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Duckweed, a floating freshwater plant, is an excellent phytoremediator used in wastewater treatment and ecosystem restoration. However, the large amount of plant biomass generated presents a bigger problem. This work highlights our efforts towards sustainable waste management of aquatic plant biomass by way of waste recycling and valorization. Novel paper pulp from duckweed biomass yielded various pulp-based products including handmade paper, packing materials and packing board. Paper produced was found to have 139 g/m2 and 6–14 N/1.5 cm gram per square meter and tensile strength respectively. Biochar obtained from the biomass after pyrolysis exhibited 23.9 nm to 49.49 nm pore size and was used to formulate novel soil conditioners that increased the seed vigour of fenugreek, green gram, wheat and pearl millet by 53.41, 87.98, 148.25 and 122.41 % respectively. Thus, two novel applications of a waste biomass were successfully established, concomitantly establishing sustainability and circularity in waste aquatic biomass management. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A closed-loop material flow analysis model is established for China's pulp and paper industry (CPPI), followed by a comprehensive quantitative analysis from both retrospective and prospective perspectives. • By implementing sound plans and stricter regulations and standards, China has improved recycling and material use efficiency, reduced the organic material with wastewater, and shifted towards recovered paper as a raw material over non-wood fiber. • Lowering the waste paper recycling rate to increase carbon storage is not suitable for China, due to the limited virgin fiber and growing demand. • The growing paper demand requires efforts from both ends of virgin fiber supply and waste paper management towards the sustainable development of CPPI. As the largest global producer and consumer of pulp and paper, China faces significant sustainability challenges in fiber supply and waste paper management. A comprehensive material flow analysis of China's pulp and paper industry (CPPI) is needed to understand the interaction between raw material supply and waste paper management. Here, we construct a closed-loop material flow analysis model for CPPI, examine the evolution patterns of material metabolism from 1990 to 2019, and explore the demand for paper production, waste paper recycling, and virgin fiber supply in 2030 and 2050 under multiple scenarios considering critical factors. Results show that the industry has undergone rapid expansion, increased material use efficiency, and a shift towards recycled pulp from 1990 to 2019. China's paper demand will grow to 186 Mt in the next 30 years, resulting in a significant increase in both demand for fibers (173 Mt) and the generation of waste paper (138 Mt). To ensure a sustainable fiber supply for CPPI, domestic waste paper recycling needs to be prioritized. However, attention should also be paid to the availability of virgin pulp supply and proper disposal of organic solid waste. Proper management of these factors is crucial for achieving a circular economy in the industry and reducing its environmental impact. The findings highlight the importance of addressing both raw material supply and waste paper management for CPPI's sustainable development. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper discusses the Digital Product Passport (DPP) as a key tool for achieving a circular economy. An architecture of the DPP is presented built upon the principles of data spaces and W3C Decentralized Identifiers (DIDs). By leveraging data spaces, the DPP enables secure and controlled data exchange among stakeholders, fostering transparency, traceability, and collaboration throughout the product's lifecycle. The use of decentralized identifiers ensures the uniqueness and verifiability of product-related information, facilitating seamless access and sharing of data. The DPP architecture offers a promising framework for realizing the circular economy by promoting resource efficiency, sustainable practices, and informed decision-making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This comprehensive review explores recent advancements in the manufacturing of cellulose nanofiber (CNF)-based cellulose nanopaper (CNP). The analysis delves into customizing CNPs through nanofiber manufacturing, mechanical refining, and chemical treatments. The report underscores the growing interest in CNPs derived from CNF due to their exceptional properties and eco-friendly attributes. CNP strength significantly enhanced through mechanical refining encompassing cellulose nanofibrillation were breaking down of cellulose into nanofibers takes place. Conversely, dense CNF network formed through filtration and casting method. Chemical treatments such as dispersion, functionalization, and coating methods followed by drying and consolidation introduce custom functionalities for diverse applications. These applications span packaging, electronics, energy harvesting, EMI shielding, optoelectronics, nanogenerators, transparent conducting films, water treatment, bioelectronics, and neuromorphic computing. The study conducts an in-depth investigation to assess CNP's effects on promoting sustainability and minimizing environmental waste, making a significant contribution to the circular economy. This investigation underscores the pursuit of innovation and aligns with the principles of progressing toward a more environmentally sustainable future. [Display omitted] • Explores CNF production, refining and chemical treatments for CNP customization. • Remarkable properties of CNP draw academic and industrial interest. • CNP applied in packaging, electronics, energy, and environmental science. • Investigates role of CNP in circular economy. • Emphasizes CNPs as eco-friendly, fostering innovation and sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Production systems are being restructured to close production cycles via implementing circular economy (CE) practices. The planted tree industry in Brazil has shown potential for applying CE practices due to its efficient use of resources and inclination towards environmental innovation. However, some gaps and difficulties have been observed in several industrial segments so that the logic of the circular production system is put into practice more effectively and intensely. In this context, the aim was to investigate the use and impacts of CE practices in the Brazilian planted tree industry by sector of operation and scale of enterprises based on the ReSOLVE framework. Data were collected from 34 companies that answered a questionnaire, corresponding to 47.2% of Brazilian planted tree industry companies. Data analysis involved univariate and multivariate statistical techniques, considering the grouping of companies by sector of activity (forest producer, pulp and paper, and timber processing) and scale (small, medium, and large). The results revealed that "pulp and paper" and medium- and large-scale companies had the most significant application of CE practices and reported more significant impacts. [Display omitted] • Explores a segmented analysis of the circular economy by scale and sub-sector groups. • Scores of circular practices and their impacts are presented according to the groups. • The association between circular practices and impacts by group are analyzed. • Propositions to enable the adoption of circular practices are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a detailed review of the plasma gasification process for waste disposal. Due to Shifting economies and consumerism culture, ample change can be seen across the globe in the form of rapid industrialisation and burgeoning urbanisation, which results in a massive increase in waste generation. Plasma gasification technology is an emerging solution for processing a wide range of waste making it a highly sustainable, efficient, and ecologically sound process. This literature review discusses the feasibility of the plasma gasification method and its superiority over other conventional