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Circular Economy (CE) builds on the Industrial Ecology (IE) framework by taking a comprehensive approach to reducing waste, pollution, and pressure on natural resources within the broader multi-stakeholder production-consumption loop. Despite the potential benefits of CE, previous research has identified technical, organizational, and institutional challenges that hinder its widespread adoption. In this paper, we investigate how the cultural dimension of CE (e.g., stakeholders, socioeconomic interactions, values, and institutions), as opposed to its technical dimension (e.g., industrial symbiosis, reduce, reuse and repair), were addressed in previous literature, and show how applying Dewey's pragmatist philosophy to CE can facilitate its adoption beyond idealistic aspirations. To do so, we conducted a content analysis of 69 studies focusing on the definition and implementation of CE from technical and cultural perspectives. The findings show that environmental and efficiency motivations alone are insufficient for the successful large-scale implementation of CE. The cultural dimension of CE, encompassing the stakeholders involved in the production-consumption loop, their social and spatial relations, as well as the institutions and policies that govern their economic activities, is also essential to consider for effective CE implementation as it can be impacted by and impact CE. The paper concludes by discussing the contribution of a pragmatist perspective in taking the cultural dimension into account to advance national and subnational CE transition agenda. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Circular economy (CE) is gaining popularity at different levels with the promise of creating more sustainable processes. In this context, cities are implementing a number of initiatives that aim to turn them into sustainable circular systems. Whether these initiatives achieve their sustainability goals, however, is largely unknown. Nevertheless, as the application of CE strategies is actively encouraged by many policies across the globe, there is a need to quantify the environmental impacts and to identify the strategies that support urban sustainability. This paper analyses the extent to which research focuses on quantifying the environmental balance of CE initiatives promoted at the municipal level. To this end, the analysis scanned CE initiatives reported in cities around the globe and classified them into urban targets and CE strategies. In parallel, the paper conducted a review of the literature that uses industrial ecology tools to account for the environmental impacts of CE strategies. Results show a diverse geographical representation, as reported cities concentrated in Europe, whereas for environmental research, the main results came from China. In general, cities encourage strategies relating to urban infrastructure (47%), with and additional focus on social consumption aspects, such as repair and reuse actions. In comparison, research mainly addressed industrial and business practices (58%), but the approach to infrastructure was similar to that of cities, both with a special interest in waste management. Research has yet to assess social consumption and urban planning strategies, the latter essential for defining the impacts of other urban elements. Hence, there is a need to define the environmental impacts of the strategies that cities select in their quest for circularity. Research and practice can also benefit from working collaboratively so as to prioritize the CE strategies that best fit into the features of each urban area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding which drivers and barriers exist in the development of a circular economy (CE) is a relevant and timely endeavour. The aim of this paper is to contribute to this debate by analysing evidence regarding the different factors helping and hampering the development of a CE. Specifically, this paper focuses on the eco-innovation (EI) pathway towards a CE, and tries to coordinate available but fragmented findings regarding how “transformative innovation” can foster this transition while removing obstacles to sustainability. Drawing upon a new corpus of both academic and non-academic literature, this work offers a framework for analysis, as well as an evidence-based survey of the challenges, for a green structural change of the economy. We argue that the combination of the innovation systems' view with the more recent “transformation turn” in innovation studies may provide an appropriate perspective for understanding the transition to a CE. Ultimately, the paper aims to capitalise on these insights to contribute to the design of policy guidelines and organisational strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Industrial symbiosis is realised when companies work collectively and collaboratively to establish ‘waste-to-resource’ exchanges with one another. In previous work, we presented the architecture of a collaboration platform that allows companies to simulate and analyse the economic viability of establishing such waste-to-resource exchanges in the By-product Exchange Network (BEN) model. In this paper, we describe how we enhance the platform with a database engine for waste-to-resource matching. The database engine aims to fill the gap in information and knowledge of what valuable resources can be recovered from wastes or by-products, and what wastes or by-products can be used as substitute raw materials, and what technology or processes are required to make the waste-to-resource conversion happen. The database engine is built on a graph database that models and stores data for waste-to-resource matching, and comprises a query processor for determining the matches from the stored data. The database engine is implemented as a web application and demonstrated through use cases based on paper and food wastes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A strategy supporting the development towards a circular economy is industrial symbiosis (IS). It is a form of collaborative supply chain management aiming to make industry more sustainable and achieve collective benefits based on utilization of waste, by-products, and excess utilities between economically independent industries. Based on an extensive analysis of published studies on existing IS collaborations and interviews with central stakeholders of a comprehensive IS, this paper investigates IS from a supply chain collaboration perspective. A theoretical framework is built and used to discuss how industrial symbiosis pursues sustainability and to identify the main collaboration aspects and performance impacts. This framework is then used in the analysis of selected published cases. Based on this, we derive propositions on the organizational and operational requirements for collaboration in the context of IS networks, related to the supply chain integration and coordination practices. As IS has only received little attention in the operations and supply chain management community, our propositions directly lead to future research directions. Furthermore, the analysis in this paper provides directions to increase the feasibility and resource efficiency of IS networks and can hence be used by stakeholders involved in these networks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Develops a multi-objective model considering all sustainability pillars. • Discusses the importance of combining an ORC system with energy symbiosis. • Analyzes demand fluctuations and supply disruption effects on recovering energy. • Proposes a credibility-based robust interval type-2 fuzzy-robust solution approach. • Considers different scenarios regarding operational risks in practice. Industrial symbiosis (IS) integrates multiple industries to share resources (e.g., energy, water, by-materials) for economic and environmental reasons. Energy demand is dynamic, imposing financial and logistical barriers to achieving Circular Energy (CEn). This paper addresses this by proposing a new framework that integrates central heating networks of an Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) system to recover unused low-temperature energy. The framework is formulated as a stochastic programming problem to capture the uncertainty of some parameters to reduce the costs arising from fluctuations in energy supply and demand and, subsequently, wasted energy. Disruption management is also applied to handle the risk of suppliers becoming unavailable due to unforeseen