Search

Recycling is emerging as both a viable alternative to extraction in many industries and a cornerstone of the circular economy. In this paper, we assess the role of paper and cardboard recycling on the forest sector, from both an economic and carbon perspective. For this purpose, we add the recycling industry to an existing forest-sector model in an attempt to capture its effects on other wood products and the overall forest resource. As the forest sector has an important potential for climate change mitigation, this model allows us to assess the effects of increased paper and cardboard recycling on the availability of the natural resource and the carbon balance of the forest sector. We show that these results are strongly linked to the hypotheses of substitutability and/or complementarity of recycled pulp and virgin pulpwood. Although we find increased emissions at the pulp sector level, the effects on emissions in other wood products are small. When pulp products are considered substitutes, we find the impact on total net sequestration to be positive. In the case where pulp products are considered complements, we find the impact on total net sequestration to be negative. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Advanced recycling offers a unique opportunity for the circular economy, especially for mixed and contaminated plastics that are difficult to recycle mechanically. However, advanced recycling has barriers such as poor selectivity, contaminant sensitivity, and the need for expensive catalysts. Reported herein is a simple yet scalable methodology for converting mixed polyethylene (high-density and low-density polyethylene recycled polyethylene) into upcycled waxes with up to 94% yield. This high yield was possible by performing the reaction at a mild temperature and was enabled by using inexpensive and reusable table salt. Without table salt, in otherwise identical conditions, the plastic remained essentially undegraded. These upcycled waxes were used as prototypes for applications such as water- and oil-resistant paper, as well as rheology modifiers for plastics. Their performance is similar to that of commercial wax as well as rheology modifiers. A preliminary economic analysis shows that the upcycled waxes obtained by this table salt-catalyzed approach offer three times more revenue than those reported in the literature. This pioneering discovery opens the door for a circular economy of plastics in general and polyolefins in particular. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Textile, apparel, and fashion (TAF) industries contribute significantly to global environmental pollution at every point of the supply chain. Clothing manufacturing and transportation produce a large volume of waste and high greenhouse gas emissions, often taking advantage of cheap labor in developing countries. As a result, stakeholders are becoming more aware of the effect of the textile, apparel, and fashion industries on the climate and human rights, thus pushing businesses to mitigate their environmental damage. This paper offers a systematic literature review of sustainability trends in the TAF industries in the last 20 years. Bibliometric tools are also used to support the content analysis of the papers. The findings reveal three primary research areas in the TAF context: consumers' behaviour towards sustainable clothing, circular economy initiatives, and sustainability challenges across the whole supply chain. As a result, this study highlights literature gaps and provides future research suggestions for each identified research cluster. In addition, drivers and barriers to implementing corporate social responsibility and circular economy practices are identified. Consequently, this study will help researchers and academicians work in this area to identify unexplored sub-fields, which reflect some potential investigation areas for expanding scientific literature on the topic. Finally, this study supports practitioners and managers in exploring the main research themes addressed in the scientific field, providing knowledge to improve and align business models with current sustainability trends. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Manganese (Mn) contained in cellulose is partially responsible for an increased consumption of paper bleaching chemicals (like O2, H2O2), consequently diminishing the efficiency in pulp processing, darkening the pulp and deteriorating pulp quality. Usually, Mn in the paper industry is removed employing the environmentally critical EDTA. A greener alternative constitutes, however, the use of siderophores, high-affinity metal-chelating organic compounds that are produced by microorganisms to acquire metals (Fe and Mn among others), like desferrioxamine B (DFOB) or desferrioxamine E (DFOE). The use of native Mn-transporter proteins, like PratA, constitutes another possibility for Mn removal. The evaluation of utilizing siderophores or PratA for Mn removal from cellulose in a circular economy scheme is therefore essential. Firstly, Mn removal from cellulose was performed by immobilizing siderophores or PratA on magnetic beads (M-PVA C22). Secondly, the beads were incubated overnight with a 2% cellulose suspension, allowing Mn-ligand complex formation. Finally, cellulose suspensions were submitted for Mn quantification, employing either the TCPP [Tetrakis(4-carboxyphenyl)porphyrin] method, the PAN [1-(2-pyridylazo)-2-naphthol] method or the Inductively Coupled Plasma-Optical Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-OES). When non-immobilized ligands were employed, a 31% Mn removal was achieved; when using immobilized ligands, around 10% Mn removal was obtained. Treated and untreated cellulose was analyzed by SEM and the Mn distribution between the solid and liquid phase was parameterized using adsorption isotherm models. This novel greener method proved to be feasible and easy, leading to potential improvements in the paper industry. Next research steps are to optimize Mn removal and quantify Mn recovery after ligand decoupling before scaling-up. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increasing global concern about climate change and the circular economy have successfully established itselves in international and national policies over the last decade, with the aim of reshaping the production and consumer behavior. The circular economy is one of the core pillars of European Union policy and its success depends on the energy efficiency, reducing production costs, and maintaining employment levels by ensuring continuous strong economic independency of the region. While crises are unavoidable and continue to appear, this paper aims to project the impact of any crisis on sustainability transitions using data analysis of the Global Financial crisis from 2008 to 2009 and discuss how the success of the circular economy implementation and environmental policies could be affected. The paper notes that the global financial crisis of 2008–2009 had a short-term positive impact on environmental degradation and that economic interests overshadowed environmental goals. Due to the recent events of the ongoing Russia and Ukraine war, COVID-19 societal and industrial behavior has shifted from sustainable to linear and has taken a step backward in reducing environmental pollution and achieving Sustainable Development Goals. Analysis of already present data and the context of the 2008–2009 global financial crisis, reviewing of COVID-19 impact on the global economy, health sector, and environmental policies allows us to predict the consequences, as it relates to the future of circular economy policy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Buildings are energy- and resource-hungry: their construction and use account for around 39% of global carbon dioxide emissions; they consume around 40% of all the energy produced; they are responsible for over 35% of the EU's total waste generation; and account for about 50% of all extracted (fossil) materials. Therefore, they present a significant challenge to meeting national and international Net Zero targets of reducing greenhouse emissions and fossil resource use. The CircularB Project, is at the heart of this issue, which will underpin synergies of multi-scale circular perspectives (from materials, to components, to assets and built environments), digital transformation solutions, data-driven and complexity science, stakeholder behavioral science, and interdisciplinary capabilities towards achievable, affordable and marketable circular solutions for both new and existing buildings, for sustainable urban design, and for circular built environments across Europe. This paper contributes to the project by deriving new insights into the stakeholders' influences, inter-relationships, and obstacles in the implementation of circular economy concepts on existing building stocks in Europe, which represent over 90% of whole building assets. In order to identify and derive the insights, our study is rigorously based on (i) a robust critical literature review of key documentations such as articles, standards, policy reports, strategic roadmaps and white papers; and (ii) interviews with relevant stakeholders and decision makers. Uniquely, our work spans across all scales of CE implementation from materials, to products and components, to existing building stocks, and to living built environments. The findings point out the current challenges and obstacles required to be tackled. Inadequacies of financial incentives and governmental enforcement (via policy, legislation, or directive) are commonly found to be the most critical obstacles found throughout Europe. Circular economy is the global challenge and not just a single country can resolve the climate issue without the cooperation of other countries. The insights thus highlight the essential need for harmonized actions and tactical/pragmatic policies promoted and regulated by the European Commission, national and local governments who can dominate the influence, promote inter-relationship, and overcome the barriers towards circular economy much more effectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The main goal of the paper is to review the existing state and propose a model solution for the introduction of the waste-to-energy concept in the Republic of Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, as these