waste disposal techniques. A comprehensive analysis of different methods of plasma generation for gasification is done in this literature review. The review paper presents a detailed coverup of the entire process of plasma gasification and post-processes. The article discusses the notable advancement, current scenario, and possibilities in plasma gasification methodology in terms of the design of plasma torch, modelling of gasifiers, generation of syngas, and power production. It provides an overview of advanced simulation tools helpful in the analysis of the Waste-to-Energy (WtE) process. This literature review aims to provide an overview of the recent advances in plasma gasification, highlighting the technical aspects, environmental benefits, and economic viability of the technology. It also reviews the latest research and developments in plasma gasification and discusses the challenges and limitations of the technology, as well as the future prospects and potential applications. • Plasma gasification methodology for waste treatment is discussed in detail. • Prominent thermal and non-thermal practices are discussed and compared in this literature review. • Selective use of plasma gas for enhanced efficiency and optimised gas yield/composition. • Hybrid systems offer versatility in processing diverse feedstocks and can achieve higher energy efficiencies. • Plasma-catalysis approach with NTP shows desirable syngas yield. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Formal scavenging grants material circularity, but its potential contribution to the sustainability of a Supply Chain (SC) is far from being a trivial issue. Thus, this paper aims to understand what is the impact of formal scavenging on the sustainability of an SC and quantify it. Accordingly, a case study in an Italian Pulp and Paper circular SC was developed through the lenses of the Triple Bottom Line. This SC consists of five groups of stakeholders and a formal scavenger that collects and redistributes wastepaper. The findings show that, in a one-year time window, the formal scavenger generated an economic value of over €3 million and led to saving 718 tCO 2 e and an energy equivalent to that consumed by 1000 average Italian families every year. In addition, it created new stable jobs and directly contributed to decreasing the waste tax in the geographical area in which it operates. Furthermore, formal scavenging proved to be effective in building up SC resilience in the face of unexpected changes in the prices and volumes of wastepaper. The results contribute to framing formal scavenging as a collaboration-based solution to enable the achievement of sustainability benefits in closed-loop SCs and provide actionable suggestions for SC managers and policymakers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the quest for a sustainable future, the bio-economy and biorefineries have emerged as pivotal agents of transformation. This review paper offers an accessible and comprehensive exploration of the multifaceted bio-economy landscape. Environmental concerns, resource scarcity, and the demand for renewable and bio-based products are the key drivers shaping this sustainable paradigm. Agriculture and agro-industry play an indispensable role, acting as the primary suppliers of the essential feedstock for biorefineries. They not only fuel the bio-economy but also foster sustainable farming practices and rural development, forming a mutually beneficial relationship. Biorefineries, the workhorses of the bio-economy, optimize resource usage, minimize waste, and produce a diverse range of bio-based products. Innovative biorefinery techniques are at the forefront, revolutionizing efficiency and expanding the array of feedstock's, thereby creating higher value-added derivatives. These value-added products, spanning biofuels, bio-plastics, and more, drive the market towards a greener and circular economy. The bio-economy's commitment to sustainability is evident through waste reduction and the promotion of circular economy principles. Policy, regulation, and market developments shape the bio-economy by promoting bio-based industries while favouring eco-friendly alternatives, creating a competitive and healthy ecosystem. While the bio-economy shows promise, it faces challenges. Optimizing conversion efficiency, discovering new feedstocks, and solving biorefinery environmental issues need technological breakthroughs and research. In summary, the bio-economy and biorefineries orchestrate a sustainable symphony, driven by environmental consciousness, rooted in agriculture, refined by innovative techniques, and harmonized by the production of bio-based products. The stage is set for a greener, more sustainable future. Bio-economy and biorefineries have become crucial drivers of transformation in the pursuit of a sustainable future. The review paper provides a thorough and easily understandable examination of the diverse bio-economy landscape. Environmental concerns, limited resources, and the need for biodegradable and renewable products are some of the main things that are shaping the sustainable paradigm. Agriculture and the agro-industry play a big role in this because they provide biorefineries with the feedstock they need. The bio-economy is not only fuelled by them, but they also contribute to sustainable farming practices and rural development, creating a mutually beneficial relationship. Biorefineries are the backbone of the bio-economy as they effectively utilize resources, minimize waste, and generate a wide array of bio-based products. At the forefront of innovation, biorefinery techniques are revolutionizing efficiency and expanding the range of feedstock's available. This, in turn, leads to the creation of higher-value derivatives and value-added products, such as biofuels and bioplastics, promoting a greener and more circular economy. The commitment of the bio-economy to sustainability is demonstrated through its efforts to reduce waste and promote the principles of a circular economy. Policy, regulation, and market developments impact the bio-economy by working together to support bio-based industries and encourage the use of eco-friendly alternatives. As a result, a competitive and healthy ecosystem is created. Although the bio-economy holds promise, it also encounters various challenges. Technological breakthroughs and research are necessary for optimizing conversion efficiency, discovering new feedstock's, and solving biorefinery environmental issues. In essence, a commitment to the environment guides how the bio-economy and biorefineries collaborate in a sustainable manner by utilizing innovative methods to refine and produce bio-based products. This harmonious process creates a symphony of sustainability, paving the way for the dream of a greener, more sustainable future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The urgent need to act against climate change is emphasized in many initiatives, such as the Sustainable Development Goals, the European Green Deal, and the Circular Economy Action Plan. The role of the industrial sector is crucial. Companies, however, have to operate in a very complex environment driven by digitization and are supposed to be more sustainable. This paper explores how companies can implement the ecological transformation, with a focus on the role of digital technologies and data in enabling the twin transition. This paper proposes an approach to support SMEs in the twin transition through a combination of digital and sustainable business model development. The concept includes an interdisciplinary methodology that combines qualitative and quantitative approaches, focusing on the latter. The suggested method collection includes adaptations of the business model canvas, value proposition analysis, data-driven decision-making, and the integration of environmental and economic considerations using the system of environmental-economic accounting. In particular, approaches to define the quantification of economic as well as ecological value will be key levers for sustainable implementation. By leveraging these approaches, SMEs can