events. The proposed multi-objective mixed-integer linear programming model optimizes the conflicting sustainability value preferences in the IS-based CEn network. The paper presents a novel robust possibilistic programming technique to control the epistemic uncertainty of the developed mode and develops a robust variant of the augmented ε-constraint algorithm (AUGMECON-R) to obtain the Pareto optimal solutions. The results provide a new platform for reducing the undesirable effects of worst-case energy symbiosis scenarios. The results show that using ORCs in an IS network increases the economic benefits of such a system by about 20% and reduces customer dissatisfaction from energy supply disruptions by about 27%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a collective approach for achieving economic, environmental, and social effects, industrial symbiosis is considered an important tool to realize a circular economy. In both literature and practice, the need for a third party facilitating the development of these resource exchanges between companies has been highlighted. This paper explores the actions and skills needed for achieving successful facilitation of industrial symbiosis by unfolding the facilitator role. It develops an analytical action-skill framework by systematically examining the relevant literature and conducting an in-depth analysis of a Danish facilitation team, and tests the developed action-skill framework by analyzing experiences obtained from seven facilitators in Nordic countries. In doing so, the study reveals a variety of actions of the industrial symbiosis facilitator that can be identified across literature and practice, belonging to five overarching tasks: Developing linkages, coordinating, capacity & knowledge management, value assessment & distribution, and developing beneficial conditions & scaling up. The results indicate that we observe a role in the process of homogenization. Another contribution is the uncovering of industrial symbiosis facilitator skills. The paper points to five overarching skills that are relevant to the facilitator role: Social skills, work approach, motivation & interest, ethics & responsibility, and knowledge. Subsequently, eight specific tensions between the identified actions are discussed. These make the role of the industrial symbiosis facilitator skill demanding and context-dependent and show an additional, implicit skillset. [Display omitted] • Literature describes Industrial Symbiosis Facilitators' actions, but not skills. • Nordic IS facilitation practice revealed skills and details on actions of the role. • The facilitator role is in a process of homogenization. • IS facilitation is skill-demanding and context dependent. • Crucial skill categories: Social skills, work approach, motivation, ethics, knowledge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An Eco-Industrial Park (EIP) is composed of a number of Industrial Symbiosis (IS) instances, which allow energy/material exchanges among the different industrial enterprises (Individual Actors, IA) therein. By so doing, IA's economic and environmental performances can be improved. Despite recent methodological advancements, the existing approaches to EIP design optimization are still suffering from several major problems: (i) dominance of the global EIP optimum over the local IA optimum, (ii) limited number of optimization objectives falling into the categories of economic and environmental objectives and (iii) EIP optimization performed without considering possible operational uncertainties. In addition, the adoption of the bio-inspired concept of IS makes EIP evolve from classical engineered systems towards complex engineered systems, with associated static and dynamic complexity characteristics. To highlight and understand the complexity features of EIP, in this paper we present them as intelligent networks for multiple energy and material exchanges, drawing a parallel with another typical complex system, that of the electric power network, in its modern Smart Grid (SG) concept, conceived to improve and optimize the distribution and use of electrical energy. Then, the modelling and optimization framework proposed in this paper adopts a more systematic methodology for accounting of the EIP complexity characteristics and addressing the associated optimization challenges. The proposed approach allows ensuring a sustainable and robust EIP design, thanks to the due account given to the related uncertainties and risks, e.g., due to major changes in the regulatory context and IA operational strategies, failures of interconnections among IA, interruption or shutdown of IA operation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Circular Economy (CE) has gained great traction over the past few years and is increasingly seen as a way to achieve sustainable development. However, the implementation of CE initiatives often leads to rebound effects (RE), which limits the sustainability potential of CE. Despite the vast literature on rebound effects across several disciplines, such as ecological economics and industrial ecology, there is still a limited understanding regarding the occurrence of rebound effects within a CE context. This paper provides a systematic literature review (SLR) of RE with a particular focus on: (i) definitions; (ii) triggers and drivers; (iii) types and mechanisms; and (iv) measurement approaches. On the basis of the results of the SLR, a conceptual framework of RE is proposed. Furthermore, several gaps for RE research within CE have been identified and lead to the proposition of a number of potential research avenues: (1) expand the research scope and level of analysis to a systemic view; (2) enhance the understanding of RE triggered not only by efficiency, but also effectiveness and sufficiency; (3) expand the time horizon considered for the analysis, so to account for possible delays in the system; (4) deepen the understanding of the relationships between RE and all sustainability dimensions; (5) strengthen the research on the meso level; (6) account for the importance of system structure and system behaviour in the occurrence of RE; (7) model the causal dynamic relationships between important variables to anticipate the potential occurrence of RE; (8) develop robust approaches to estimate the potential RE triggered by CE initiatives. By consolidating the state-of-the-art within RE research and identifying the research directions for exploring RE within CE, this paper establishes a solid foundation for future research in the field. • Research on rebound effects of the Circular Economy (CE) is still scarce. • Rebound effect research across various disciplines provide the foundation for CE. • Design of a conceptual framework for research on rebound effects. • Consolidation of eight research avenues for uncovering the rebound effects of CE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Papermaking is regarded as an industry that consumes a great amount of energy and produces serious pollution. The papermaking industry in China, which has a large population and rapid economic development, is indispensable and presents a trend of rapid development. China and the rest of the world pay considerable attention to resource conservation and environmental protection. Therefore, determining how the papermaking industry can realize cleaner production and sustainable development is an urgent issue that should be addressed. This paper introduces Guangdong Silver Island Lake (GSIL) Papermaking Park, which realizes cleaner production and sustainable development by developing circular economy (CE). This park constructs a CE industrial mode by recycling energy, water, and materials. After 10 years of implementation, the CE plan of GSIL Papermaking Park has integrated the resources of the papermaking and power industries horizontally, thus forming the unique development mode of its CE. The resource consumption, resource comprehensive utilization, and pollutant emission indexes of the park have reached the advanced level in the papermaking industry of China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In previous work, we presented a web-based graph database engine to enable companies to find pathways to convert their wastes to resource to enable industrial symbiosis (IS). In this paper, we extend the database to include water streams, and cost and carbon footprint (CFP) of pathways for waste-to-resource conversion. To support companies' decision making for waste-to-resource conversion pathways, we enhanced the database query processor based on a graph algorithm to identify eco-efficient pathways to convert waste to resource based on user's preference. We demonstrate the application of this methodology using a case study of wastewater to water resource. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Industrial Symbiosis (IS) projects are today well known for their contribution to sustainable development. Designing IS projects implies modelling the quantity of material flows between economic components (ECs), in particular to evaluate the environmental and economic gains obtained through more material circularity and use efficiency. The Industrial Symbiosis concept is now being applied to activities distributed over territories much wider than industrial parks. For such setups, existing modelling methods are becoming strained by the number of economic components involved, their dissemination within heterogeneous landscapes and the resulting complexity of the exchanges. In this paper, we propose a generic, spatially explicit simulation model based on stakeholder decision rules to study regional scale flows quantification between ECs in n-n IS networks. Our approach introduces the use of the Gale-Shapley stable matching algorithm for addressing the many-to-many supply-demand matching problem. The method is deterministic and provides stable solutions that optimise the individual objectives of the ECs. A second introduction considers using transport cost along the road network among the decision rules when ECs preferences are ordered. This solves the issue of correctly estimating travel distance in heterogeneous landscapes where it can be significantly different to the distance as the crow flies. We tested the model with the implementation of two real and concrete case studies related to the bioeconomy of a tropical island: (i) collective storage of fodder and (ii) co-composting platforms. The outputs of the model make it possible to compare scenarios based on EC satisfaction relative to supply and demand as well as the total distance travelled along the road network. Finally, we discuss the limitations and genericity of the model to explore diverse industrial symbiosis projects. • Industrial symbiosis material flow modelled using stakeholder decision rules. • Our approach is spatially explicit, determinist and based on interactions. • Stable deferred acceptance matching algorithm used to link economic components. • Decision rules incorporate transport costs estimated based on the road network. • Model tested in n-n networks involving several thousand components at regional scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Considerable efforts are undertaken to make the transition towards a more Circular Economy (CE). At the same time there is no generally accepted monitoring framework. Rather, what exists is a large variety of measurement approaches that aim to assess the progress. The different assessment methodologies cover different and varied aspects of the CE transition and are seemingly unrelated to each other. Therefore, the main contribution of this paper is the provision of a structured picture of the current stock of CE metrics, including the identification of methodology clusters and the related assessment perspectives. The method of Multiple Correspondence Analysis (MCA) was used to assess 63 CE metrics and 24 features relevant to CE, such as recycling efficiency, longevity and stock availability. The MCA was used to assess how the different CE features are associated to each other and how they are related with each of the 63 metrics. Also, it was determined which combinations of CE features are frequently assessed together. The analysis identified three main clusters of metrics, (1) a resource-efficiency cluster, (2) a materials stocks and flows cluster, (3) a product-centric cluster. The results of the analysis show poor integration of resource-efficiency and product-centric perspectives, while the product-centric and system-dynamic perspectives are least frequently assessed. Further, the analysis provides the most prevailing CE perspectives and it is shown that only a few CE metrics assess CE features that are related to the maintenance of value. The MCA provides a guidance for further metrics development, as it identifies areas with a lower metrics density. For a detailed analysis, a standardized visualisation framework for CE metrics is derived, which allows to compare individual metrics in a simple and illustrative way. The goal of the visualisation framework is to provide guidance for (i) the integration of the most complementary CE metrics and (ii) facilitate further metrics development. Highlights • Structuring of 63 circular economy (CE) metrics along 24 identified CE elements. • Identification of three main clusters of CE metrics and their typical CE elements. • Visualisation framework for a detailed assessment and design of CE metrics. • Identification of most prevailing CE perspectives and their associations. • Guidance for case-specific and complementary selection of CE metrics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper shows how to constructively engage with waste and resource management frameworks, by clarifying their role in the societal discourse on waste and resources, providing insight into their step-based structure, and how they draw on different definitions of ‘waste’ and ‘resource.’ Through use of the concepts of ‘frame,’ ‘collective action frame’ and ‘logics,’ a language and conceptual toolbox is made available that facilitates a constructive debate around such frameworks. Ten waste and resource management frameworks are included here, among which are the five frameworks that are part of the synthesis of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation's Circular Economy framework: Cradle-to-Cradle™ by Braungart and McDonough, the Performance Economy by Walter Stahel, the Blue Economy by Gunter Pauli, Regenerative Design by John Lyle and the Industrial Symbiosis framework. A case is made for the careful consideration, creation, use and further development of such frameworks and directions are provided for the further development of the CE concept into a robust concept. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The growing importance of the concept of the circular economy as a way to attain sustainable development has encouraged scholars to propose different ways to understand it. Given the large number of studies done on the circular economy, their differing approaches and their multiple applications, this paper attempts to propose a consensus view of the basic notions of the circular economy framework and highlight its relationship with eco-innovation. To that end, this study carried out a systematic literature review that resulted in four main outputs: a knowledge map of the circular economy, an analysis of the main notions of the concept, principles, and determinants of a circular economy. Finally, this study brings to light some remarkable examples of eco-innovations developed for implementation in the circular economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Circular Economy (CE) aims to overcome the take-make-dispose linear pattern of production and consumption, proposing a circular system in which the value of products, materials and resources is maintained in the economy as long as possible. In recent years there has been a proliferation of scholars' publications on the topic. This study presents the results of a systematic literature review exploring the state-of-the-art of academic research on CE. The paper examines the CE body of literature with a systematic approach, to provide an exhaustive analysis of the phenomenon with rigorous and reproducible research criteria. The revisited material consists of 565 articles collected through the Web of Science and Scopus databases, and has been evaluated using specific structural dimensions to group literature into analytical categories. Starting from being a concept studied in connection with industrial ecology, CE has slowly acquired its independent role in academic research, framed mainly into environmental sustainability related studies. As a result of policies implementation, academic production is mainly concentrated in China and Europe, employing tools and methods for modelling processes and supporting decision-making for CE implementation (e.g. Life Cycle Assessment and Material Flow Analysis). CE studies follow three main lines of action: the first aims to change the social and economic dynamics at macro and