Balkan countries are a source of high pollution due to the inefficient use of fossil fuels and the operation of coal-fired power plants. Besides, these countries have very low level of waste management, which results in the uncontrolled disposal of a large amount of waste which consists of plastic and microplastic materials which are difficult to decompose in natural ecosystems. Methods: Considering the type and objectives of the study, a mixed research method was chosen as a combination of exploratory research, descriptive research, explanatory research, and modeling. Results: The main result of the research shows the unfavorable situation in the field of waste management in the Republic of Serbia, as well as in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Both countries have adopted adequate strategies and plans, but waste management is not implemented accordingly, Nevertheless, numerous problems create considerable opportunities for improvement, especially regarding the potential for energy production from waste, which is an important approach to implementing the circular economy model. The study showed that the situation is particularly unfavorable in rural areas. Hence, the research proposes (a) a novel model for waste-to-energy governance and (b) a novel model for waste-to-energy management in rural areas. The research was done, and models were developed based on the examples of the Republic of Serbia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina. However, the results can be used in countries with a similar level of waste management and with a larger share of rural areas. Conclusions: The paper emphasizes the importance of a holistic and systemic approach to waste management, with emphasis on using waste-to-energy concept as particularly applicable in the transition to circular economy. This study proposes a model for the integration of waste management (with emphasis on plastic and microplastic) and energy efficiency, presenting a model of approach that can be used in countries that are at the beginning of introducing a circular economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is a common perception that circular economy (CE) principles positively influence the servitisation strategy. The firms improve their productivity and resource/energy efficiency by engineering functional efficacy in a sustainable product. However, the managerial practices that support this distinctive business model (BM) are relatively sparse despite their liaisons. Therefore, this paper is focused on addressing this gap by investigating the managerial practices that firms can implement to explore the downstream opportunities of CE and servitisation BM. This paper uses a systematic literature review (SLR) approach to frame a theoretical model. The findings were improved by cross-validation using a text mining technique, demonstrating how organisations may co-create and extract value through CE and servitisation to develop a flexible management system. This study used the business model canvas antecedents to map a set of managerial practices to understand the mythography of the servitisation approach with CE principles. The findings show that identifying key stakeholders assists a firm in selecting an appropriate strategy based on sustainable value propositions that include cost structure and revenue streams to close the resource loop. Managerial commitment is critical in achieving the maximum economic, environmental, and societal potential. A few research agendas with distinct research orientations are proposed to mitigate the significant research gaps in CE and servitisation literature. This study provides managers and practitioners with some intriguing insights as it emphasises the need to select a suitable strategy to utilise a firm's resources successfully. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Leather industry is facing new trends on production and consumption patterns due to society concerns. Circular economy is proposing a transition from the current economic model to a more sustainable one, in which waste is designed out and resources will be reused and recycled as long as possible. In this transition, Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is an important tool to help decision-making. In the present review, 39 English-written peer-reviewed papers related to LCA and leather have been found, 30 of which were published in the last 6 years, meaning LCA is nowadays an important subject. Papers are presented within 4 types, focused on: 1) the whole leather production process, 2) a single step in the production process (e.g, new technologies for unhairing), 3) waste treatment and recycling, and 4) life cycle thinking with ideas on long-term strategies for leather industries. As discussed in the literature review, leather industry has important challenges to address: increasing sustainability and transparency on the supply chain, and strengthening the beauty of leather. Taking up these challenges from a life cycle perspective will help leather industry flourish in the coming future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Among soft magnetic materials, non-grain-oriented electrical steel (NGOES) has emerged as a promising option for various applications. NGOES material plays a crucial role across the entire energy value chain, spanning from power generation through generators to the consumption of electrical energy in electric motors and appliances within the electrical components industry which can lead to a notable enhancement in the performance of electric motors. NGOES are widely used for soft magnetic applications due to their cost and also their superior magnetic properties, including high electrical resistivity, excellent saturation magnetization, and minimal magnetostriction. NGOES are anticipated to serve as a driving force in the future global market for electric power consumption. The magnetic properties of NGOES are profoundly influenced by metallurgical factors such as Si content, grain size, crystallographic texture, sheet thickness, and surface roughness. These crucial variables play a crucial role in shaping the magnetic characteristics of NGOES materials which will be covered in this review paper. This paper provides an overview of different manufacturing routes for NGOES, as well as the advantages and disadvantages of these processes. Moreover, alternative manufacturing techniques and their capability to optimize the microstructure and to fabricate high Si NGOES sheets are discussed. Also, it addresses the challenges associated with mass-producing materials with high Si content using traditional methods. These advancements in this area present promising opportunities for enhancing the manufacturing processes of NGOES and ultimately enhancing the performance of future electrical machines and generators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The world is witnessing the fast replacement of fossil-fuelled vehicles by environment-friendly electric vehicles (EVs). This unprecedented growth of EVs is expected to burden the material resource consumption of batteries constituting metals from the earth. However, circular economy in the electric vehicle battery (EVB) ecosystem can provide a sustainable solution to resource management. This has triggered the need to understand and analyse the EVB ecosystem players. Long-term analyses of behaviours of the different variables under dynamic and complex systems are best carried out by the application of system dynamics (SD)—a continuous simulation methodology. This research paper has contributed in developing an interactive SD-based model for the circular production and consumption flow of EVBs to analyse the behavioural dynamics of the different variables involved. Five scenarios have been simulated for the analyses. The behaviour trends of the variables obtained from the SD-based simulation model have provided useful insights and five recommendations for resource sustainability. The recommendations are: the necessity for adopting Industry-4.0 in EVB manufacturing, awareness creation of circular thinking amongst all stakeholders, enhanced end-of-life (EOL) period of EVB, compelling need for high EVB recollection efficiency after EOL, and improvement in the reprocessing technology of EOL batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Malaysia has experienced a significant increase in revenue from palm oil production over the years, resulting in a substantial quantity of biomass during the extraction of crude palm oil. To promote sustainability in the oil palm industry, it is essential to utilize the generated oil palm biomass effectively, aiming for a zero-waste approach. The biomass conversion not only generates additional revenue but also contributes to industry sustainability and environmental friendliness. However, factors such as biomass availability, conversion technologies, product demand, and time constraints must be carefully considered. The objective of this study is to analyze the potential conversion of oil palm biomass into bio-based products using a mixed-integer linear programming (MILP) model. The model was optimized using the General Algebraic Modelling System (GAMS) software version 40.1, which considers critical factors, including biomass availability, conversion technologies, product demand, and time considerations. The study findings indicate that the generation of electricity and paper pulping offer a favorable return on investment and short payback periods, despite their initial high startup costs. In the case study of Kota Tinggi, electricity generation yielded the highest profit (RM 25,856,806.14), followed by paper pulping (RM 10,708,378.18), and fertilizer composting (RM 142,053.51). In contrast, 227,0538.4 kWh of electricity can be generated, amounting to 49.50 million Ringgit Malaysia, and 5,063.6 tons of bio-fertilizer, totalling 3.13 million Ringgit Malaysia. In conclusion, this model facilitates the selection of optimized profitable products, a key focus of the study, and helps determine the most profitable approach for utilizing oil palm biomass. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The main goal of the paper is to define the level of energy efficiency in the economies of selected countries in the Balkan region that have opted for the EU Green Deal, a circular economy, and a transition to carbon neutrality. Energy efficiency, as a determinant of carbon neutrality, was selected as an indicator for analysis because it records particularly unfavorable indicators in the region under observation. The research was carried out on a sample of seven Balkan countries and their surrounding areas. An initial qualitative analysis was followed by a quantitative analysis based on a combination of statistical methods and soft computing. Six indicators were selected for the analysis covering a period of 30 years (1990–2020). Results: A significant obstacle to the green transition and the region's transition to a circular economy and carbon neutrality is energy efficiency and energy related pollution—the reliance of most countries on coal-fired thermal power plants for electricity generation. The research results showed the following: (a) the degree of economic development and membership in the European Union are not significantly related to the level of energy efficiency; (b) most of the sampled countries are in the initial stages of introducing activities to achieve carbon neutrality; and (c) only Slovenia has documented consistent indicators and evident advancements in its efforts to achieve carbon neutrality. Based on the research findings, proposals for improvements were made in the direction of policymaking and in a methodological sense. Conclusions: The implementation of circularity and carbon neutrality as a long-term goal of the European Union is not necessarily related to the level of economic development, nor can its trajectory be exclusively ascertained by means of data processing and monitoring. A more precise understanding of a carbon-neutral future can be achieved through the incorporation of qualitative data to a greater extent, a realistic evaluation of historical facts and their repercussions, as well as projections of the effects that reality and global developments after 2022 will have on each country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Τhis paper proposed a sustainable treatment scheme for effluents from fruit and vegetable processing industries with high organic load that combined heterotrophic microalgae cultivation with microalgae spray drying producing end-products of commercial interest (biofertilisers and/or animal feed). A pilot plant was operated with feedstock from a fruit and vegetable processing industry and its final products were assessed. The pilot plant was powered by renewable energy (solar energy supported by biomass), which minimized the carbon footprint and operating costs of the process. Through the ultimate analysis of the produced algae, it was evident that in all cases it could be commercialized as a solid NPK organic fertilizer being in line with the respective EU and Spanish legislation framework. As far as the animal feed perspective is concerned, the end-product of the pilot plant could be efficiently included in the feed of various animals, substituting a significant part of the animal feed required. The results from the implementation were used for the design of a full-scale implementation of the innovative treatment scheme, proving that 1.26 ton/d of microalgae could be produced, which could be later used as fertiliser and/or animal feed from the daily wastewater production of a medium sized fruit and vegetable processing company. From an environmental perspective, the proposed solution provides a gold standard example of the circular economy concept, since 1.15 kg CO2 equivalent per kg of sludge avoided could be saved. Additionally, the use of renewable energy (solar and biomass) will result in a saving of 0.531 kg of CO2 emissions per kWh consumed. Conclusively, the proposed treatment scheme could meet circularity and sustainability since the end-products quality permits their integration into new value chains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This paper addresses the escalating global issue of electronic waste (e-waste), a consequence of the burgeoning demand for electronic products coupled with their transient lifespan. The rapid accumulation of e-waste is a significant concern, especially in the context of climate change, necessitating a detailed analysis of current management strategies and the development of sustainable management practices. The intricate relationship between e-waste and climate change is emphasized, illustrating how improper disposal and recycling practices substantially contribute to greenhouse gas emissions. A meticulous analysis is conducted to critique the prevailing e-waste management strategies, identifying their shortcomings and the urgent need for enhancement and globalization of these protocols. The paper argues for a fortified, universal approach to e-waste management to address the deficiencies in current methodologies. A set of strategic, sustainable solutions for e-waste management is proposed, encompassing comprehensive regulatory frameworks, advanced recycling technologies, the incorporation of eco-design principles, and the enhancement of consumer awareness. These solutions pivot around the circular economy concept, viewing waste as a valuable resource rather than a disposal predicament, thereby promoting sustainability. Short conclusion: The paper concludes that a consolidated, global approach to e-waste management is imperative for addressing the proliferation of discarded electronics and is pivotal in the wider context of mitigating climate change and fostering sustainable development. It underscores the transformative potential of sustainable e-waste management, transforming a formidable challenge into an opportunity for environmental conservation, economic growth, and societal progress, emphasizing the importance of viewing e-waste management as a vehicle for sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reviews the literature on sustainability in the food vending industry to understand whether: (1) the topic of sustainable development is addressed at the academic level when it comes to the sector; (2) whether or not the industry is on the right track towards sustainability, considering only academic knowledge; and (3) what might be useful topics for its development. To this end, 71 articles were analysed using Scopus as a database. The results indicate a rather fragmented situation and a clear prevalence of studies focussed on social and nutritional issues, leaving little room for environmental or circular economy-related issues. However, the analysis also revealed that the field holds potential for sustainable transformation in the agribusiness sector. Future studies could use this review as a springboard for further investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The move to sustainable energy is crucial as China balances fast economic expansion and environmental sustainability. This paper examines the complex interaction between the circular economy and biomass consumption as drivers of sustainable energy transition in China. This paper examines the economic possibilities of various measures to promote green development and decrease environmental consequences. In recent years, China's circular economy activities on resource efficiency, waste reduction, and recycling have grown., including agricultural leftovers, forest debris, and organic waste streams, may provide renewable energy and reduce emissions. This paper uses economic, environmental, and policy Biomass resources evaluations to examine the economic feasibility of circular economy concepts and biomass consumption in China. Current practices, technology advances, and regulatory frameworks are examined to see whether these measures may help China's sustainable energy transition objectives. The research examines the synergies and trade-offs of circular economy practices and biomass consumption on job creation, energy security, greenhouse gas emissions, and economic development. We assess the economic viability of incorporating these technologies into China's energy environment via case studies and scenario assessments. This study should educate policymakers, entrepreneurs, and stakeholders on China's sustainable energy transition, circular economy, and biomass use economic potential and obstacles. This research adds to the sustainable development debate and helps shape China's energy future more sustainably and economically viable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, the concept of a circular economy for carbon neutrality is emerging. In particular, waste plastics are one of the key wastes, and efforts are being made to recycle them as energy rather than dispose of them. Accordingly, the technology of producing and utilizing pyrolysis oil from waste plastics attracts attention. As it is an early stage of technology development, however, there are not many demonstrations and papers that analyze the technology broadly. The goal of this study is to propose building a circular economy on a university campus through waste plastic pyrolysis oil technology. To show its feasibility, waste plastic pyrolysis oil technology is analyzed comprehensively from economic, environmental, and policy perspectives using the scenario analysis technique on the university campus level. A methodology of the scenario analysis technique enables predicting the uncertainties. Since plastic pyrolysis oil technologies and carbon neutrality are accompanied by many uncertainties, this technique is expected to be an appropriate methodology for this study. First, the amount of pyrolysis oil production from waste plastics from the campus is estimated. Then, the cost and carbon emissions from waste plastics are estimated if the pyrolysis oil technology is used instead of the traditional waste disposal process. As a result, the total economic profits of up to 425,484,022 won/year (354,570.01 $/year) are expected when a circular economy is built using waste plastic pyrolysis oil. In addition, it is also confirmed that greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions can be reduced by up to 840,891 kgCO2eq/year. The waste plastic pyrolysis oil satisfies Korea's gas pollutant standards and is consistent with the GHG reduction policy. It can be concluded that building a circular economy at the university campus level using waste plastic pyrolysis oil technology is suitable from economic, environmental, and policy perspectives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The global population continues to