibles ones and the absence of training as major obstacles hampering the implementation of ESD. Educators identify obstacles to the implementation of ESD due to their own practices and attitudes, as well as due to issues outside the school context. The study supports the view that the structural integration of ESD in the school curriculum is of great importance as it will lead students to sustainable attitudes and behaviors.
PubDate: 2022-05-17
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- Community-Scale Composting Initiatives in South-East Queensland and
Beyond: a Review of Successes, Challenges and Lessons for a Pilot Project
on Karragarra Island, southern Moreton Bay-
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Abstract: A systematic literature review was conducted on decentralised, community-scale composting and organics recycling initiatives in South-East Queensland, and other regions in Australia and globally. The results found were compared with the results of a pilot project on Karragarra Island, off the coast of southern Queensland. No relevant literature found in the review was from Australia and projects in south-east Queensland were investigated via personal communication. Overall, the results showed community-scale composting to be viable with the right partnerships, community awareness, project design and financial support. The pilot project implemented on Karragarra Island may be modified and replicated in South-East Queensland and beyond.
PubDate: 2022-05-16
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- Circular Economy and Supply Chains: Definitions, Conceptualizations, and
Research Agenda of the Circular Supply Chain Framework-
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Abstract: Objective Circular supply chain management (CSCM) incorporates circular thinking — based on the circular economy paradigm — into supply chain management. In the last 5 years, this emerging research field has developed at a rapid pace and, as a result, has attracted great interest from researchers, policy-makers, and practitioners. As there are few studies on the theoretical conceptualization of the circular supply chain (CSC), especially on its definition, this paper aims to fill this gap and to provide conceptual transparency for the CSC framework. The main research question is “What are the current understandings among scholars of the CSC concept and CSCM framework'”. Method To answer this question, a systematic literature review was conducted based on the Web of Science and Scopus databases. This was followed by a bibliometric analysis using VOSviewer and a comprehensive content analysis of the literature. Results The bibliometric analysis provided an overview of CSC evolution and identified three temporal, thematic clusters. The content analysis identified 127 articles that explicitly mention the term CSC(M). Of these, seventeen articles provide explicit definitions that were thoroughly analyzed and categorized. Following this, six archetypal elements of the CSC and four propositions on the CSC’s uniqueness were formulated. Conclusion The CSC research field is evolving rapidly. Its differentiation from other sustainability-related fields is sometimes not clear, and definitions and conceptualizations vary in detail, scope, and focus. Contributions This study contributes to the CSC literature and provides transparency for the conceptualization and understanding of CSC. For both theory and practice, an agenda for future research opportunities is identified, which supports the further development of this research field.
PubDate: 2022-05-13
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- Agronomic and Environmental Determinants of Direct Seeded Rice in South
Asia-
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Abstract: Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is the staple food of more than 50% of the world’s population. Manual puddled transplanted rice (PTR) system is still the predominant method of rice establishment. However, due to declining water tables, increasing water scarcity, water, labor- and energy-intensive nature of PTR, high labor wages, adverse effects of puddling on soil health and succeeding crops, and high methane emissions, this production system is becoming less profitable. These factors trigger the need for an alternative crop establishment method. The direct-seeded rice (DSR) technique is gaining popularity because of its low input demand compared to PTR. It is done by sowing pre-germinated seeds in puddled soil (wet-DSR), standing water (water seeding), or dry seeding on a prepared seedbed (dry-DSR). DSR requires less water and labor (12–35%), reduces methane emissions (10–90%), improves soil physical properties, involves less drudgery and production cost (US$9–125 per hectare), and gives comparable yields. Upgraded short-duration and high-yielding varieties and efficient nutrient, weed, and resource management techniques encouraged the farmers to switch to