navigate the challenges of digital transformation and sustainability and contribute to a more sustainable future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The production of CaO for lime-based plaster and render generates 1.2 t CO 2 /t CaO, consumes 1.78 t CaCO 3 /t CaO. This research paper examines the environmental and economic performance of upcycling paper mill sludge (PMS) and carbide lime (CL) as replacements for hydrated lime (HL) in lime-based plasters production. For this, a new Cradle-to-Gate industrial-scale inventory is designed, upscaling recent lab-scale innovations, investigating PMS and CL treatment processes, followed by a Cradle-to-Grave scenario analysis. The results show that incorporating CL in the plaster yields better environmental and economic outcomes compared to PMS. The intermediate treatment for CL is cost-effective and has low carbon emissions. The upcycling of CL eliminates 100% of CO 2 emissions, while PMS reduces emissions by 11%. The production of the traditional binder HL is more expensive than upcycling PMS (+69%) and CL (+65%), with carbon taxes accounting for 35%, 44% and 15% of production costs, respectively. The effect of an equilibrated carbon price to ensure fair market competition, considering the natural carbonation of lime (carbon credit) is discussed, and the cost assessment reveals a 47% and 54% reduction for upcycled plasters using PMS and CL, respectively, compared to traditional HL. [Display omitted] • Availability, properties, and treatments of secondary lime resources. • Industrial-scale inventory for upcycling carbide lime (CL) & paper sludge (PS). • Cradle-to-Grave assessment: CL reduces CO 2 most, trailed by PS and hydrated lime. • Key factors for Cradle-to-Grave impact: lime kiln heat consumption (PS) and drying operation (CL). • Cost analysis of carbon taxes and credits across the material's life-cycle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biorenewable hydrogen is requisite to replace non-renewable hydrogen. Decarbonization is assured. Hydrogen demand is severely rising due to mitigating climate change and reducing fossil fuel dependency. Green Hydrogen from agro waste proposition makes bio-circular economy upcycling. The main objective of this study is to reinforce the hope of renewable, sustainable H 2 production from agro-waste. Initially, this paper shows the demand for green hydrogen, the sustainable availability of agro waste, and their capability to produce H 2. Insights into the gasification of agro waste about cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin with conventional gasification. The effect of catalyst and supercritical gasification and their challenges is discussed. Most uniquely, other reviews highlight various aspirations behind agro-waste gasification to attain a strong business model, such as co-production, co-gasification, and CO 2 reforming with H2 yield. This review exhibits some main insight into various aspects of agro-waste gasification. H 2 from agrowaste gasification has high energy content (122 kJ/g) and high energy conversion efficiency in the range of 55–58 %, in addition to gaining the economic penalties of 2.2–2.5 net points for decarbonization. Agro waste is composed of lignocellulosic material that is relatively richer in hydrogen than fossil fuel resources. In SCWG, water is one of the natural solvents, which means feedstock effectively dissolves with water solvents. Intermittent density, low viscosity, and surface tension are nearly zero values due to SCW having no specific phase boundary, which enhances the gasification and substantially reduces tar formation during SCWG. Catalyst utilization enhances H 2 production. The present study comprehensively exhibits the role of catalyst and their supporter and promoter. Ni-based catalysts are mostly suggested for H2 production but fall into reusability issues. The main reason behind this is that Ni is inefficient in removing HCl, H 2 S, and total trace elements during gasification. Recently, low-cost and waste-to-wealth transformation aspects of biochar-based catalysts have gained attention. Renewable-assisted gasification significantly improves the energy and exergy of the system and suppresses the important concern of energy consumption during gasification. Renewable assisted and various aspiration incorporation into gasification is solidly recommended for future implementation based on energy, economic, and environmental benefits from them. Plastic and biomass are richer in hydrocarbon and oxygen, respectively; this synergistic effect has the potential to enhance the H 2 yield. From this study, PP plastic is mostly preferred for co-gasification with biomass. Compared to 100 wt% of biomass, the introduction of plastic slightly increased the coke formation, but the H 2 yield was improved. When the plastic mixture of 10 wt% increases coke deposition, however, significant coke deposition is not reported when 20 wt% of plastic concentration is not reported. Carbon capture via CO 2 inert gas supply enhances the H 2 yield, provides a route to carbon trade, and substantially contributes to GHG pollution mitigation. Agro-waste gasification is produced by a product that has the potential to be used in a wide range of applications due to its unique properties, such as large specific surface area, porosity, functional groups, high reliability, and minimum cost. Hopefully, this review will be an optic to the most appropriate green hydrogen production path for sustainable clean energy production and effective agro-waste management. • This review acts as an optic to the most appropriate green hydrogen production path. • Hydrogen separation, purification, and storage need more care. • Carbon dioxide reformation aids a carbon trading system and reduces environmental effect. • These research provide direction for energy nexuses that may be derived from agricultural waste. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the EU Green Deal and the UN Sustainable Developments Goals, the vision of a greenhouse gas-neutral and resource-efficient economy is already firmly anchored in world politics. In this context, the automotive industry faces many challenges including the increasing scarcity of natural resources, a rising demand in terms of sustainable vehicle design, production and materials sourcing. Due to all this, end-of-life decisions regarding dismantling have become increasingly important. A high proportion of secondary materials will be required in the vehicles of the future. To response to these challenges, companies have turned their focus towards the circular economy as a central approach to close material loops. In the German research project "Catena-X" a new data ecosystem with digital twins is one enabler that is being developed. The digital twins represent a promising approach to the circular economy by ensuring transparent, product-specific and end-to-end data exchange throughout the entire product lifecycle, from the material sourcing to the eventual dismantling and recycling. As one particular and unique solution, a decision framework that facilitates the best circular strategy at the end of a vehicle's life is developed and presented in this paper. The underlying data-driven decision support framework is based on circular economy KPIs. This includes material, components and specific vehicle KPIs to best identify the most suitable circular strategy. The framework was methodologically developed by an interdisciplinary team of partners, who are stakeholders throughout the value chain and participants in the Catena-X project. An integrated approach of user-centered design, an adapted version of the V-model and the Scaled Agile Framework were used for the methodology in the development of the solution. The paper presents the concept of a digital twin for a decision support system, that includes a central decision logic that also includes the relevant KPIs and a survey for evaluating the decision logic utilised with a chosen dismantling company. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A methodology that defines and ranks KPIs encompassing the entire FSC. • A KPIs co-creation process involving experts and FSC stakeholders. • A new criteria (SMART +) that incorporates the digitization capability of KPIs. • An index that assesses the readiness of FSCs to implement FLW prevention strategies. The impact of food loss and waste (FLW) generation on food supply chains' (FSC) sustainability represents a challenge embodied in the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 12.3. This problem requires a methodology to measure such an impact in a rigorous, holistic, and standardized way that can be applied to any FSC. This paper aims to develop and validate a single index to assess the readiness of FSCs to implement FLW prevention strategies and measure their impact: the so-called FOODRUS index. The co-creation methodology followed incorporates experts and FSC stakeholders feedback. The index has been validated in 3 FSCs: The Slovak pilot scored 74.35%, the Spanish pilot reached 68.79%, and the Danish pilot was rated 61.14%. Its calculation, eased by the FOODRUS index self-assessment tool (described in the Appendix), allows quick diagnosis of the FSC capability to implement FLW prevention strategies considering both the knowledge provided by experts and the experience of the FSC stakeholders that participated in its co-creation process. In this way the FSC can assess its FLW prevention performance at a strategic and management level, with the aim of improving its sustainability impact. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increase in global material demands while having finite natural reserves has made the transition from a linear to a Circular Economy (CE) more crucial. Various approaches have been proposed for such a transition, which closed-loop system is an approach aiming to maximize resource efficiency ensuring that materials are continually reused and recycled, thereby reducing waste and conserving resources. However, there are some obstacles/gaps in the implementation of CE practices, one of them is the lack of a proper Circularity assessment unit, as called Circularity Indicators (CIs). The CIs play a crucial role by enabling to quantify the success of circularity strategies. This paper critically reviews the existing CIs and introduces a novel scoring system that evaluates them against five main circularity categories. This scoring system allows for assessing CI's alignment with core CE principles. Our findings reveal that some CIs demonstrate broad applicability and robustness, while others have more narrowed focuses. This dementated the need for a unified CI that is versatile, comprehensive and integrates various 'R' strategies with the triple bottom line model of sustainability. This scoring system can be used in policy making and business strategy decisions to embed CE in new developments such that support sustainable development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pursuit of environmental sustainability and resource conservation has underscored the growing significance of the circular economy paradigm across industries. This transformation is particularly pertinent within the automotive industry, necessitating a profound restructuring of the value chain, with a specific focus on end-of-life considerations. Significant potential for circular economy arises from the thorough examination of end-of-life vehicles and processes, involving strategies such as component reuse, material recycling and primary resource reduction. Providing process-, product-, component-, and material-specific information at the end-of-life of automotive vehicles can improve decision-making regarding circular strategies. It also demands for new digital solutions. This paper addresses an integrated approach of data flow analysis and Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) to enable a comprehensive monitoring of the environmental impact of these processes. First, the use case of end-of-life dismantling processes is presented - including pyrotechnics neutralization, vehicle dehydration, disassembly of reuse components as well as vehicle compaction. Secondly, the data demand respective information and material flows is depicted. As a main result, the LCA data flow model specifically tailored to the end-of-life vehicle dismantling processes is described. This model serves as a fundamental basis for analyzing the environmental impact of end-of-life processes combined with the underlying data flow. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Approximately 74.7 Mt (Million Metric Tonnes) of e-waste is expected to be produced in 2030, and laptop e-waste is one of the major constituents of this. The goal of this paper is to develop and optimize a mixed-integer linear programming (MILP) mathematical model for a laptop manufacturer in India, based on a framework that integrates secondary reuse concept associated with traditional circular economy waste avoidance strategies. The multi-objective solution techniques of ε-constraint, LP-metric, and weighted sum methods are used to optimize the circular economy model. The proposed model aids as a policy tool to decide the optimum number of inspection/collection centers, sales/distribution centers, disassembly centers, refurbishing centers, recycling centers, and their optimum locations and allocations. This study results suggest that reuse, secondary customer centers, refurbishing, and recycling of the laptops is not only economically beneficial to the organization but also environment friendly and helps to create more jobs in the rural economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Manufacturers around the globe are expected—with growing urgency—to contribute to the implementation of a circular economy (CE) to enhance environmental sustainability. However, to put circularity into practice, companies need to be better guided. Responding to their need, this paper 1) documents research-based insights for CE implementation; 2) clarifies key CE concepts; 3) highlights learning of CE research and innovation in various regions; 4) outlines guiding principles for CE implementation; and 5) proposes issues for future research to various communities with a cross-disciplinary approach in mind. The adopted method is a literature review supplemented with stakeholder interviews. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The advent of Industry 4.0 has revolutionized the manufacturing industry by incorporating interconnectivity, decentralized decision-making, resource optimization, and automation. This transformation has been made possible through the integration of advanced technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, Cyber-Physical Systems, the Internet of Things, Big Data Analytics, and Blockchain Technology. However, while Industry 4.0 has primarily focused on production efficiency and real-time transparency, the need for the transition toward a holistically sustainable environment has become increasingly urgent. As a result, the term Industry 5.0 was devised, merging the concept of Industry 4.0 with sustainability, resilience, and human-centric goals. This paper explores the potential areas of influence these technologies have on the environmental dimension of sustainability. The findings indicate that various Industry 4.0 technologies can contribute to environmental sustainability in manufacturing. These technologies offer opportunities to optimize supply chain performance, improve product traceability, reduce waste, enhance resource management, and minimize overall environmental impact. By understanding the implications of Industry 4.0 for environmental sustainability, researchers, policymakers, and industry practitioners can collaborate to develop strategies that integrate advanced technologies and sustainable practices in the manufacturing sector. The research provides insights into the potential benefits of these technologies for environmental sustainability and calls for further investigation to fully explore their environmental dimensions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The integration of Industry 4.0 and the circular economy has gained significant attention to achieve sustainable and innovative practices in the manufacturing industry. This paper presents a conceptual framework for integrating Industry 4.0 and the circular economy, based on a systematic literature review. The review synthesizes and critically analyzes existing research to identify key elements of a circular and sustainable production system and demonstrates how Industry 4.0 technologies can be leveraged to support these elements. The framework encompasses four essential components: Desired Environmental Performance, Circular Economy Strategies, Technology Enablers, and Organizational Factors. These components provide guidance for manufacturing firms in adopting Industry 4.0 technologies to promote circular economy principles and achieve environmental sustainability. The findings of this study contribute to a comprehensive understanding of the interactions between Industry 4.0 and the circular economy, paving the way for future research and practical implementation in the manufacturing industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The food value chain is responsible for significant environmental and resource pressures. 