grow, which expands demand for raw materials. Meanwhile, governments are developing circular economy strategies within cities and their industries. A circular economy utilizes refurbishing, reusing, remanufacturing, and repairing of products and materials. For companies, this involves to set targets and to rethink their supply chain. This paper seeks to model an exhaustive multi-echelon closed-loop supply chain (CLSC) network. This network functions within uncertainty, and the model optimizes three different objectives. The first objective function maximizes the network's profit; the second objective function minimizes network emissions. The last objective function maximizes job positions created by the network. Optimizing three contradicting objectives is a problem, so an augmented epsilon constraint method is applied to improve the model. Given the rise of fast fashion in developed countries, this model is used in the clothing industry in Montreal, Canada. The model includes three scenarios over five years with two types of products. The result shows the attractiveness of such a network for companies looking for profit, sustainability, and entrepreneurship in the garment industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Remanufacturing has been modelled extensively from an economic perspective. However, there are relatively few studies focusing on models that consider the implementation difficulties in industry, such as data availability and model transparency. This paper aims to identify how remanufacturing initiations can be economically assessed with models particularly suitable for industry. These models should contribute to disseminating the know-how about initiating remanufacturing to transit industries towards more circular product flows. To fulfil this aim, a systematic literature review was conducted. The search resulted in a total of 964 papers published till August 2021. The results show that assessment models could be categorised into a two-dimensional framework indicating the level of computer support needed to handle the models and the level of data requirements to use the models, both of which are considered essential in the industrial implementation of the models. The review revealed and structured a further need for research on assessing remanufacturing initiation profitability, especially on economic assessment models designed to assist industries without previous remanufacturing knowledge in such an initiation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The textile sector is considered one of the most polluting sectors of society. In order to generate a transformation in value-added products from the textile production chain, the educational sector plays a strategic role. This paper validates theoretical propositions about teaching good practices in sustainability and circular economy. The theoretical assumptions that supported this study are circular economy and sustainable fashion. The study was carried out in Brazil, and it includes Fashion Design courses at the undergraduate level. Primary data was obtained by the application of a questionnaire with teachers, coordinators and students of 54 courses. The main results show the absence of the term teaching of good sustainability practices within the political pedagogical projects of the analyzed courses. We conclude that, although there is an internalization of sustainability and circular economy practices, it is still necessary to evolve a higher maturity stage in the type of practices disseminated and in the emphasis on practices associated with the core of the circular economy. Practices are capable of generating a new meaning in the fashion sector, circulating materials and retaining value in resources in a strategic way and generating innovative solutions for the sustainable fashion segment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The terms sustainability in the supply chain has increasingly received significant attention in academia and industries in recent years, which obliges the government and private sectors to adhere sustainability. In this regard, businesses are responsible for their activities' social, environmental, and economic aspects, named triple bottom line. This paper studies sustainable supply chain practices in the mobile industry aiming at exploring sustainable supply chain practices under context of big data. In addition, the relationship of circular economy versus sustainability is under discussion and remains ambiguous. This research contributes to this discussion by providing new insight into exploring the role of circular economy in basic and advanced sustainable supply chain practices. The main focus of this paper is to investigate customers' points of view since it is desirable and imperative to reach their expectations. From customers' point of view, sustainability governs their health and environment resulting in persuading decision makers' sensitivity to customers' perceptions and pressures in formulating supply chain strategies. Therefore, we conducted a thematic analysis, a powerful method that strives to understand experiences and opinions on social media from August 2017 to July 2019 looking over customers' perceptions patterns. The findings reveal that environmental practices in the basic and advanced categories have the most significant attention compared to other triple bottom line dimensions by customers on social media. The findings reflect strong relation between advanced sustainable supply chain practices and circular economy. This study will conclude that mobile phone companies consider circular economy as a means to improve their advanced sustainable supply chain practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

More attention has been paid to the circular economy in recent years due to a focus on sustainability. Reverse logistics is an example of this, as it is critical for embracing and implementing the circular economy concept across supply chains. Nowadays, consumers are affecting every aspect of sustainability due to social media's exponential growth. This paper addressed a knowledge gap in sustainability and consumer behavior, which significantly impacts managerial decisions in reverse logistics, leading to reduced waste on returning products. The concept of sustainability is broadened by emphasizing specific aspects, including consumers, profit, the environment, and the company's employees. Additionally, an extended conceptual model of sustainability was proposed, discussed, and analyzed to determine the relationship between reverse logistics performance and sustainability using a brand-new linguistic interval-value hesitant fuzzy DEMATEL technique. The proposed model could be applied to various industries, including food, automotive, and electronics. To this end, the electronics and automotive industries were analyzed and compared. The findings indicated that, in the context of sustainability and to achieve more sustainable reverse logistics, consumers as a new stakeholder, in addition to other stakeholders, play a critical role. The study results could aid managers in governing reverse logistics in a circular economy ecosystem that is sustainable. Additionally, the model proposed in this paper enables policymakers and decision-makers to gain additional insights into developing a more resilient sustainable supply chain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The aim of this paper is to reconsider the necessity for the green transition and the key preconditions for the implementation of a circular economy in Western Balkan countries. With the objective of the research in mind, the method of analysis and synthesis was applied to determine (1) regulatory and institutional prerequisites for the green transition; (2) the need for the Western Balkan countries to redefine the model of sustainable economic growth towards the green transition; (3) the development opportunities for recovery defined in the Green Agenda for the Western Balkans; and (4) the possibility of implementing the circular economy in the Western Balkans. Main text: The main findings of the research indicate that: (1) the countries of the Western Balkan region, following the example of the EU, should define a national strategic approach to the green transition with an accompanying action plan and regulatory framework; (2) the biggest challenge of the green transition is the reform of the energy sector and the restructuring of the energy-intensive economy; (3) the countries have untapped potential in renewable energy sources and report the improvement of energy efficiency; (4) the circular economy can boost the green transition, because the countries of the region have a five-time lower value of resource productivity than the average of the EU, while the generation of waste (excluding major mineral wastes) per GDP unit is lower compared to the EU; (5) cross-sectoral governance should be more coordinated. Conclusions: The green transition might be a development opportunity for the Western Balkans, which should enable sustainable economic growth as well as energy security and environmental protection. However, the implementation of the Green Agenda is not easy, because the region faces the problem of underdeveloped regulatory and institutional capacities that might provide not only the base for long-term planning but also financial resources for the efficient implementation of projects. In addition, it is essential to understand the principles of the Green Agenda and the interaction of all activities that should enable the achievement of defined goals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Phosphorus recycling is an important cornerstone of sustainable phosphorus management and required to establish a circular economy in line with the EU Green Deal. Animal bones contain phosphate which can be recovered and processed into bone char. Animal bone char has a fertiliser potential. In the past, the EU lacked measures to market these fertilisers on the internal market. With the adoption of the Fertilising Products Regulation in 2019, the EU sought to incentivise recycling fertiliser production. Against this backdrop, the aim of this paper is to first provide the key elements of the new regulation and to second assess the extent to which it enables marketing bone chars as fertilisers. To this end, a qualitative governance analysis is applied. Results: Results show that the Fertilising Products Regulation closes an important regulatory gap by establishing the legal framework for diverse recycling fertilisers, including bone char fertilisers. However, a lengthy adoption process hinders the marketing of bone char fertilisers and contaminant limits require improvement. Conclusions: Ultimately, the promotion and use of recycling fertilisers is a necessary but complementary approach for the circular economy. A comprehensive transformation of the sector is needed to align it with global environmental goals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we examine the impact of the circular economy on global resource extraction. To this end, we make an input–output analysis dynamic by combining it with an agent-based model of the capital sector. This approach allows us to study the evolution of the circular economy due to the endogenous decisions of firms on whether to invest in the capital expansion of primary or secondary sectors. Previous studies have examined the macroeconomic effects of the circular economy using scenarios that exogenously impose higher recycling rates, improved resource efficiency, or lowered demand on the economy. Such studies typically assume static consumer budgets, no price adjustments, capital investments in recycling infrastructure, or technological innovation. We relax these assumptions in a novel agent-based input–output model (ABM-IO). We show that the circular economy can significantly reduce the extraction of iron, aluminum, and nonferrous metals if implemented globally. However, the leakage effect may also cause some metal-intensive industries to relocate outside the EU, offsetting the circular economy efforts. The risk of the leakage effect is especially high for copper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The automotive industry is involved in a massive transformation from standard endothermic engines to electric propulsion. The core element of the Electic Vehicle (EV) is the battery pack. Battery pack production misses regulations concerning manufacturing standards and safety-related issues. In such a fragmented scenario, the increasing number of EVs in circulation is growing exponentially, opening new challenges for managing the End-of-Life (EoL) of their battery packs. This paper analyses the use of robotics for EVs' battery pack disassembly to enable the extraction of the battery modules preserving their integrity for further reuse or recycling. The analysis highlights that a complete automatic disassembly remains difficult, while human-robot collaborative disassembly guarantees high flexibility and productivity. The paper introduces guidelines for designing a robotic cell to disassemble a battery pack with the support of an operator. The design of the workcell evaluates the technological requirements for disassembly, the analysis of potentially explosive atmospheres (ATEX) of the area around the battery pack, and the design and optimisation of robotics tools in the ATEX zone. The work proposes solutions according to the current international standards. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The circular economy and its various recirculation loops have become a major study subject over recent years, particularly in the field of agriculture, which is a significant source of waste production. There have been several studies focused on transforming agricultural lignocellulosic waste with "sustainable" processes: economically viable, socially accepted, and environmentally friendly. Thanks to "life cycle thinking", it is possible to assess these potential environmental impacts. However, these environmental analyses generally require a massive volume of specific data, the collection of which can be time-consuming and tedious, or impossible to practice. On the other hand, scientific articles describing the processes for the valorization of agricultural by-products are intriguing but rarely exploited sources of data. In this paper, a hybridization of data science techniques and environmental analysis was proposed to improve life cycle analysis (LCA) thanks to Machine Learning (ML). ML part of the proposed approach is based on unsupervised learning, which is composed of two methods: dimension reduction using the Multidimensional Scaling and clustering technique using k-means. Composed of five steps and dedicated to researchers or R&D engineers, the approach is oriented towards offering a decision on technologies and processes for waste to energy in the early eco-design step. The case study in the domain of pre-treatment processes for corn stover and rice straw is detailed. The results show that all impacts that concern the chemical pollution of soil and water are found in the same cluster. Other impacts are detected in the same cluster which is related to the land use and the land transformation. In the same vein, two purely mechanical pre-treatments have been identified and grouped by Multidimensional Scaling and k-means. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lignocellulose-bearing sediments are legacies of the previously unregulated wastewater discharge from the pulp and paper industry, causing large quantities of toxic organic waste on the Baltic Sea floor and on the bottom of rivers and lakes. Several km2 are covered with deposits of lignocellulosic residues, typically heavily contaminated with complex mixtures of organic and inorganic pollutants, posing a serious threat to human and ecological health. The high toxicity and the large volume of the polluted material are challenges for remediation endeavours. The lignocellulosic material is also a considerable bioresource with a high energy density, and due to its quantity, it could appeal to commercialization as feedstock for various marketable goods. This study sets out to explore the potential of using this polluted material as a resource for industrial production at the same time as it is detoxified. Information about modern production methods for lignocellulosic material that can be adapted to a polluted feedstock is reviewed. Biochemical methods such as composting, anaerobic digestion, as well as, thermochemical methods, for instance, HTC, HTL, pyrolysis, gasification and torrefaction have been assessed. Potential products from lignocellulose-bearing sediment material include biochar, liquid and gaseous biofuels, growing substrate. The use of a contaminated feedstock may make the process more expensive, but the suggested methods should be seen as an alternative to remediation methods that only involve costs. Several experiments were highlighted that support the conception that combined remediation and generation of marketable goods may be an appropriate way to address polluted lignocellulose-bearing sediments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to meet the contemporary concept of sustainable development, the reuse of biological waste has also been emphasized. Lots of papers nowadays study the extraction of primary residues. The disposal of secondary residues is often neglected. The chemical composition and biological activity of secondary residues of Turkish Gall (SRTG) were researched in this paper. We selected five methods to extract the SRTG, and the extraction conditions were water, hydrochloric acid buffer (pH = 2), artificial gastric juice (pH = 2), phosphate buffer (pH = 6.8), and artificial intestinal solution (pH = 6.8). The changes of phenolic components were determined by spectrophotometry and high-performance liquid chromatography. The acid-base environment did not affect total polyphenols contents and gallic acid ethyl ester contents in SRTG. But it affected the gallic acid contents in SRTG. The contents of gallic acid in the hydrochloric acid buffer extraction groups were 1.63 times that of the water extraction group. The SRTG were extracted by hydrochloric acid buffer also had better inhibition on Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. In addition, SRTG showed positive effects on 1,1-Diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl Free, 2,2′-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid), ·OH radicals, and Ferric ion reducing antioxidant power. Some active components of SRTG can be effectively released through the digestion of simulated gastric juices in vitro. The change of active ingredients affects the antibacterial and antioxidant capacity. The results provide data support for the conversion of secondary residues into products, such as feed additives. The SRTG has certain contributes to the value of the circular economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Energy and waste management sectors are considered important for the country's progress towards adopting sustainable consumption and production (SCP) practices and achieving Sustainable Development Goals. However, the rapid pace of urbanization, energy-intensive growth approaches, and generation of large quantities of waste have led to severe environmental degradation of cities in India. While the government has taken several initiatives for increasing resource efficiency, limited research has been done in an Indian context to explore the policy and institutional factors. The paper focuses on challenges relating to policy enablers within the energy management in buildings and construction and demolition waste sectors; 28 semi-structured interviews were conducted with stakeholders associated with both these sectors. The findings indicate that though India has been integrating climate change measures into its national policies and enhancing the domestic market's readiness for a circular economy, successful implementation of policy framework(s) urgently requires lifestyle and behavioural changes in the society. The study further identified the role of key stakeholders including government, businesses, and consumers, for transition to a low-carbon economy for both these sectors. This paper presents a bottom-up approach to understand the changes required in the enabling environment for the uptake of SCP practices that can be adapted by other emerging economies in the Asia Pacific region for building resource efficiency. The importance of soft factors relating to institutional capacities and governance structure is raised by the analysis in this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our current approaches to resource management are not sustainable. Businesses