DSR culture. However, several constraints are associated with this shift: more weeds, the emergence of weedy rice, herbicide resistance, nitrous oxide emissions, nutrient disorders, primarily N and micro-nutrients, and an increase in soil-borne pathogens lodging etc. These issues can be overcome if proper weed, water, and fertilizer management strategies are adopted. Techniques like stale bed technique, mulching, crop rotation, Sesbania co-culture, seed priming, pre-emergence and post-emergence spray, and a systematic weed monitoring program will help reduce weeds. Chemical to biotechnological methods like herbicide-resistant rice varieties and more competitive allelopathic varieties will be required for sustainable rice production. In addition, strategies like nitrification inhibitors and deep urea placement can be used to reduce N2O emissions. Developing site and soil-specific integrated packages will help in the broader adoption of DSR and reduce the environmental footprint of PTR. The present paper aims to identify the gaps and develop the best-bet agronomic practices and develop an integrated package of technologies for DSR, keeping in mind the advantages and constraints associated with DSR, and suggest some prospects. Eco-friendly, cost-effective DSR package offers sustainable rice production systems with fewer resources and low emissions. Graphical abstract
PubDate: 2022-05-06
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- Assessing the Potential of Water Reuse Uptake Through a Private–Public
Partnership: a Practitioner’s Perspective-
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Abstract: Around 20% of the global water abstractions are originated by the industrial sector, while water demand overall will increase by 20–33% by 2050. Wastewater could provide an alternative source of water for industrial activities. There are not many studies exploring the potential of treated wastewater use under a private–public partnership (PPP), despite their potential of contributing to an effective integrated water management through the creation of inter-sectorial synergies. This paper aims therefore to provide a holistic overview of the main factors that affect the effectiveness of PPPs in using treated municipal wastewater in the industrial sector. Through a systematic literature review, the main barriers, drivers, industries and different applications of water use are analysed. Barriers and drivers are classified through the inductive Gioia method into seven categories. The results showed that economic and technical aspects related to the feasibility of the scheme were most prominent in the literature, while water availability seems to be central driving factor for such water reuse schemes. The conclusion of PPPs in water reuse, however, relies on the possibilities for such a partnership and on bridging the needs of the two parties, which entails effective communication through negotiation and information sharing. This paper is a first step to understanding how water circularity practices under an interconnected and sustainable urban environment can be facilitated and explored.
PubDate: 2022-05-05
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- Circular Economy and the triple bottom line in Norway
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Abstract: Abstract A more circular economy aims to reduce global material consumption, make the most out of our resources, and create a more sustainable economic system. In this paper, we analyze how different circular economy actions in Norway affect indicators in the three pillars of sustainable development: economic prosperity (measured by value added), social equity (measured by employment opportunities), and environmental protection (measured by greenhouse gas emissions). Based on priorities of the EU’s Circular Economy Action Plan and characteristics of the Norwegian economy, we have selected five value chains for analysis: electronics; textiles; construction and building; packaging and plastics; and metal efficiency. The results show that there is a substantial potential for increased value added and employment in Norway related to the circular transition, while at the same time mitigating greenhouse gas emissions. For increased material efficiency (plastic packaging, metals), employment gains can be substantial, while imports of metals and plastics decrease, resulting in lower upstream emissions, but higher Norwegian emissions. For consumer goods (textiles, electronics), the positive effects come about from shifting from a buy-and-discard model to a buy-repair/share/use longer model, resulting in increased employment in Norway and decreased imports, which potentially leads to lower emissions, but also lower employment globally. For re-use/re-purpose and recycling of building materials, emission-intense material extraction and processing activities are replaced by more labour intense activities, but has the largest potential of decreasing emissions within Norway.