14% of the total food produced in the EU is lost or wasted along the supply chain (FAO, 2019) and 19% is disposed of when reaching the consumption stage (UNEP, 2024). Therefore, to tackle the problem of food loss and waste (FLW), it is crucial to make the agri-food system sustainable. Adopting a life cycle approach to measure and assess the impacts created by FLW prevention actions is key to achieving this transition. This paper provides a detailed mapping study of EU projects that previously dealt with the issue of FLW prevention and compiles the LCIA methods that were used to conduct their environmental assessments. Two essential requirements are set to evaluate the suitability of the identified LCIA methods to detect the most beneficial FLW prevention and reduction (FLWPR) action in terms of environmental sustainability. Results show that the Environmental Footprint v3.0 method (EF v3.0) is the LCIA method that better meets these requirements. To shed light on its suitability, this paper uses the EF v3.0 method to make a comparative LCA of two specific hypothetical FLWPR actions concerning the fresh tomato value chain. Moreover, this study highlights the strengths of this LCIA method and explores pathways to overcome possible shortcomings. The outputs of this study represent an academic breakthrough in the field of FLWPR by addressing the requirements for guiding the selection of a method that enhances comparability between FLWPR actions and provides science-based tools that can help decision-makers follow a path to a more sustainable agri-food system. [Display omitted] • Tackling food loss and waste problem is crucial for a sustainable agri-food system. • Life cycle approach is key to assessing the impacts of food loss and waste prevention. • At midpoint, weighting and single score help to compare environmental performance. • Having a whole picture of environmental performance enables hotspots identification. • Environmental Footprint 3.0 allows to compare food waste prevention actions impacts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Propose an end-of-use condition estimation method based on reliability and warranty policy. • Present a two-stage optimization model for the Re -X decision-making problem. • Develop a condition-based end-of-use processing policy under demand uncertainty. • Reduce lifecycle cost and environmental impact for product family. • Demonstrate the methodology with case study and result analysis. The concept of circular economy has been diffused in recent decades to promote economic growth that does not add to the burden on natural resource extraction. Re -X options (e.g., reuse, repair, refurbish, remanufacture, recycle) have been gradually adopted in the product development process and optimized to reduce or eliminate waste and pollution. Although manufacturing incorporating Re -X options can be more environmentally friendly, it involves more sources of uncertainty than traditional manufacturing since the end-of-use products can be collected from multiple origins with various quantities and qualities, and the market demand for both new and remanufactured products cannot be forecasted perfectly. Thus, there is a need to optimize the Re -X policy to alleviate the negative impacts of the higher uncertainty. One option is using the reliability information of new products to estimate the end-of-use conditions and applying multi-stage stochastic optimization to capture multiple demand scenarios. This paper develops a two-stage stochastic optimization model to optimize the quality thresholds for reuse, recycling, and remanufacturing options. Our objective is to minimize the total cost, energy consumption, and environmental impact of producing and providing warranty service for a product family. The model employs reliability information of product components to estimate the warranty service cost and the end-of-use conditions of the returned resources. A case study on a general product family is implemented to illustrate the efficacy of the optimization model. Results show that the two-stage optimization can achieve cost and environmental impact reduction for a hybrid manufacturing and remanufacturing process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this research is to show how taxation of intermediate items produced from virgin and recycled materials negatively impacts closed-loop supply chain (CLSC) results (labor, capital, returns, outputs, prices, profits, and dead-weight-loss). It offers remedies to alleviate tax inefficiencies. After formulating upstream and downstream production functions and recycling process, a Stackelberg game framework is analytically solved and data from steel industry and automobile stimulus program in the US are used to obtain numerical results. The results show that an optimum collection channel along with endogenous consumer return behavior can improve outcomes and reduce inefficiencies stemming from output taxation. The principal policy implication is that American, Chinese, Canadian, and German governments' tax incentive programs applied to items produced from recyclables are a sound strategy in the way of spurring their circular economies, improving environmental sustainability, and reducing economic loss. [Display omitted] • Legislators aim to reduce environmental impact of used products and propel sustainable business. • However, governments interventions can distort circular economy outcomes. • This paper proposes remedies to reduce economic and environmental distortions. • The remedies include optimal collection channel and incentive-responsive return program. • The paper quantifies the outcomes in the steel industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Circular economy (CE) adoption is spreading worldwide, and it aims at decoupling the creation of value from resource consumption, leading to sustainable and responsible production and consumption as highlighted in the Sustainable Development Goal 12. The circular transition will ask for the transformation of the companies and the workforce, from both qualitative and quantitative perspectives. The set of required skills will be influenced by the circular transition, while the degree of implementation of circular activities will depend on the availability of adequate skills. Nevertheless, the extant literature has not reached a consensus on which competences are required for a circular transition, and few studies have approached this topic at all. This paper presents a systematic literature review to identify and categorize the skills that can facilitate the adoption of circular practices in manufacturing companies. The identified skills were systematically organized within a structured framework extending Porter's Value Chain. Leveraging the literature review's findings, the paper proposes a series of ideal job profiles for circular manufacturing, and it outlines some preliminary education and training paths. This research contributes to the current body of literature and practical