administrative level; the second to support firms in circular processes implementation at micro level to spread new forms of consumption and product design; the third, developed at meso level, discusses industrial symbiosis experiences. CE is associated with a variety of concepts, and waste management emerges as the most relevant sub-sector. CE is also strongly connected with the concept of sustainability, proposing ways to operationalize its implementation at the environmental and economic level, while scholars only marginally consider social and institutional implications. The most explored practices are those related to cleaner production, aiming at reducing environmental impact and waste production along the life cycle of a product, and optimizing the performance and efficiency of processes. Conversely, studies on CE may devote greater attention to strategies for social and institutional changes, able to transform the upstream process of production and consumption. Considering business model strategies, scholars mainly focus on studying closing material loops strategy, while slowing the loops, which requires a radical change of consumption and production patterns, is only marginally included with respect to CE implementation. This study's findings highlight CE as an evolving concept that still requires development to consolidate its definition, boundaries, principles and associated practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Circular Economy (CE) currently represents a viable option for countries, governments, academia and society to transform the linear and semi-circular materials and energy flows into circular flows and obtain better sustainable benefits. In this sense, Industrial Ecology (IE) with its tools can assist in the transition to CE. Therefore, the main goal of this paper is to present the theoretical contribution of IE to CE. The methodology used was based on bibliometric analysis in the international context. With regard to the bibliometric analyses, we have identified that the evolution of CE would not be possible without the existence of IE concepts and tools, especially with tools such as Industrial Symbiosis (IS) and Eco-Industrial Parks (EIPs). Furthermore, three levels of IE contribution to CE were identified, such as: conceptual, technical and policy aspects. Finally, new CE based researches from an IE perspective with bibliometric analysis and with co-citation networks are possible, including, solid waste management and policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Promoting urban transition is critical, particularly for China’s rapid urbanization. Circular economy strategy is widely recognized as an effective way to achieve a low-carbon transition of cities through improved waste recycling and industrial symbiosis. However, the evidence of low-carbon benefit is less reported. While the carbon footprint (CFP) represents a mature tool responding to climate change concerns, limited studies have made use of CFP as a proxy for the performance of urban circular economy promotion. The aim of this paper is to investigate the CFP with a ten years span (2002–2012) of Guiyang, so as to understand how its circular economy practices have led to low-carbon benefits. Guiyang, one of China’s national pilots of the Circular Economy (CE) City, the Low-Carbon City, as well as the Ecological Civilization City, has offered an ideal laboratory where the opportunities and challenges for a low-carbon urban transition can be explicitly discussed. A hybrid model that integrates an input-output (IO) approach and process-based inventory analysis is developed to distinguish between direct carbon emissions of sectors from energy consumption, and indirect carbon emissions related to upstream and downstream flows both from production and consumption perspectives. The CFP of Guiyang in 2002, 2007 (after becoming the circular economy pilot) and 2012 (with implementation of urban industrial symbiosis) are analyzed by taking the 2002 as year of business as usual (BAU) scenario. Particularly, we identify scenarios related to proposed urban industrial symbiosis. Results imply that dramatic resource saving and CFP reductions could be achieved simultaneously. Changes to the CFP in 2002, 2007 and 2012 provide critical insights into the role of circular economy in speeding up urban transition towards a low-carbon society. Finally, policy recommendations to tackle the barriers to regional low-carbon transition are proposed. We believe that this study is informative for policy makers of urban planning by shedding a light on innovative eco-industrial development and urban transition in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to investigate the valorisation opportunities for the secondary metallurgy slag (SMS) as a by-product of electric arc furnace (EAF) steel production. The key stakeholders, their aim and possible configurations of the SMS value chain are identified considering the treatment unit owners and locations, pre-treatment and treatment processes, and collaboration aspects. A multi-criteria Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) model has been developed to evaluate value chain configurations according to criteria such as technology, legislation, economic and environmental sustainability, and supply chain. This approach helps analyse the impact of circular economy practices and the opportunities for industrial symbiosis in the European steelmaking areas. The AHP model was tested on the case of Lombardy region that is one of the major European hubs for EAF steel production. Knowledge was collected and formalized from interviews with several experts. The results show economic sustainability has the highest impact on the SMS value chain, followed by CO 2 emission and water consumption. The ranking of SMS value chain configurations shows that a pre-treatment phase is essential since it facilitates SMS logistics management and has environmental advantages. A collaborative approach among steel producers or with external recyclers is preferred when there is the readiness of the ecosystem, hardware infrastructure, and legislation about product certificates and operations. In a collaborative system, a value chain consisting of a third-party industry for SMS recycling is preferred to a consortium of producers due to the broader market coverage, environmental sustainability, and higher profits for the recycler. The multi-criteria combined with the multi-expert modelling approach helps balance the importance of different criteria from the actors' points of view, such as steel producers and technology providers. From the theoretical point of view, the analysis shows how an SMS collaborative ecosystem integrated with two recycling facilities reinforces the steelmaking business profitability, market potential, and environmental-friendly solutions. This study can help steel producers decide on the feasibility and profitability of treatment units, collaborating with other producers, or selling SMS to recyclers. In addition, policymakers can analyse the regional perspective, identify potential industrial sectors, and explore new business models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to achieve more effective and inclusive environmental and economic benefits, local industrial symbiosis programs need to be expanded to a regional scale. Research on regional industrial symbiosis (RIS) covers technical and non-technical aspects that have not yet been studied in detail. The goal of this paper is to identify the main topics and trends in this field of research. After proofreading of 956 Scopus-indexed documents extracted by keyword-search, 112 papers were selected as the core literature for the quantitative review. The sample represents a 22-year period (1997–2019), with over 63% of the articles published since 2015. The majority of case studies (64%) took place in Europe, China, the USA, and Australia. By applying social network analysis (SNA), keyword co-occurrence relations were investigated in the Gephi environment for distinguishing the main topics. The visualized network has a core-periphery structure. Six main subtopics were detected: industrial symbiosis and regional learning, waste minimization assessments, urban industrial symbiosis (UIS) and life cycle thinking, energy efficiency, operational carriers, and social aspects. Further document clustering demonstrated the division of papers in two groups representing differences in the geographical distribution of case studies, resources to be exchanged, and the