PubDate: 2022-04-21
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- Wastewater Treatment Systems for City-Based Municipal Drains for Achieving
Sustainability-
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Abstract: Abstract Currently, drains in several cities carry both rainwater and untreated greywater with black water from settlements nearby. In emerging economies, cities often become hubs of illegal and unauthorised colonies which thrive in the vicinity of stormwater drains. These create a unique pressure on the infrastructure and pose a challenge for civic bodies for ensuring adequate outflow quality as per environmental discharge norms. The flow characteristics (variable, seasonal, minimum or continuous flow) and structural constraints (the bed and site complexity) in the design of these drains restrict the options for implementing large wastewater treatment plants. In addition to the above, the techniques that rely heavily on structural, mechanical and energy inputs are economically not feasible and demand more maintenance, which acts as hindrances in these harsh environments. In these scenarios, human health is a critical factor, as frequent exposure to sewage without any protective equipment during maintenance could lead to health hazards and high-stress levels. The utilisation of decentralised and distributed wastewater treatment systems offers an in situ choice for achieving the desired result in quality and nutrient removal in the influent. These systems enable the water to be safely discharged to rivers or channelised for agriculture or industrial purposes. Furthermore, the solid fraction in the sewage is extracted as manure or composted after curing. The selection, design and implementation with maintenance are essential for improved efficiency and productivity of the system. Therefore, an investigation into such processes presently utilised, and a few other possibilities are discussed in this paper. This paper aims to establish various concepts and schemes that municipal corporations could adopt sustainably for efficient treatment within the limited spatial and temporal boundaries offered by city drains.
PubDate: 2022-04-14
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- A Life Cycle Assessment on Single-Use and Reuse Beer Cups at Festivals
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Abstract: Abstract This article aims at comparing the environmental performance of single-use and multiple use beer cups at festivals. A life cycle assessment is conducted for assessing the potential environmental impacts of 1000 servings of 0.5 l of beer at Norwegian festivals. Three single-use systems are considered: one with incineration, one with open loop recycling, and one with closed loop recycling. The two first single-use systems and the reuse system assume the use of PP cups, while the latter uses PET cups, as PET is the only plastic material which currently allows a closed loop recycling system. Existing literature has shown that the choice of system depends on several site-specific parameters such as the definition of the trip rate in a reuse system and on the festival participant’s behaviour. In this article, we calculate the trip rate in the reuse system based on the cup return rates, which varies between all systems. The return rate was calculated using empirical data for Norway’s largest festival. In addition, the recycling stage is modelled with both cut-off and system expansion for assessing the robustness of the results. To reduce environmental impacts related to the serving of beers, festivals are advised to get an overview of the flows of the cups after use, to measure and limit their waste, and to have good collection systems for handling the cups as intended. The results of this study show that this is more important than the choice of cup material. LCA practitioners should be cautious with the implications of the end-of-life modelling approach on the results.
PubDate: 2022-04-13
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- Food Waste to Livestock Feed: Prospects and Challenges for Swine Farming
in Peri-urban Sri Lanka-
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Abstract: Abstract Using farm animals for their natural capability of “recycling” food waste (FW) that is unfit for direct human consumption can support a circular economy as shown in the case of Sri Lanka’s Western Province. The reuse of organic residues including FW as animal feed is a traditional agricultural practice in Sri Lanka but is less studied within an urban FW context. A survey of piggeries using FW in and around the rapidly urbanizing city of Colombo showed that FW is a major feed source in the farms accounting for on average 82% of total feed. About 40% of the farms collected the FW mainly from hotels, restaurants, and institutional canteens. Urban FW is supplied to farmers free of charge when collected directly from the sources, although 26% of the farmers collected FW via intermediaries against a fee. As FW is collected daily, the restaurants appreciate the reliable service, the farmers the low-cost feed, and the municipality the reduced FW volumes to be collected. However, this triple-win situation encounters challenges such as (tourist related) seasonal low supply, which was exacerbated under the Covid-19 lockdown of food services. Another area of concern refers to biosafety. Although the large majority of interviewed farmers boil FW which contains raw meat or fish, there is a paucity of related guidelines and control. Given the benefits of FW use, it is worthwhile to explore how far these informal partnerships could be scaled without increasing transport costs for farmers, while introducing biosafety monitoring. For now, the regulatory environment is highly siloed and does not support material transitions across sector boundaries towards a circular economy.
