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Hospitals in the Netherlands generate approximately 1.3 million kg of waste from the polypropylene (PP) wrapping paper (WP) used to wrap surgical instruments each year. The aim of this study was to develop a method to recycle WP waste into new medical devices. WP was recovered from Maasstad Hospital, Netherlands. The WP was melted into bars, granulated, and mixed with virgin material at different ratios and temperatures. Dog bones were injection-molded from volume (v.%) virgin, mixed (%R), and recycled (100%R) granulate, and a tensile testing machine was used to compare the material properties before and after ten disinfection cycles at the sterilization department. Then, 25 instrument openers were made from the 50%R material and circulated for four weeks. The data indicated no significant differences in the mechanical properties at different melting temperatures. For dog bones made from the 100%R, 50%R, and virgin granulate, the Young's moduli were 1021 (SD13), 879 (SD13), and 795 (SD14) MPa, and the strains were 8%, 12%, and 14%. Ten disinfection cycles did not significantly change the material properties. After one month, the openers did not show any deterioration or damage other than surface scratches. The results indicated that the initial WP melting temperature did not influence the mechanical properties. Although devices could be produced directly from the recycled WP granulate, increasing the recycled granulate in the mix ratio increased the strength and brittleness. It is feasible to recycle WP waste into a high-quality raw material for the injection molding of medical devices without using additives. This would allow hospitals to become more compliant with the circular economy enabling economically viable and circular processes that positively contribute to cleaner technical processes, sustainable products, and the reduction of medical waste. ⁃ Circular reprocessing of surgical waste into high quality raw material. ⁃ Enables cleaner processes for reduction of medical waste. ⁃ Increases sustainable development. ⁃ A new method to decrease the production of medical waste. ⁃ Decreases the shortage of base materials and costs. ⁃ Environmental and sustainability assessment: designs for products based on the "green" wishes of customers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reducing environmental impact is a necessary condition for sustainability, but it is not a sufficient one. The current 'linear' economy not only leads to environmental impact; it also depletes finite natural reserves. This is why moving towards a more 'circular' economy is desired. One of the obstacles in implementing a circular economy are knowledge gaps about the nature and quantity of input and output flows of production processes. The aim of this paper is not to quantify environmental impact, but rather to bridge these knowledge gaps for a particular type of vegetable production, by detailing the resource input and output of a typical high-tech glasshouse tomato crop in the Netherlands. In particular, this paper has focused on material flows potentially suitable for relatively short-term re-use and/or substitution in a circular economy. The paper describes how figures have been collected about the sub-processes involving each of the material flows, the accuracy and range of such numbers, and how their consistency can be finally verified. After combining all numbers into three diagrams, this paper finally discusses the potential and obstacles for recycling of each of the material flows discussed. For instance, the results show that there is a good potential for recovering minerals from non-fruit biomass, where over half of Mg, Ca and S end up, at 58%, 70% and 70% respectively. However, its being virtually inextricably mixed with plastic is a huge barrier, requiring changes such as biodegradable plastics. Finally, by quantifying the flows per unit of produce (1 kg tomato), this paper provides numbers for dimensioning possible symbiotic production processes, such as aquaculture or animal husbandry. [Display omitted] • We quantify six flows of consumables per kg tomato yield in a Dutch greenhouse. • At least half of the water, CO 2 , and nutrients supplied does not end up in the tomato. • No matter how efficient, greenhouse horticulture needs to become more circular. • Results from various sources lead to a consistent order of magnitude. • Most Ca, Mg and S goes to non-yield biomass, showing potential for recovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An important promise of the circular economy (CE) is the creation of social value alongside increased resource circularity. Yet, while synergies between social value and resource circularity are possible, the trade-offs between social value and resource circularity, and strategies for transforming trade-offs into synergies, are under-investigated. In this paper, we look at trade-offs, synergies and strategies through the lens of stakeholder theory, and we adopt a mixed methods approach to reveal the trade-offs, synergies and strategies related to the CE in the Netherlands. We report the results of (1) a three-stage policy Delphi study involving a panel of 47 circularity experts from different sectors (academia, business, government, civil society), and (2) interviews with 27 strategic leaders in circular organizations. The findings show that in the Netherlands, circular organizations create synergies at the organizational and value network level but face significant trade-offs between circularity and social value at the societal level. Synergies are fostered by an ethically motivated communal sharing strategy and impeded by economic motivations. These findings advance current debates in stakeholder theory and unearth conditions that enable and hinder the CE to live up to its social promise. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The circular economy (CE) emphasises closing material loops to retain material value. The current practice of tyre recycling in the Netherlands, through a system of extended producer responsibility (EPR), appears an overwhelming success, with claims of 100% recovery. Yet, there is limited critical understanding regarding the system's circularity, considering alternative value retention options and resource recovery outcomes. This study analyses this Dutch tyre EPR system and reflects on how it can be improved from a systemic CE perspective. It uses a qualitative case study approach, using interviews and a review of policy, legal and EPR reporting documents. This paper assesses the governance of this sector and reflects on the existing system, including its circularity and value retention outcomes. Our analysis reveals seven central issues concerning how the EPR system currently functions, resulting in limited circularity and sustainability outcomes, despite high material recovery levels. To address these issues we recommend the continuous improvement of recovery and sustainability targets beyond a single product life cycle, a more transparent and inclusive governance system, as well as a greater focus on sufficiency strategies, e.g. design for durability and a broader transformation of transport models. This paper adds a practical understanding of the capacity of EPR to contribute to CE. • Evaluating an older circular economy practice to address emerging sustainability concerns. • Dutch EPR scheme for tyres achieves high collection and recovery levels. • Seven issues are identified, including transparency, monitoring and rationale for recycling options. • EPR systems must integrate greater value chain collaboration and continuous improvements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the transition towards a circular economy, refurbishment can be applied to regain value from used products, and to reduce waste. Refurbishment is a process in which a professional company collects and restores used products in order to resell these products to new consumers. Building on insights from the remanufacturing literature, this research is the first to provide a comprehensive understanding of the factors that influence consumer acceptance of refurbished products, and in specific refurbished mobile phones. We adopted a qualitative approach using in-depth interviews with consumers (n = 20) of new and refurbished phones to gain rich insights into consumers' considerations that play a role in the choice of a refurbished product over a new product. This paper maps out the main factors that influence consumer acceptance of refurbished mobile phones. Our findings uncover that the majority of consumers do not take a refurbished product into consideration as a consequence of a lack of awareness and a misunderstanding of what refurbishment actually entails. In addition, refurbished products are often rejected as a consequence of a negative trade-off between perceived risks and benefits. Personal, contextual and product-related factors have been identified that influence consumers' assessment of a refurbished product's risks and benefits. Finally, the findings have been translated into practical guidelines for designers and marketers to positively steer consumer perception of refurbished products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This special issue asks how product lifetime extension in a circular economy can best be understood and managed. Product lifetime extension through design for durability, reuse, repair, refurbishment and remanufacture, and the associated circular business models, are regarded as an important way forward to achieving a circular economy. As a research field, it has however not received much attention. The collection of 24 papers was partly drawn from the PLATE 2017 conference (Product Lifetimes and the Environment), November 2017 in Delft, the Netherlands. This special issue introductory article provides an overview of the content of the articles, divided into three topics: product design in a circular economy, circular business models, and environmental & economic impact assessment. One of the overall findings is that there is a lack of empirical validation and critical evaluation of many of the widely-held assumptions about design and business model innovation for product lifetime extension. More empirical research is needed in order to build a repertoire of validated approaches, cases, tools and methods, taking into account rebound effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]