typically follow a linear approach where resources are not well utilized. Maritime ports are part of the problem, as they need to optimize the use of resources and generate negative externalities. However, they can also be important drivers of sustainability if they effectively transition to Circular Economy (CE). In this study, eight principles of CE and ten CBMs, are discussed and used to analyze ports in three areas of intervention. This paper analyzes current CE practices in European ports and the potential to adopt Circular Business Models (CBMs) to create value for port stakeholders and contribute to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Drivers and barriers to CE were analyzed, and the level of development was assessed. The ports studied are in Europe and are generally regarded as Maritime Industrial Ports (MIP). The methodology includes a Semi-Systematic Literature Review (SSLR) and a SWOT analysis to examine CE practices in maritime ports. This methodology helped enhance the analysis of Drivers and Barriers to CE transition. This study concludes that ports are developing circular practices and business models on the technical and biological flows, but the level of implementation is moderated to low. Six drivers for adopting CE principles were identified, including European ports' experience in circular activities and the Quality & Environmental Management System (EMS). In addition, seven barriers to CE were highlighted, including the diversity of port characteristics and the different interests and ambitions of port stakeholders that make it difficult to standardize measurements and transition to circularity. Circular development goals in ports should be integrated, and development must balance social, economic, and environmental sustainability. The findings and implications of this study will help Port Authorities (PA) in the strategy, policy development, and implementation of CBMs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Putting in place circular economy strategies is an urgent challenge to face. In this scenario, manufacturing processes play a relevant role as efficient material reuse enabler. Scientists have to make an effort either to find new process or to rethink old process to reprocess end-of-life (EoL) component to recover both material and functions. In this paper, single point incremental forming (SPIF) process is used for reshaping sheet metal EoL components. The entire process chain was replicated including both deep drawing process (to imitate the end-of-life component) as well as SPIF operations (to obtain the reshaped components). The geometrical deviation as a consequence of SPIF operations was studied; two different SPIF directions (named inwards and outwards) were analyzed. A wide experimental campaign along with statistical analyses was developed to analyze effects of some geometrical parameters on the observed geometrical deviation. The results are promising as limited distortions were observed and sound components were obtained in all the analyzed process configurations. Despite that, some research is still needed to better standardize the reshaping process and bring it closer to an industrial applicability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coal is expected to remain a significant power supply source worldwide and shifting to carbon-neutral fuels will be challenging because of growing electricity demand and booming industrialization. At the same time, coal consumption results in severe air pollution and health concerns. Improvement in emission control technologies is a key to improving air quality in coal power plants. Many scientists reported removing air pollutants individually via conventional control methods. However, controlling multiple pollutants combinedly using the latest techniques is rarely examined. Therefore, this paper overviews the current and advanced physical technologies to control multi-air pollutants synergistically, including carbon control technologies. Also, the paper aims to examine how potential air pollutants (e.g., PM2.5, SO2, NOx, CO2), including mercury from the coal-fired power plants, cause environmental impacts. The data synthesis shows that coal quality is the most significant factor for increasing air emissions, regardless of power plant capacity. It is found that selecting techniques is critical for new and retrofitted plants depending on the aging of a power plant and other socio-economic factors. Considering the future perspective, this paper discusses possible pathways to transform from linear to a circular economy in a coal power plant sector, such as utilizing energy losses through energy-efficient processes and reuse of syngas. The article provides an in-depth analysis of advanced cost-effective techniques that would help to control the air pollution level. Additionally, a life cycle assessment-based decision-making framework is proposed that would assist the stakeholders in achieving net-zero emissions and offset the financial burden for air pollution control in coal-fired power plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The selection of transshipment and handling machinery in container terminals is a complex and responsible task due to a number of daily operations required. Accordingly, there is a need to manage a circular economy that integrates economic parameters and attitudes toward the environment. Depending on the size of the container terminal itself, a necessary set of means for performing transshipment and handling operations is designed. In this paper, based on the previously identified needs of the IRT Belgrade container terminal, the evaluation and selection of a reach stacker within large-scale group decision making under fuzzy environment was performed. The main goal of the paper is to create an adequate fuzzy group multi-criteria decision making (MCDM) model based on the integration of Fuzzy FUCOM (Full Consistency Method), Fuzzy MARCOS (Measurement of alternatives and ranking according to COmpromise solution) and Fuzzy Bonferroni Mean (BM) operator. It was formed a total of 15 criteria divided into three basic groups: economic, technological and technical, which were evaluated on the basis of 18 experts. To determine the weight values ​​of the criteria, the Fuzzy FUCOM method was applied through a total of 72 models averaged using the Fuzzy BM operator. Evaluation and selection of a reach stacker (RS) was performed using the Fuzzy MARCOS method and the Fuzzy BM operator. The obtained results have shown that the most important group of criteria in group decision making and processing of a larger set of data is the technological group. The best option is the seventh variant, and thus the requirement to select RS for the container terminal is met. The verification of the obtained results was performed through the following phases: the influence of the reverse rank fuzzy matrix, simulation of the weight values ​​of the criteria through 50 formed scenarios and comparison with two other MCDM methods in a fuzzy form. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the development of clean technology, inefficient motors that have been used for many years and the recyclable motor with damaged components are facing phase-out and scrap, leaving a large amount of waste resources and serious environmental pollution problems to be solved urgently. The purpose of this paper is to research the remanufacturing technology of obsolete permanent magnet synchronous motor (PMSM) and explore its future development prospects. In this paper, the PMSM is explored through theoretical analysis and finite element simulation, constructing the evaluation system of the remanufacturing of PMSM, and analyze the key problems of the remanufacturing scheme and design of PMSM. Secondly, the finite element model of the damaged PMSM is restored, by combining theory and magnetic thermal coupling simulation, the temperature of the motor is analyzed, and the data comparison of the finite element simulation is carried out with the experimental results, verifying the feasibility of remanufacturing of PMSM. On this basis, a water cooling structure is added to protect the stator winding insulation from high temperature damage and prevent the permanent magnet from demagnetizing due to high temperature., ensure the reliability of the motor under long-term operation, which prolongs the life of the motor, indirectly reduces the consumption of the motor manufacturing industry, reduces pollutants, saves energy and enterprise production costs, and promotes the sound development of motor in manufacturing industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The circular economy concept is popular among developed countries contributing to sustainable production, efficient resource utilization, a new economic model, and higher skill job creation. In production and consumption, it is inevitable in our modern life that we are used to the traditional linear economy cradle-to-cradle model. With the gap in developing countries within the Southeast Asia region, this research aims to understand the motivators and barriers to circular economy business model adoption among the manufacturing firms in Malaysia. Subsequently, the impact of sustainable production will be studied based on the circular economy business model adoption. Using the Theory of Planned Behavior and Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling, this study assesses the responses of 102 respondents from various industries with environmental management systems within Malaysia. Survey-based primary data was gathered to understand motivators and barriers that negatively influence the circular economy business adoption, affecting sustainable production. The findings show that motivators have a positive impact while barriers have a negative impact on circular economy business model adoption. Apart from the barriers and motivators, the research also assesses the level of circular economy adoption among manufacturing firms with certified environmental management systems. This implies a general overview for manufacturing firms in Malaysia regarding circular economy adoption and contributes to the studies done in developing nations. In conclusion, motivators positively impact the adoption of the circular economy business model, while barriers have a negative effect. In addition, adopting the circular economy