PubDate: 2022-04-12
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- Circular Economy and Central Bank Digital Currency
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Abstract: Abstract The emergence of central bank digital currency (CBDC) provides an opportunity for central banks to make an important contribution to the transition to a circular economy. This paper examines the role of a central bank digital currency in the circular economy. Central banks can contribute to the transition to a circular economy in two ways: first, by making central bank digital currency accessible to circular businesses and other players in the circular economy sector, and second, by looking into how the design features of CBDC can support circular economy goals. On the role of CBDC in the circular economy, I argue that a central bank digital currency offers a better payment option for circular economy financial transactions; central bank digital currency can lead to greater financial inclusion for ‘unbanked’ informal workers in the circular economy; CBDC can create a gateway that allows a central bank to offer financial assistance to distressed circular businesses; using a central bank digital currency can reduce illicit activities in the circular economy; a central bank digital currency can be used to provide stimulus funding to support circular businesses during crises; and, a central bank digital currency can offer low transaction cost for circular economy financial transactions. The paper also shows the link between CBDC and the circular economy. It also offers a critical perspective on the link between CBDC and the circular economy.
PubDate: 2022-04-07
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- Application of Sugarcane Bagasse in Chemicals and Food Packaging Industry:
Potential and Challenges-
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Abstract: Recent research and development in the field of sugarcane bagasse processing offers a promising hope to the sugarcane industries. Various value-added bioproducts and technologies have been developed by the utilization of waste sugarcane bagasse. Other applications such as the production of energy, biodegradable material, packaging products, construction, and bioadsorbents still need to be evolved more so that the remaining sugarcane bagasse can be utilized. Few limitations of sugarcane bagasse valorisation make difficulties in the commercialization of green technologies; therefore, there is a need to develop efficient processes to utilize it as a raw material for value-added products and various other applications. Graphical abstract
PubDate: 2022-03-29
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- Circular Economy of Water: Definition, Strategies and Challenges
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Abstract: Abstract The circular economy has attracted considerable attention also in relation to water, an indispensable element to the sustainment of life and a critical input resource for the world economy. Despite a growing body of research on the circular economy of water (CEW), a consistent terminology and a clear conceptualisation of CEW strategies are lacking. Without such aspects, decision-makers, scientists and professionals may be hindered in developing a shared understanding of problems and solutions and exploiting new opportunities in the domain of the CEW. Furthermore, we argue that water is a unique element in the circular economy because it is a resource, a product and a service with no equivalent in the economic system and should be considered and valued as such in the CEW. Accordingly, we provide the definition of the CEW as an economic framework for reducing, preserving and optimising the use of water through waste avoidance, efficient utilisation and quality retention while ensuring environmental protection and conservation. Building on an analysis of academic literature and cases studies, we outline and illustrate a set of nine CEW strategies, including Rethink, Avoid, Reduce, Replace, Reuse, Recycle, Cascade, Store and Recover. Finally, we identify normative (legislation), governance (roles and responsibilities) and implementation (barriers and opportunities for application) challenges that need to be addressed to facilitate the transition to a comprehensive CEW.
PubDate: 2022-03-29
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- Environmental Assessment of Two Irrigation Systems in an Organic Tomato
Crop System Under Manure Compost Fertilization: a Sustainable Circular
Economy Approach in Catalonia (Spain)-
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Abstract: Abstract The circular economy is proposed as a promising strategy for both dealing with the current environmental issues and providing socio-economic benefits. The transformation of organic waste materials into a reusable product for crops is a way to contribute to the change from a linear economy to a circular model. Manure reuse as fertilizer is the most adequate option for the management of such material. This study aims to highlight the environmental impact assessment of two irrigation systems (i.e. integrated and dripping) of a tomato crop fertilized with manure compost and the integration of life assessment methodology with a circular economy. The life cycle assessment methodology was used to calculate the environmental impacts through the whole life cycle. Life cycle assessment is a methodology to assess the environmental performance of a product system in a circular approach. The research focused on the climate change impact category and the water applied to crops to know the effect on the yield of fruits. Overall, comparing two crop seasons, it was observed that a greater water supply contributed to higher yield fruit for the two irrigation systems studied. On the other hand, in regard to the environmental impacts, it was observed that the integrated system showed a better environmental performance than the dripping system for all categories assessed. Considering that livestock manure is transformed into organic fertilizer which is reintroduced into the agronomical system through the application to a tomato crop, a circularity indicator of 70% (organic fertilizer from the composting process × total mass of manure−1) was obtained in this agronomic system.