understanding on the "human dimension" of circular manufacturing. [Display omitted] • Systematic literature review on skills required for circular manufacturing. • Skill classification based on circular manufacturing value-added activities. • Ideal job profiles modelled on the most relevant skills mentioned in literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Sorting strategies based on source, physical and chemical properties were compared. • The gasification efficiency of sorted RMSW was 40.89% higher than that of unsorted. • The yield of syngas can be increased by 37.14% after waste sorting. • The emission of CO 2 can be reduced by 81 t·per year after waste sorting. • Elemental composition based sorting method benefited to efficient gasification. Gasification is a promising way to convert residual municipal solid waste (RMSW) to high-valued syngas. Waste sorting is helpful to alleviate the heterogeneity problem of waste on gasification. This paper aimed to search for an optimal sorting strategy and evaluate the influence of waste sorting on downstream gasification. A sorting strategy based on elemental composition was proposed and compared with common source and density based strategies. The results validated the enhancement of waste sorting on RMSW gasification, where the elemental composition based strategy showed optimal gasification. The yield of syngas, cold gas efficiency, the lower heating value of syngas and H 2 /CO were increased by 37.14 %, 38.95 %, 2.18 % and 8.81 %, respectively. It also showed a good effect on the improvement of air gasification compared with the literature, especially for H 2 /CO. This paper also discussed the economic and environmental potential of the elemental composition based sorting method. The waste sorting can help increase 29,250 RMB/year and reduce CO 2 emission by 81 t/year. This method has potential for industrial application. It is suggested that further fast elemental composition characterization technologies and intelligent sorting equipment can be developed. Limitations and future perspectives were discussed from gasification simulation models, more energy utilization technologies, the underlying logic of waste sorting and sustainability evaluation. It is hoped that this work can provide insightful fundamentals to their applications in RMSW sorting, thus benefiting resource recovery and circular economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The textile and clothing industry is a significant global sector due to its economic and social contributions. However, it is one of the most polluting industries. There has been a significant uptake of research on circular economy implementation to reduce its environmental impacts. Nevertheless, there is a critical gap in reviewing how the research field is evolving and what the core focus and underlying assumptions of the existing research are. This paper utilises bibliometrics, content analysis, and problematisation to comprehensively examine the state of research. Analysing 132 primary documents dating from January 2014 to April 2023, this study reveals that sustainability-oriented innovation and transition challenges are the core focus of existing research. Technology-oriented circularity and its positive impact on sustainability is the in-house assumption that almost all studies are founded on. Besides unpacking the risk of such assumptions, this study provides tangible suggestions for future research on circular economy disruption, its rebound effect, and sustainability-oriented innovation. Although the time lag and language biases may have impacted the representation of current research trends, findings from this study can facilitate academic research and industry practice in implementing circular economy practices for a more sustainable future. • There is a significant uptake of research on CE implementation, its positive effects, challenges, and opportunities. • This paper utilises bibliometrics, content analysis, and problematisation to examine the research on CE in the TC industry. • Institutional factors, consumer behaviours, sustainability-oriented innovation and transition challenges are critical for CE. • The disruptive and rebound effect of CE, institutional isomorphism and innovation capability are future research directions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Life cycle assessment of mineral processing byproducts. • Environmental benefits of repurposing processing wastes. • Lithium battery elements and their environmental footprint. • Strengths and weaknesses of current LCA for by-product recycling. The increasing demand for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) has accelerated the extraction and processing of numerous critical minerals embedding lithium, cobalt, manganese, nickel, and graphite. Extracting these elements from the earth's crust is inevitably associated with the generation of by-products, leading to various environmental impacts that need to be carefully considered. It is essential to integrate these by-products into sustainable value chains and demonstrate their environmental benefits. Life cycle assessment (LCA) provides a systematic approach for analysing the integration of by-products in a circular economy and assessing their environmental impact throughout the product's life cycle. Although LCA enables decision-makers to evaluate the potential benefits and trade-offs associated with using by-products in the circular economy, its acceptance by the mining and processing community is limited. This literature survey shows that increasing attention is being directed towards LCA-based research in order to foster the circular economy of mineral processing by-products related to LIBs. While more authoritative and effective information channels are opening up for researchers and end-users to learn about LCA in this context, two main issues are present in current research, namely the lack of equilibrium (i.e. focus on small and isolated areas that may not represent the whole market) and the lack of systematic criteria of assessment (i.e. environmental impacts are difficult to compare). Through the analysis of 79 relevant LCA papers, we realized that the current research on mineral processing by-product recycling is limited to specific areas, such as by-product selection, recycling method qualification, and assessment of environmental impact categories. These areas are often studied in isolation, leading to a fragmented understanding of the broader environmental impacts of recycling by-products in the context of lithium-ion battery production. Furthermore, comparing LCA results across different studies on the same research topic can be challenging. To improve future LCA research on mineral processing by-product recycling, greater attention should be paid to non-hotspot fields, and systematic criteria of sustainability evaluation specifically cast for critical minerals should be established to improve decision-making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urbanisation is leading to a concentration of growing city populations that contribute significantly to economic growth, while becoming epicentres of waste generation, greenhouse gas emissions, and food consumption. Nutrient smart city circular economy is currently an understudied intersection of growing city populations of food consumers, nutrient recovery technologies, Internet of Things (IoT), and agriculture. Meanwhile, machine learning has exploded with popularity over the years, with many circular economy literatures examining its usefulness in its predictive qualities to support management, optimisation, and recovery of useful resources from organic waste. This review paper examines advancements in machine learning for macronutrient recovery in city organic waste systems for a circular economy. The use of ML will greatly improve the scalability, transparency, productivity and accuracy of nutrient: recovery technologies, logistics, dissemination, and reuse. ML can also be combined with hardware to automate tedious waste separation, recovery and agricultural tasks using drones, hydroponics and