model has a positive relationship with sustainable production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores current research trends in environmental studies, emphasizing the importance of addressing climate change through effective strategies and highlighting the crucial role of circular economy principles and resource management in achieving sustainability goals. It aims to investigate emerging patterns and analyze the altmetric impact of published research in the field of environment and pollution. Environmental Science and Pollution Research (ESPR), a research journal published by Springer since January 1994, serves as a cornerstone for scholarly discourse in this field. The first volume of ESPR was released in January 1994, and since then, all of the information has been indexed by significant databases like OCLC WorldCat Discovery Service, SCOPUS, and DIMENSIONS, amongst others. ESPR is one of the leading journals with a five-year impact factor of 5.4 and 1.01 SJR Q1 quartile as of 2023, with an h-index of 179. The journal has published influential articles that garnered high altmetric scores, indicating online attention and engagement, although there is a notable disparity between altmetric scores and total citations. Most of the highly cited articles cover various topics, including eutrophication, electrochemical advanced oxidation processes, insecticides, and phytoremediation. Most publications fall under environmental sciences, followed by pollution and contamination. Chinese institutions have substantially contributed to the journal, indicating a strong emphasis on environmental and pollution research in China. Our findings reveal significant growth in publication output and citation rates, alongside a notable disparity between traditional citation metrics and altmetrics, underscoring the need for comprehensive impact assessment methodologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Making decisions in the agriculture sector is a complex and challenging process, especially when aiming for sustainability. Decision makers (DMs) face multiple contradictions, particularly when trying to reduce environmental and social impacts without decreasing economic profits. Therefore, the objective of this paper is to support a group of DMs in choosing the most sustainable agricultural practices, extraction method, and waste recovery management method so that the entire product life cycle becomes circular and sustainable. To achieve this goal, we propose a new multi-criteria framework to help DMs to rank the different life cycle scenarios. The main contributions of this article are as following: first, to build sustainable scenarios under the circular economy thinking, the Structured Analysis and Design Technique has been integrated to close and valorize the waste loops for each scenario. Then, the 2-Tuple model was used to deal with uncertainty in expert knowledge application. Afterward, a synthetic dynamic weight algorithm was used to aggregate the DMs opinions. Next, the VIKOR method was extended with the 2-Tuple model to rank the sustainability of each scenario. To illustrate the applicability of the proposed approach, a case study of olive oil life cycle in Sfax-Tunisia was conducted. Also, we perform a sensitivity analysis to reveal the effect of the subjective parameter variations on the initially obtained ranking. Finally, the obtained results prove that the proposed method is more accurate and effective for the agricultural sustainability problem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nowadays, industrial symbiosis (IS) is recognized as a key strategy to support the transition toward the circular economy. IS deals with the (re)use of wastes produced by a production process as a substitute for traditional production inputs of other traditionally disengaged processes. In this context, this paper provides a systematic literature review on the energy-based IS approach, i.e., IS synergies aimed at reducing the amount of energy requirement from outside industrial systems or the amount of traditional fuels used in energy production. This approach is claimed as effective aimed at reducing the use of traditional fuels in energy production, thus promoting a circular energy transition. 682 papers published between 1997 and 2018 have been collected, and energy-based IS cases have been identified among 96 of these. As a result of the literature review, three categories of symbiotic synergies have been identified: (1) energy cascade; (2) fuel replacement; and (3) bioenergy production. Through the review, different strategies to implement energy-based IS synergies are highlighted and discussed for each of the above-mentioned categories. Furthermore, drivers, barriers, and enablers of business development in energy-based IS are discussed from the technical, economic, regulatory, and institutional perspective. Accordingly, future research directions are recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increase in population, rapid urbanization, the required infrastructure development, the linear development model adopted by the construction stakeholders, and the unaccountability of construction waste have put tremendous stress on existing natural resources. The world has witnessed a situation where resource optimization through mitigation strategies has become significant for sustainable construction. A circular economy keeps the resources in the loop for the longest possible, eliminating waste from the system. This paper attempts to identify the parameters and relevant indicators for bringing circularity to the construction industry. During the research, 144 indicators were identified through a literature review which was followed by a three-round Delphi survey to attain consensus from 30 experts. Finally, after three rounds, 78 indicators were shortlisted, which received maximum consensus among the experts (W = 0.75). Construction stakeholders and decision-makers can use the identified list of indicators to bring circularity to the construction industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we reveal and systemize development trends in the scientific field of the circular economy (CE). Our results imply that academic research on the CE focuses heavily on theoretical conceptualizations and technological solutions. However, these advancements alone are unlikely to help prevent from ecological collapse. With this observation in mind, we explore the potential held by a more relational, action-based approach to support a faster and more efficient transition from the linear economy to the CE. A useful combination of several bibliometric techniques gave us valuable references for re-focusing this area of science to adopt action-oriented research where a group of stakeholders collaborates and co-creates solutions. An analysis of valuable action-oriented CE studies reveals that scholars focus on the techno-economic aspect, where they develop ways to create optimal circular material and energy flows and co-design processes for products/services, as well as the organizational aspect, where they study self-sustainable community networks and participatory governance. We identify three research streams that would benefit from such action-oriented research for a faster practical implementation: sustainable supply chains, waste management, and business model innovation. A practice-based agenda is proposed to stimulate the scientific community to conduct future research on a CE that better supports companies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyzes the impact of methane emissions taxation on the recovery of the investments required for implementing technologies that use biogas energy in small wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) in Brazil. It is based on the hypothesis that the adoption of a national methane emission tax policy would encourage small WWTPs to become sustainable power plants. The procedure involved 173 anaerobic plants to analyze: (a) methane production; (b) available useful energy; (c) investments and avoided costs for implementing STHIL system (thermal drying sludge) and motor generator (electricity generation); (d) financial impact for two scenarios (C1: no emissions tax; C2: with tax). Positive environmental and financial results were observed for WWTPs, varying according to the period of time analyzed for both technologies. Investments must be made in cogeneration in anaerobic WWTPs for achieving satisfactory results. Taxation must not be viewed simply as a punitive instrument; on the contrary, it should be seen as a tool to encourage continuous process improvement. The circular economy may support the enlargement of the wastewater collection and treatment system, guaranteeing widespread sanitation conditions in urban areas. However, the actual implementation of a methane emission tax in Brazil still requires many rounds of discussion among sanitation companies, government, and civil society, to establish emission limits, and unit taxes, as well as to consolidate a carbon trade to follow through with this decision in the sanitation sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The recycling and remanufacturing of used electronic products are the great significance to environmental governance and resource management. From the demand perspective of remanufactured products, this paper proposes a demand-oriented recycling model of used electronic products based on the reverse supply chain and cooperative game theory. Taking cost–benefit analysis as the basis of the benefits model of the participants in the electronic waste product recycling system, a static multi-stage game model and a dynamic cooperative game model are established, there is an optimal strategy at each stage which may not be unique, depending on the decision model constructed. In the static multi-stage recycling mode, the strategic decisions at all stages are all based on the same demand for remanufactured products, the strategy decision at each stage of the recycling mode of waste electronic products is based on the multi-stage demand prediction of remanufactured products. The cost optimization of each link in the static multi-stage is to realize the optimal strategy combination of participants in each link. The study concluded that by setting demand as the main goal, both recycling and remanufacturing companies can improve their