organization of networks. The evolution of the sample in recent years was also examined, and its leading edges and weaker dimensions were identified. Additionally, a detailed content review is provided, which led to the mapping of main achievements and software tools under each subtopic. • Regional industrial symbiosis differs methodologically from other resource synergies. • The vast literature on this topic is reviewed based on social network analysis. • Six principal themes are detected in two separate clusters of papers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Collaborative approach and infrastructures sharing are key industrial symbiosis initiatives adopted in clusters of SMEs. Several studies have dealt with the environmental benefits of industrial symbiosis however only a few have adopted a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) to assess the benefits of these initiatives on the typical product of the cluster. Our paper presents the case of an Italian tannery cluster located in Tuscany. Through the calculation of an LCA with average data, our study compares the impact category results between two scenarios: the existing scenario where the IS initiatives are implemented and the other where these initiatives are less developed. The results show the positive contribution of these initiatives in several LCA impact categories such as climate change and terrestrial eutrophication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Industrial symbiosis is enabled when physical exchanges of by-products take place between companies within and across different industries. It can be an important strategy in realising the vision of “zero waste to landfill” especially for a land-scarce country like Singapore. The success of industrial symbiosis relies on companies working collectively and collaboratively with the common goal of mutual economic and environmental sustainability. However, one major barrier faced by companies is the lack of information and knowledge of what are possible and available as by-product exchanges. With this as the motivation, this paper introduces the system architecture of a collaboration platform for enabling industrial symbiosis. Within the system architecture, we focus on the by-product exchange network (BEN) model. Then using a case study of food waste in Singapore, we demonstrate the application of the model as a decision support tool for companies to evaluate the economic viability of industrial symbiosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Implementing circular business models in food supply chains is an organizational solution to tackle the issue of household food waste, converting it in feedstock to upcycle within industrial symbioses. Adopting literature on practices of food consumption as theoretical framework, this paper analyzes consumers' participation in circular business models. A conceptual model of the emergence of food provisioning practices in circular business models is designed and empirically tested, through a survey, in order to analyze consumers' willingness to participate in an innovative food provisioning mechanism with retailers. Respondents were asked to choose whether to participate or not in a proposed program, and their choices have been modelled in an ordered logit model. 88% of interviewees declared sorting organic food waste as a normal activity in his household. 78.9% of participants accepted to participate to the proposed programs independently of the type of agreement's attributes. 14.49% accepted only some programs depending on the program type, while 6.61% of respondents choose not to participate to any of the proposed program. Findings outline the expected participant as an individual already engaged in tasks to cope with risk in food provisioning and having already developed a long-lasting relation with a retailer. The study reveals also the opposite effect of concerns about tasks related to take-back system, such as food waste handling, and social desirability of recycling. Focusing on the business-to-consumers relationship, the paper suggests to practitioners interested in circular business models the possibility to adopt innovative 'food-product-as-a-service' approaches. Recommendations can be derived for future studies about the relevance of practice theory in the analysis of consumers' engagement in circular business models. • Practice theory is adopted to design a circular food provisioning practice. • Consumers are willing to participate in food circular business models. • Food provisioning risk and dependencies influence consumers' participation. • Recycling convenience and social pressure influence consumers' participation. • City size influence consumers' participation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores the direct network effect for online platforms supporting industrial symbiosis (IS), which is a recommended strategy to support the transition towards the circular economy. Through IS, companies can use wastes produced by other companies as inputs to production processes. Online platforms supporting companies in operating IS relationships can play a critical role in developing the IS practice. In this paper, an agent-based model is designed to simulate the emergence of IS relationships among companies located in a given geographical area. Companies can establish relationships traditionally (relying on face-to-face contacts) or by using a platform. Several scenarios, defined by different platform usage rates, are simulated. Results show that there is a minimum platform usage rate allowing companies to benefit from using the platform. If the platform usage rate is lower than this threshold, the platform does not contribute to generate further benefits for companies. When the platform usage rate is higher than the threshold, the individual benefits for users are higher the greater the number of other companies using the platform. Based on these results, implications on how to ensure a win-win approach for companies and platform owners can be provided, as well as implications for policymakers. • The network effect of online platforms for industrial symbiosis is studied. • The study adopts the agent-based simulation approach. • The emergence of industrial symbiosis is simulated for several platform usage rates. • Companies using online platforms have higher performance than other companies. • Benefits for each company from using the platform depend on the number of users. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cities are becoming one of the greatest generators of waste and thus a potential source of secondary materials. One of the most attractive waste streams in cities is waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) as they contain many valuable metals, mainly in the printed circuit board (PCB), with a high risk of a disruption in their supply. Many of the PCBs contained in small WEEE are separated by destructive operations, as the economic feasibility of their separation using non-destructive operations remains unclear. This paper examines the feasibility of separating the PCB and the permanent magnets (PMs) contained in hard disk drives (HDD) using non-destructive operations. The economic cost of separating these parts is evaluated by the disassembly sequences, the disassembly schemes, and using the 'ease of Disassembly Metric' (eDiM). In HDD, the economic cost for the non-destructive separation of the PCB is €0.05 while the cost to harvest the PCB as well as the PMs is €0.39. In both cases, such cost is well below the estimated economic value of the gold, silver, and palladium contained in the PCB (€0.85). As a result, the paper concludes that the separation of the PCB and the PMs of HDDs is economically profitable. Measures for promoting the non-destructive separation of the PCBs and the PM of HDDs should be further promoted, as they could help improve the supply of secondary raw materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The circular economy is receiving increasing attention as having the potential to break with the current linear economy of unsustainable production and consumption. A circular economy promotes system innovations that aim to design out waste, increase resource-efficiency, and achieve a better balance between economy, environment and society. Ensuring a successful transition to a circular economy requires the ability to measure and report on progress. Currently, there are three levels of indicators for measuring circular economy: macro (global, national, regional, city), meso (industrial symbiosis, eco-industrial parks), and micro (single firm, product). A detailed understanding of how to measure and document progress towards a circular economy is lacking, especially on a micro level. This is a barrier for both producers who want to provide circular products and services, and for the consumers who want to know how to compare products. This paper helps to open the black box, not by developing a method for measurement, but by categorizing and assessing what is already being done. This paper reviews 30 indicators of a circular economy at the micro level, where the majority of indicators focused on recycling, end-of-life management or remanufacturing, while fewer indicators consider disassembly, lifetime extension, waste management, resource-efficiency or reuse, and the majority of the papers are published in the last few years. There is no commonly accepted way of measuring circular economy in general at the micro level, nor within the different circular economy principles of recycling, remanufacturing etc. As circular economy often is presented as a means to a sustainable development, the alignment between the three dimensions of sustainability and the reviewed indicators is analyzed, which showed that the majority of indicators focus on economic aspects, with environmental and especially social aspects included to a lesser extent. This biased approach to circular economy that favors economic aspects over environmental and social impacts can lead to sub-optimizations when companies apply circular economy and may lead to a narrower approach to sustainability than what has previously been the case. For future research it can be interesting to explore if the same bias exists on meso and macro level, but also to analyze how a more coherent approach can be standardized on micro level. • There is no common standard for how to measure micro level circularity. • 30 indicators for micro level CE are reviewed and analyzed. • The majority of micro level indicators focus on the outer circle of CE. • A limited number of indicators focus on the inner circles of CE. • Most indicators focus on economy with limited attention to environment and society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper contributes new knowledge and understanding about the role that Product Passports might play in advancing sustainable business practices towards a Circular Economy. The significance of this research is the proposed universal definition of a Digital Product Passport Ecosystem (DPPE) for international policy, industrial and technical communities. The novelty of this research lies in the systems thinking approach, coupled with systems engineering, to define and model a DPPE as a System of Systems to derive a definition. Stakeholder perspectives and requirements concerning Product Passports were synthesised using data and analysis from the European Commission's (EC) open consultation on the Sustainable Products Initiative (SPI). Nine high-level capabilities of a DPPE have been identified, and each is explored by mapping a list of information requirements discussed within the consultation. It is shown that different Product Passport applications benefit (or detriment) different stakeholder groups. Findings suggest that DPPE solutions must be systemic, providing interoperability across multiple product life cycles, organisations, supply chains, and value chains in order to operate across international borders: thus realising benefits for world (circular) economies and the planet. Furthermore, it is proposed that if stakeholders utilise a universal definition of a DPPE in conjunction with a set of agreed ethical principles to underpin legislation, there would be fewer contradictions and ambiguity between stakeholders regarding the purpose of a Product Passport and the reasons for sharing data. Finally, the authors conclude that more research is needed on incentives for producers to share data and integrate their existing production systems with the broader ecosystem architectures to allow for maximum interoperability with minimal duplication. In addition, future research should determine specific DPP information requirements on a product-by-product basis, along with opportunities that a DPPE will enable towards industrial symbiosis. [Display omitted] • Novel holistic systems approach used to analyse worldviews of Digital Product Passports. • 9 system of system capabilities inherent but needs agreed sustainability principles. • A socio-technical ecosystem requiring values-based design for systemic change. • Needs architecting for legal, organisational, semantic and technical interoperability. • Different Passport applications benefit or detriment different stakeholder groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Circular economy (CE) is emerging in the construction industry because it attempts to substitute the linear economy model and promote sustainable development. While the CE principles have been applied at different scales, the construction industry's research efforts and practicalities remain limited and fragile. This study aimed at understanding the levels of circularity in the construction industry with a view to formulate viable recommendations required for achieving higher degrees of circularity. This aim is achieved by learning essential lessons from the manufacturing sector, which is considered one of CE's pioneering industries. In this paper, a scientometric review of CE research within the construction and manufacturing sectors was performed. The science mapping method was applied to quantitatively analyse relevant publications retrieved from Scopus and Web of Science databases. The results suggested that the construction industry centres on recycling and reuse as the main "R" strategies, while the manufacturing industry tends to achieve higher levels of circularity due to broader implementation of remanufacturing and industrial symbiosis (IS). The content analysis of some mainstream articles further identified the potential of adopting remanufacturing and IS in the construction sector. The findings suggested that higher levels of circularity in construction could be attained through the use of remanufactured components and recycled non-construction & demolition waste (CDW). An action plan comprising regulatory pull/push, business-driven, and technological push measures was formulated to guide researchers and practitioners to pursue looking-forward CE strategies. This review draws useful lessons from other sectors and offers fresh insight into ways of actualising circular construction. The findings of this study could serve as valuable references for improving the knowledge of policymakers and practitioners for promoting circular construction. [Display omitted] • The construction industry centres on recycling and reuse as the main "R" strategies. • The manufacturing industry achieves higher levels of circularity by implementing remanufacturing and industrial symbiosis. • The construction sector achieves higher circularity through regulatory pull/push, business-driven, and technological push. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ecology and industry, which have been many times considered as antagonists, are now associated together in the sustainability concept to support the three social / economic / environment pillars. In that way, industrial enterprises and more precisely manufacturing ones seek to integrate environment into their strategy by conducting an innovative rationalization of the production as promoted by industrial ecology and circular economy paradigms. This rationalization is favoring the evolution from product to a Product-Service Systems approach (PSS). The continuity of these services is mainly carried out by the maintenance which is no longer an aftermarket service needed for product (system) functionality but rather an inherent service function of the product (system). Thus this paper aims to investigate the role of maintenance to contribute to the development of these paradigms. It is based first on describing the main features of industrial ecology/circular economy transposing the nature concepts to industrial system. It leads to define key principles and levers to be addressed for the development of industrial ecosystems. Then maintenance activity is globally presented allowing, in a second step, to place maintenance services already existing in line with some of these principles and levers (ex. green maintenance), but also to explore advanced maintenance services more