satellites. Meanwhile, crop yields, nutrient demand-supply efficiencies, food security, environmental soil monitoring, and prosumer involvement could all increase. However, ML applications for urine, anaerobic digestion and prosumer economics are lacking. [Display omitted] • Lack of ML urine, membrane-AD, and prosumer studies for nutrient recovery. • IoT hardware, drones, democratised data sharing to address ML underfitting. • Lack of digital twins; CE BIM; good technologies and economics were barriers. • ML could increase transparency and food security for building consumer trust. • ML IoT to predict nutrients for soil, hydroponics, water treatment and farming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The concept of the circular economy has emerged as a promising economic model to fulfill the increasing requirements for sustainable development. The underlying mechanism of a circular economy is based on the reuse, reduce, and recycle of technical and biological resources. Manufacturing companies need to adapt their existing business to the specific requirements of a circular economy to remain viable. Especially, the existing product design must be adapted to the business logic of a circular economy. For this, product-service-system (PSS) have a variety of potentials to operationalize a circular economy. However, the manufacturing sector lacks knowledge and methodological assistance to develop circular product-service-system ideas. Hence, the aim of the paper is a circular PSS ideation canvas to develop expedient PSS ideas for a circular economy. For this purpose, a design science approach was used. Requirements for the design of circular PSS ideas were gathered from literature and practice. Based on this, the identified requirements were assessed using a qualitative content analysis and assigned into an appropriate structuring framework. The resulting circular PSS ideation canvas comprises the core aspects of the value proposition canvas according to Osterwalder/Pigneur as well as 16 additional elements, such as obligations, existing business value, and the internal goals. Hence, the circular PSS ideation canvas provides companies with a systematic and structured assistance for developing new and circular PSS ideas. This enables companies to create initial PSS ideas in consideration of circular and sustainable requirements. The practical applicability of the circular PSS ideation canvas was evaluated with a medium-sized company in the electronics sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A Digital Twin (DT) is a virtual replica of a product or product-service system, which can be used to provide transparency of a product's sustainability and to positively influence the ecological impact throughout its lifecycle by means of intelligent data analytics. This paper identifies current sustainability-focused application scenarios of DTs in the manufacturing industry and outlines the results of a systematic literature review (SLR). The identification of the state-of-the-art and the assessment of current DT concepts with regard to the addressed product lifecycle phases, technological maturity and sustainability scope point towards key directions to guide future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Higher education institutions (HEIs) can play a key role in the transition to the circular economy (CE) given their missions, characteristics and role in shaping the coming generations of citizens and leaders. The aim of this paper is to provide a comprehensive examination of HEIs as microcosms for transitioning to circular models. Through a semi-systematic literature review, it focuses on the systemic transformation of HEIs and uses quantitative and qualitative content analysis to map 72 research papers covering the topic. The paper also introduces a methodological approach to address the complex nature of HEIs as intricate systems. The analysis reveals the presence of six main themes relevant to CE implementation in HEIs: education and research; campus physical facilities; tools and activities for greening the campus; material flows and waste management; collaboration, stakeholder engagement and behaviours; and frameworks for CE implementation. The analysis showed a growing interest in CE implementation in HEIs and evidence of the potential of HEIs to foster the transition towards it. However, an organized approach is currently lacking as is an understanding of how to apply CE practices within HEI systems. Recommendations for future research include comparing academic research findings with grey literature from HEI networks and other credible organizations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to explore the institutional logic of manufacturing companies in the transition to a sustainable and circular economy. The paper follows abductive reasoning and uses a qualitative methodology encompassing primary data collected from 16 interviews with manufacturing companies and supplementary data from web-scan analysis, observation and 15 interviews with public institutions and environmental experts. We identify four specific co-existing logics of the circular economy of manufacturing companies and explain operating conditions of each logic. Compliance and commercial logics reflect instrumental thinking, while value chain and value creation logics are more based on integrative thinking. To illustrate opposites of instrumental thinking and integrative thinking, we propose an analytical framework of circular logics, that consists of three pillars, that is homogeneity vs heterogeneity, techno-centric vs system-centric perspectives, compliance vs ethical responsibility. The originality also relates to the prioritization among different logics. • Four CE logics of manufacturing companies discovered. • Compliance and commercial logics reflect instrumental thinking, value chain and value creation logics are more based on integrative thinking. • We propose an analytical framework of CE logics that consists of three pillars. • Based on attributions of negative and positive factors, managers actually can prioritize integrative CE logics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Review of digital tools to support the circular economy in the built environment. • Identification and comparison of CAD, BIM, and computational design plugins. • Highlights possibilities and limitations of the various approaches and tools. • Beyond LCA, including circularity indicators and computational methods for a CE. • Recommendations for further development of digital tools. This paper reviews digital tools for supporting the Circular Economy (CE) in the built environment. The study provides a bibliometric analysis and focuses on computer-aided design (CAD), building information modeling (BIM), and computational plugins that can be used by practitioners. While Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is the primary methodology for evaluating buildings' environmental performance, the study identifies tools beyond LCA, including computational methods and circularity indicators, that can support the evaluation of circular design strategies. Our review highlights limitations in tools' functionalities, including a lack of representative data for LCA and underdeveloped circularity indicators. The paper calls for further development of these tools in terms of interoperability aspects, integration of more sources of data for LCA and circularity, and possibilities for a comprehensive evaluation of design choices. Computational plugins offer greater flexibility, while BIM-LCA integrations have the potential to replace dedicated LCA software and spreadsheets. Additionally, the study identifies opportunities for novel digital methods, such as algorithms for circular design with various types of reused building elements, and sharing of digital twins and material passports. This research can inform future studies and support architects and engineers in their efforts to create a sustainable built environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 outbreak, understanding its impacts on cities has received much attention in science