PubDate: 2022-03-26
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- Cost Modelling to Support Optimum Selection of Life Extension Strategy for
Industrial Equipment in Smart Manufacturing-
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Abstract: Abstract Industrial equipment/machinery is an important element of manufacturing. They are used for producing objects that people need for everyday use. Therefore, there is a challenge to adopt effective maintenance strategies to keep them well-functioning and well-maintained in production lines. This will save energy and materials and contribute genuinely to the circular economy and creating value. Remanufacturing or refurbishment is one of the strategies to extend life of such industrial equipment. The paper presents an initial framework of cost estimation model based on combination of activity-based costing (ABC) and human expertise to assist the decision-making on best life extension strategy (e.g. remanufacturing, refurbishment, repair) for industrial equipment. Firstly, ABC cost model is developed to calculate cost of life extension strategy to be used as a benchmark strategy. Next, expert opinions are employed to modify data of benchmark strategy, which is then used to estimate costs of other life extension strategies. The developed cost model has been implemented in VBA-based Excel® platform. A case study with application examples has been used to demonstrate the results of the initial cost model developed and its applicability in estimating and analysing cost of applying life extension strategy for industrial equipment. Finally, conclusions on the developed cost model have been reported.
PubDate: 2022-03-24
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- Circular Economy and Sustainability as a Basis for Economic Recovery
Post-COVID-19-
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Abstract: Abstract The global COVID-19 crisis has led to a reduction in productive and commercial activity, as well as in the use of transport, which has led to a notable decrease in pollution levels. The paralysis of economic activity requires the commitment of government policies to impose economic recovery laws based on sustainability. The aim of this paper is to briefly review the situation that COVID-19 has caused in the environment and sustainability. In addition, a critical view of it is provided, and possible solutions for a sustainable economic reconstruction are offered. The coronavirus is revealing the fragility of the current economic system, based on profit and continuous consumption of resources. This model generates many problems such as pollution, contribution to climate change, loss of biodiversity or unfair distribution of wealth. This must be an opportunity to redefine the social purpose of business and help generate a sustainable world through economic policies. For economic recovery, a plan oriented towards energy and ecological transition and based on the circular economy must be followed.
PubDate: 2022-03-01
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- Circular Bio-economy—Paradigm for the Future: Systematic Review of
Scientific Journal Publications from 2015 to 2021-
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Abstract: While ‘renewable’ is the keyword in a bioeconomy and resource conservation is the motivation behind a circular economy, a circular bioeconomy is one in which waste streams from renewable bio-resources are looped back into the technosphere—open-loop or closed-loop recycling or conversion from matter to energy. This systematic review brings together 385 publications from 2015 to 2021, originating from 50 countries and appearing in 150 journals, into a coherent account of the status quo of published research on circular bioeconomy. The numbers bear testimony to the growing interest in this field of research. Germany is the leading contributor to the scientific literature base (10%), while the Journal of Cleaner Production (9%) tops the list of journals in the fray. The methodology adopted has been clearly explained, and the discussion has been segmented into sub-sections and sub-sub-sections to do justice to the diversity of the nature of the publications. A little flexibility in organisation of the flow of the text has been availed of, to improve readability. The circular bioeconomy can be visualised as a set of ‘many through many to many’ relationships, enabling both economies of scale and scope in the longer run. This calls for extensive collaboration and cooperation among the numerous stakeholders involved. Several barriers will have to be overcome. Technology impact assessments and sustainability risk appraisals need to be carried out in order to ensure and convince stakeholders that they are on the right path. But as one knows and will appreciate, challenges lurk where there exist opportunities to be availed of, to replace the take-make-use-dispose paradigm of a linear economy to the grow-make-use-restore alternative. Graphical abstract