able to support promotion of industrial ecosystem by covering others principles and levers. These advanced services can be built from conventional maintenance processes but integrating sustainability goal (ex. prognostics of energy efficiency) or from innovative processes (ex. regenerative management). Finally scientific issues related to these advanced maintenance services are underlining and should concretize future research directions for researchers/practitioners working on maintenance field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a systematic literature review on the concept of social value emerging from circular economy (CE) practice implementation in agri-food eco-industrial parks. The results show that social value stemming from CE practices is substantially under-researched and provides opportunity for further investigation. Firstly, the literature shows that CE practices have been traditionally analysed at an institutional/company level and have not been truly explored at an eco-industrial park level. Secondly, social value has received a good amount of attention when explored as a value-added element (i.e., CSR, human rights, social justice), however, social value emerging from CE practices and actual business operations is under-researched. In addition, the findings suggest that there is a gap in literature linking CE practices with social value along with economic and environmental performance in agri-food eco-industrial parks. Thirdly, the literature adopts an external pressure approach (mimetic, coercive, normative) when it comes to understanding the motivators for CE practice adoption, however, limited work has been done at the agri-food eco-industrial park level. Similarly, the systematic review identifies that the most utilised theories for explaining CE practice adoption with links to social value consist of institutional, stakeholder, resource-based view, diffusion of innovation, socio-ecological, industrial symbiosis, and systems theories, while theories that have not been used but could provide relevance are contingency, cluster, socio-technical system, social embeddedness, knowledge-based view and endogenous growth theory. Finally, the systematic review reveals that mixed methods research and large dataset analysis approaches are currently scarce in the extant literature which mostly denotes the use of traditional operations management (quantitative) methods. • Social value stemming from circular economy (CE) practices is under-researched in agri-food. • CE practice implementation should be researched at an eco-industrial park level. • Triple bottom line performance links in agrifood eco-industrial parks is under-researched. • A range of social science theories currently under-utilised has been identified. • There is a need for mixed methods research in social value exploration in agrifood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Process industries are the foundation of the European economy, transforming raw materials into building blocks for strategic products and applications in today's society. Such industries range from steel, cement, or minerals to chemicals such as lubricants for wind turbines and polymers that prevent waste in logistic supply chains. The downside of this foundation industry is its high environmental impact regarding emissions, and intensive use of energy and resources. One of the key strategies to address such challenges is industrial symbiosis: various industries establish collective efforts to find value while transitioning to a more circular economy. This paper presents an exploratory analysis of databases on IS case studies. We used the European standard classification for economic activities (NACE) to draw industrial sector profiles for the most relevant energy-intensive industries: chemicals, steel, and cement, coupled with urban synergies. The majority of the synergies includes the chemicals sector with most commonly shared streams being energy, water, and carbon dioxide. IS cases are ranked in terms of frequency, then classified in topical groups and finally, the sustainability impact of the different categories is discussed. The outcome is a methodology to frame and assess industrial symbiosis case collections useful for future exploring and exploiting circularity projects in public and private organisations. • Sectoral profiles for industrial symbiosis with standardised sectors and resource sharing. • Focus on cross-sectoral exchanges in process industry sectors: chemicals, steel, and cement including urban synergies. • Insights on the technology and sustainability gains per shared resource category. • New method to develop continuous improvement in industrial symbiosis databases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Industrial symbiosis (IS) is a collaborative approach among firms involving physical exchanges of materials, energy, and wastes, which creates economic advantages for firms and environmental benefits for the society. In this paper, we adopt an ecosystem approach to conceptualize the network of firms involved in IS relationships (ISN), in terms of organisms (firms), functions (waste exchange), and services (environmental benefits), and provide new insight on how to assess and compute IS performance indicators. In particular, we designed five classes of indicators aimed at assessing 1) the impact of services provided by ISNs on the environment, 2) the performance of the ISN services, 3) how the single functions contribute to ISN services, 4) the performance of the ISN functions, and 5) how the single firms contribute to ISN functions. A numerical example is also discussed showing how to compute them and the information they provide. The proposed indicators are useful to develop proper strategies to increase the efficiency of the system in exploiting the IS synergies, to improve the symbiotic exchanges carried out in ISNs, and to identify firms contributing most to IS benefits. Hence, they may assist managers of ISNs and policymakers in decision-making aspects, an urgent need of the literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Circular economy has become a central concept of sustainable production and consumption since its introduction into the public eye. However, to ensure circular economy actually delivers on its promises regarding sustainability, it is vital to anticipate and assess the impact of circular economy practices in an integrated way. For that purpose, holistic assessments are crucial to enable transparent decision-making, clearly indicating possible trade-offs. While previous literature has mainly focused on product, company or country level, this paper contributes to an improved understanding of sustainability assessments on the inter-firm level. Given the vital role of inter-firm networks in the transition to a circular economy, the authors present a systematic literature review of sustainability assessment approaches applicable within circular inter-firm networks. These networks are primarily represented in two related fields relevant to circular economy: industrial ecology offers sustainability assessment approaches for inter- and intra-sectoral business activities at different scales, whereas circular supply chain management is a promising source for sustainability assessment approaches considering product life cycles. Over 100 academic publications are reviewed and categorised according to assessment type, correspondence to the relevant field, and sustainability dimensions addressed. The results demonstrate that life cycle-based methodologies as well as indicator frameworks, often combined with multi-criteria decision-making methods, are the most common ex-post assessment approaches. Concurrently, the most frequent ex-ante assessments are based on mathematical programming. It is further observed that industrial ecology-related publications present more comprehensive environmental assessments, while circular supply chain management literature includes the social dimension more often, but superficially. Overall, the social dimension is least assessed and least integrated into the sustainability assessment. Based on the findings of the review, an integrated framework of approaches is developed, enabling decision-makers to identify suitable sustainability assessment approaches for circular inter-firm networks. Image 1 • Inter-firm sustainability assessment approaches from 112 articles are reviewed. • Industrial ecology contributes mainly in-depth ex-post environmental assessments. • Circular supply chain management