own benefits by realizing an optimal cost combination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Remanufacturing is one key element of a circular economy by closing the loop on the product level and thus maintaining or restoring the product design and the associated product properties. The remanufacturing process chain involves disassembly of used products, cleaning of parts, inspection and sorting of parts, reconditioning or replenishment by new parts, and product reassembly into as-new products. If new parts are required, additive manufacturing is a promising alternative to conventional manufacturing or the purchase of spare parts. Additive manufacturing is characterized by the layered or element-based construction of parts and does not require product-specific tools, enabling a cost-efficient production of individual pieces or small series. The use of specific design rules in product and process development to meet the requirements of the intended process enables and simplifies additive manufacturing or remanufacturing. Despite the design rules for additive manufacturing and remanufacturing, there are no design rules for implementing additive manufacturing technology in the remanufacturing process. In this paper, existing design rules on Design for Additive Manufacturing and Design for Remanufacturing will first be identified and compared, and possible synergies and conflicts of objectives will be analyzed. Based on this, a guideline for a Design for Additive Remanufacturing is developed to facilitate and promote the implementation of additive manufacturing in remanufacturing. The developed design rules enable the evaluation of a part aimed to be produced by additive manufacturing within the remanufacturing process and give advice on how to optimize the design of the part. This paper aims to derive general design rules for a "Design for Additive Remanufacturing" that specifically address the additive remanufacturing process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) is a thermoplastic material largely used in the footwear industry. Indeed, it is employed to produce outsoles and midsoles with high shock absorption. For producing these parts of the shoes, EVA is injected into a heated mold. During this process, gates and runners, which are necessary to allow a correct infill of the mold, are generated and they are treated as scraps and disposed in landfill. In this paper, a method for recovering pre-vulcanized EVA waste is presented and the possibility of developing a recycled product is investigated. EVA waste was shredded and dispersed into virgin EVA with a weight content of 10%. This mixture was employed in an injection molding process to produce samples for characterizing tensile, compression, and abrasion resistances and compare them with those of virgin EVA. At the same time, the environmental sustainability of the recovery process was evaluated through the standard methodology of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) by comparing the production of recovered outsoles with traditional virgin ones. The LCA was paired with a Life Cycle Costing analysis to quantify possible economic benefits of the innovative system. Even though the resistances are quite lower than the virgin EVA, the recycled one demonstrates remarkable benefits in terms of environmental and cost sustainability, paving the way for a zero-waste system to produce outsoles and, more in general, EVA components. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sustainability and the circular economy have become indispensable attributes of the supply chains of any industry or field of action in the effort to prevent damage to the environment and its negative economic and social impacts. Currently, most supply chains have focused on maximizing economic returns, neglecting the environmental and social impacts generated from the acquisition/processing of raw materials until the supply of products in the market and the post-consumer stage. An emerging alternative for achieving these attributes is the sustainable closed-loop supply chain (SCLSC). This paper offers a critical review of the literature on SCLSCs, their formulation as mathematical problems and the associated optimization models. No literature reviews were found with the focus, structure, and scope proposed in the present article, given that most publications associated with SCLSCs have a focus on the managerial perspective, including different topics, such as green supply chains, sustainable linear supply chains, reverse logistics management, collaborative practices, qualitative reviews of the effects of sustainability and circular economy. This review aims to identify gaps in the existing studies and the consequent opportunities for advancing the frontier of knowledge in future research on SCLSC optimization. We find that although studies for various specific industries that propose SCLSC optimization models have been published, they focus mainly on the economic and environmental dimensions of sustainability and with varying degrees of success, generally neglecting the social dimension. Furthermore, not all the technical cycles of the circular economy are dealt with in the literature in sufficient depth or detail, and, overall, the proposed models do not consider frameworks of reference in terms of economic, environmental, and social sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Construction and demolition waste has a high environmental and socio-economic impact due to its poor management infrastructure. In recent years, Dhaka, the capital city of Bangladesh, experienced significant growth in the real estate sector, which demands substantial construction and demolition activities within the city. Most of the construction and demolition waste finds its way to landfills, roadsides, and unapproved locations with a 2% recycling rate through local scrap vendors and unregulated recyclers. In an effort to assess the waste generation rates from ongoing construction and demolition activities, the current study employed the Site Visit method along with direct and indirect waste quantification methodologies for the investigated demolition and construction projects, respectively. The findings indicate that for per unit area (m2) of demolition and construction, the average WGR was found to be approximately 575.0 kg and 73.9 kg, respectively. Projection reveals that by 2025 and 2030, within Dhaka City, construction and demolition activities will generate roughly 1.15 MT and 1.69 MT of construction and demolition waste if no recycling actions are considered. Additionally, the results highlight the recycling potential of construction and demolition waste with respect to economic benefits through the maximum recycling rates for the relevant materials. Furthermore, to address the future of sustainable construction and demolition waste management infrastructure, this paper presents a detailed overview of the current onsite construction and demolition waste management practices as well as safety protocols for demolition and construction activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is an emergence of circular economy concepts and growth and multiplicity of urban labels adopted by cities. Therefore, this paper aims to analyze the correlation between the use of urban branding strategies and the circular economy. A review was carried out on the concepts of the different urban labels and then a bibliometric survey was carried out relating these brandings with the circular economy. The initial analysis relied on the use of 14 urban brandings, six of which did not show bibliometric results and, for this reason, were excluded from further analysis. As a result, the correlation between the circular economy and these 8 urban brandings—sustainable cities, smart cities, resilient cities, green cities, low-carbon cities, ecocities, inclusive cities, and knowledge cities—has been assessed in more depth. Among all combinations with "circular economy", the terms "smart cities" and "sustainable cities" these were the ones that presented the greatest recurrence in the literature, with 45.4% and 38% of the total of articles (108). Environmental science appears as the knowledge area with the highest quantity of publications. Italy, the Netherlands, and China stood out as the countries with a greater number of articles related to the subject. In general, the results point to a trend of plurality of urban brandings, which are adopted according to the characteristics and strategy of each city. It is also worth mentioning that, in many cases, these brandings are not competitors, because in many opportunities they can and must be worked on a complimentary basis by cities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) have become crucial elements of the regional bioeconomy—mainly through energy (waste to energy) and matter (nutrients–energy–water) recovery as an element of sustainable development of a smart city. In Poland, a decentralized system functioned with 3278 municipal wastewater treatment plants, and less than 80% of the population were connected to public urban wastewater treatment systems. The paper presents the technology selection and implementation of circular economy at WWTPs and the practical approach to challenge of energy-positive and environmentally friendly wastewater and sewage sludge sector. The modernization of technological lines of wastewater treatment has led to a significant improvement in the quality of treated sewage, at the largest WWTPs in Warsaw, Cracow, or Gdansk. Eleven WWTPs produce 34% of the total volume of approximately 337 GWh of electricity from biogas in Poland. The potential of producing electricity from biogas in WWTPs in Poland can be estimated at approximately 700–850 GWh per year. According to the data of the Statistics Poland in Poland, approximately 25% of sewage sludge was used directly in agriculture and for land reclamation. Simultaneously, more than 100 WWTPs produce compost at a high quality. However, only few produce organic/organic-mineral fertilizers, mainly with addition of calcium. Decentralization leads to different technologies used in wastewater treatment plants, and environmental, economic, and social conditions determine the direction of changes and introduction of a circular economy paradigm in the Polish wastewater sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]