PubDate: 2022-03-01
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- Sustainable Manufacturing Strategies Adopted by ConstructionEquipment
Manufacturing Industries in India-
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Abstract: Abstract India is a developing country and is laying emphasis on the infrastructure growth and is focusing on development of telecommunications, airlines, airports, ports, highways, railways, housing, power, motor vehicles, banking, manufacturing and others. The impact of development is seen on the environment in the form of air pollution, greenhouse gases emission, water pollution, land pollution, noise pollution, waste generation and its management, depletion of natural resources, loss of biodiversity, loss of water bodies, deforestation, threat to animal life and so on. An approach to balance development, environment impact and wellbeing of society is the need. Sustainable development, along with sustainable manufacturing strategies and sustainable performance measures, is required to facilitate and monitor the infrastructure growth, manufacturing growth and use of goods and services to keep a balance between environment and growth. For the infrastructure development, construction equipment are widely used and hence it is important that their manufacturing and use should be sustainable. This paper focuses on the sustainable strategies adopted by earthmoving and construction equipment manufacturing industries in India which include prevention of pollution, clean technology, product stewardship, life cycle assessment and impact on the environment in the entire life cycle of the product. The paper concludes that the efforts in this direction are presently focused on reducing CO2 emissions, energy conservation and designing and manufacturing the products reducing impact on environment by making them more fuel, carbon and consumable efficient. The scope of this paper is limited to original equipment manufacturers of the earthmoving and construction equipment and does not cover the complete value chain in the life cycle of product. The methodology deployed included introduction to the topic, review of literature, formulating questionnaire and getting responses on questionnaire from the earthmoving and construction equipment manufacturing organisations and use of the statistical tool of Relative Importance Index (RII) for analysing the result. The goal of this paper is to identify the sustainable strategies adopted by these organisations and what aspects are currently being focused and what are the other focus areas. The same is adequately described in the result and discussion section. High importance is given to technologies reducing CO2 emissions, energy consumption and conservation and designing the product to be more fuel-, carbon- and consumable-efficient. Circular economy concepts, integrating the suppliers to reduce environmental impacts in value chain, and renewable energy use are in the initial phase and catching up.
PubDate: 2022-03-01
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- Current Panorama, Practice Gaps, and Recommendations to Accelerate the
Transition to a Circular Bioeconomy in Latin America and the Caribbean-
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Abstract: Abstract The rampant use of resources and the increasing risk of scarcity have been contributing to greater awareness regarding the need for maintaining resources in use for longer and the shift to renewable alternatives, in which perspective the concept of a circular bioeconomy (CBE) has been permeating the most diverse sectors. Therefore, the study’s aims were manifold: identify (i) existing practices and initiatives, (ii) barriers and potential opportunities and (iii) existing gaps for advancing a circular bioeconomy in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) and (iv) provide recommendations aiming at the development of a circular bioeconomy (CBE) in the region. To that end, a systematic review of the existing academic literature was done, and reports from relevant non-peer reviewed sources were also consulted. CBE practices in LAC are concentrated in only a few of the countries in the region and very much revolve around recovering value from by-products and waste streams. There are a range of economic, technological, environmental, and social barriers. Opportunities for a CBE are mainly related to the use of waste as raw material (found abundantly in the countries being investigated) and the use of new techniques/technologies. The gaps between the current state and a successful CBE are related to policy, scaling-up, collaborations, and establishing efficient business models. Recommendations for a successful CBE in the region include greater engagement of public actors, investing and developing the local economy, establishing biorefineries and industrial parks, and finding new technological routes for bioresources.
PubDate: 2022-03-01
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