offers ex-ante assessments with singular indicators. • A sustainability assessment framework for circular inter-firm networks is proposed. • Social assessment must be broadened and integrated with other dimensions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Shifting to more circular supply chains is likely to have uneven economic and environmental implications among stakeholders within an industrial symbiosis. However, current macroeconomic models fail to capture such complex interactions with high material and spatiotemporal resolution. To address this issue, this paper presents an economic time-series material-product chain model extended to a multiregional industrial symbiosis. It integrates the interdisciplinary elements of partial equilibrium modelling and material flow analysis. It seeks to minimize the annual systemic costs by optimizing the supply chains of materials (primary, secondary and waste materials) and products of three synergetic sectors within five regions. The model capabilities are demonstrated by investigating the territorial consequences on annual operating cost, commercial trade balances, raw material extraction and greenhouse gas emission of the global cement industry willingness of using more waste-derived materials in cementitious materials. The results show favorable incentive at the global level. When broken down by region along the eastern borders of Canada and the United States, they show winners and losers due to an uneven spatial distribution of secondary material and a profound change in optimal trade patterns. It brings new insights in anticipating geopolitical, economic and environmental consequences of a large-scale circular economy transition. Unlabelled Image [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The industrial symbiosis initiative, which aims to reuse waste resources, is considered as a potential solution for sustainable manufacturing. Compared with much literature for the industrial symbiosis optimization about waste energy and wastewater, this paper proposes an industrial symbiosis optimization model based on the waste material recycling and exchanging network. By-products from the production process are considered the main components of waste material flows. A Mixed-integer programming method is employed to formulate the optimization model. In response to the three pillars of sustainability, three sub-objectives, namely the economy, environment, and society, are built for the proposed optimization model. The Epsilon-constraint technology is established to tackle the multi-objective model efficiently. Decisions on waste material recycling and exchanging flow are formulated in the proposed model, as well as options on reprocessing sites and reprocessing technology levels. The results show that the proposed Mixed-Inter Programming optimization method and Epsilon-constraint technology are sufficient to obtain the solutions of industrial symbiosis optimization. Technology level decisions integrated into the optimization model can balance the objectives of economy, environment, and society and provide a more extensive decision option space for managers. Raw material price and by-product recycling cost are two main elements of the waste material exchanging of industrial symbiosis optimization based on the parameter robustness analysis. Multi-objective optimization of waste material reprocessing and exchange network allows managers to make decisions based on different objective priorities. • A decision model of waste material recycling and exchanging that includes three sustainable pillars is developed. • An Epsilon-constraint approach is presented for solving the multi-objective model. • The Pareto frontiers of the three optimization objectives are analyzed. • The material price is the most important factor affecting decision-making through the parameter robustness analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biohydrometallurgy has been commercially applied for the extraction of base metals from low-grade sulfidic ores and the pre-treatment of refractory sulfidic gold-containing minerals. Recent research explores its potential for other types of commodities, such as rare earth elements, and ores found in deep subsurface of the Earth, ocean floor and outer space. The application of biohydrometallurgy for extracting resources from waste streams is also gaining increasing interest to support the move towards a circular economy. The utilisation of complex feedstock is associated with new challenges, which may require the integration of various unit processes that combine biological approaches and/or electrochemistry, with physical or chemical processing. New biolixiviants are also being explored to mitigate harmful environmental impacts. The range of biocatalysts available for biohydrometallurgy can be increased through bioprospecting of novel biomining microbes, increasing the metabolic capability of microbes through adaptive evolution and engineering microbes through synthetic biology. New modelling and artificial intelligence tools are also expanding the opportunities for optimising biotechnical processes. This paper reviews recent trends and prospective directions for biohydrometallurgy. Unlabelled Image • Deep subsurface and space biomining are gaining increasing interest. • Biomining is being expanded to alternative lixiviants and commodities. • Low-grade feed utilisation often requires integrated processes and impurity removal. • Waste mining and industrial ecology can help to maximise the use of resources. • The capabilities of biomining microbes are being expanded through synthetic biology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a top-down method for constructing databases of industrial waste generation profiles is presented. The method employs routinely reported statistical data for economic activities, which enables simple data acquisition and ensures capture of changes in production processes and waste generation. Quantified waste generation profiles following the EWC-stat nomenclature for 42 waste types were compiled into two EU databases, one for 12 sectors and the other for more than 200 industries. These were complimented with quantified factors on waste generation per employee for each sector. The relationship between amounts of waste generated and number of employees has been confirmed for each sector with statistical tests; this can be used to estimate waste quantities in other scenarios. The databases employ standard EU economic and waste nomenclatures, which are also similar to those used worldwide. Potential use scenarios include: evaluation of different geographic boundaries, such as industrial park, municipal, regional or national level; focus on expected types and quantities of waste generated by particular sectors and industries; or targeting particular types of wastes, the economic activities that produce them and the quantities generated. The latter scenario is illustrated in this paper by exploring potential for industrial symbiosis where waste streams from bio-based industries are used to produce biogas in the Västra Götaland region of Sweden. The developed method and databases could support the implementation of circular economy policies, including industrial symbiosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Introduction to the blueprint concept for uncovering industrial symbiosis exchanges. • Methodology for building blueprints. • Construction and utilisation of a blueprint in the refining industry. • Example combining the refinery and district heating network blueprints. The European Union has put the concept of circularity at the heart of its strategy for transitioning towards a low-carbon economy. Measures have been taken in order to promote Industrial Symbiosis (IS). However, one of the main barriers to the dissemination of IS remains the exchange of (confidential) data between industries. This paper presents the concept of industrial sector blueprints as a solution in order to overcome the challenge of sharing information. A blueprint is constituted of a series of profiles providing insights into the key inputs and outputs of a given industry in terms of thermal and electrical energy, materials and services. A methodology, detailing a step-by-step approach for building the profiles and the type of data required, is presented. To demonstrate the feasibility of the methods, it is applied to a typical refinery followed by an example, showing how it can be used in an IS context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]