and policy circles. This paper systematically reviews the literature on the interface of the pandemic and urban sustainability. The objective is to portray the impacts brought by the COVID-19 outbreak in urban environments within the sustainability framework and to detect trends and challenges for future research. The paper follows a methodology that integrates both bibliometric and systematic review approaches. The first approach relies on bibliometric analysis to provide an overview of the landscape of main trends on this nexus. The second approach presents a content analysis that deepens the work by outlining the impacts of the pandemic and the challenges that emerged on five different key topics for urban sustainability. The role of resilient urban planning is discussed as an integrative concept to face diverse challenges in the construction of sustainable cities in a post-pandemic scenario. Likewise, the study deliberates on future research topics related to resilient urban planning, social equity, healthy urban environments, sustainable mobility, and circular economy. This review serves as a guide for researchers and urban planners to understand emerging challenges and future research trends in urban sustainability. [Display omitted] • A literature review integrating bibliometric and contents analysis synthesizes the effects of the COVID-19 on the urban sustainability. • The impacts are sorted into thematic areas: resilient urban planning, healthy urban environments, social equity, sustainable mobility, and circular economy. • Challenges for urban sustainability and resilience are proposed as topics for future research work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In today's competitive world, gathering precise context knowledge is a critical barrier for industry practitioners, professionals, and researchers in supply chain management, impeding their capacity to acquire expertise and give effective management awareness. In this regard, this study aimed to identify the data-driven capabilities of supply chain management. Realising the abovementioned issues, the existing literature on supply chain management needs to be further reviewed to explore the data-driven capabilities for sustainable supply chains. The study presented a systematic literature review on a data-driven sustainable supply chain to achieve this goal. One hundred ninety-seven documents from various publications were identified for bibliometric and network analysis from the Scopus database using specific keywords related to the research concept published during 2013–2023 through inclusion and exclusion criteria. The emerging themes were identified using the "R" package and reviewed the papers were reviewed in theme directions. The study showed that implementing data-driven and sustainable technologies could assist strategic decision-making. Also, Data-driven solutions can effectively improve sustainability in supply chain network operations performance. The study demonstrates that big data can contribute to achieving sustainability goals through bibliometric analysis and critique of previous papers published in the specialised field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recycling spent lithium-ion batteries is a significant way to achieve life-cycle management and a green circular economy, helping to achieve carbon neutrality. The form of battery pack disassembly has gradually moved away from manual manipulation to a human–robot collaborative process. However, there is no established methodology for assessing spent lithium-ion battery disassembly between the environmental benefits, technical feasibility, and economic viability of human–robot collaborative disassembly (HRCD). To ensure the efficiency and security of HRCD processes, this paper develops a resilience assessment model for HRCD using stability, redundancy, efficiency and adaptation metrics. The resilience assessment theory is used to obtain the internal relations among the resilience indicators of the system. In this work, we evaluate the resilience of HRCD for lithium-ion battery disassembly by integrating fuzzy Bayesian fusion with an analytical network process unfolding cloud. The 2017 Chevrolet Bolt driver demonstrated the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed approach, which allows greater flexibility in complex tasks performed by humans and robots. In case study, the weights values of stability, redundancy, efficiency and adaptability are 0.340533, 0.161384, 0.203835 and 0.294248, respectively. IR2&HO1 and IR3&HO2 have an assessment value of 93 and 95, respectively, with eigenvalues of 1.28 and 1.23, which are level I. RI3&HO1 and RI4&HO3 belong to level IV, with an evaluation value of 38 and 45, respectively, and a characteristic value of 2.27 and 2.55, respectively. The integrated methodology proposed in this paper could be effectively used by disassembly management, to evaluate the HRCD disassembly scheme resilient strategies for better managing production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to synthesize the extant literature on supply chain (SC) resilience and draw a roadmap for resilient SCs by employing a systematic literature review (SLR). The paper utilizes an SLR methodology to draw upon important themes and sub-themes. This is based on a pool of papers published in peer-reviewed journals. Major themes identified included SC networks and structures, Industry 4.0 and digitalization, innovation and entrepreneurship, capabilities and strategies, SC risk management, circular economy and sustainability. SC networks and structures, as well as the role of information technology and Industry 4.0, are an important theme of research in the literature. The literature at this juncture has mainly highlighted the role of big data analytics, blockchain technology, and artificial intelligence in SC resilience. In addition, the important capabilities highlighted by researchers include SC flexibility, SC capacity, SC robustness, SC relationship management and SC leadership for improving SC resilience. The important themes and sub-themes identified in the study would help identify the strategic fields of action for creating resilient SCs. Particularly, the conceptualization of resilience within the SCs would help to uncover the factors that play an important role in improving the SCs. Further, the study also focuses on the interplay between sustainability and resilience. The present study will help managers to understand the factors that affect resilience in SCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The clothing sector is under increased global scrutiny as the second biggest polluter behind the oil industry. What was once termed the 'democratisation of fashion', fast fashion has become a low cost, high speed and resource intensive market. As a result, sustainable consumerism has gained traction, with innovative alternatives such as collaborative consumption and product service systems becoming more popular. However, despite growing concern, sustainable alternatives remain a niche market compared to the scale of global fast fashion. Rental clothing schemes remain under-researched in the UK. These collaborative consumption schemes promote a circular economy through reducing waste and increasing life cycles. This paper examines the determinants of rental clothing adoption by employing semi-structured interviews, specifically accounting for different generations across rural and urban areas. It presents a UK perspective on rental clothing. The findings suggest that the affordability of rental is dependent on the nature of the items and adoption is driven by style, sustainability desires, and geography of consumers. This paper concludes that to increase the adoption of rental clothing schemes, trust in schemes and increased accessibility are essential to allow them to become mainstream alternatives to fast fashion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many studies focus on the application of phase change materials (PCMs) to a photovoltaic (PV) panel. It has been proved that these materials provide a good thermal management for the PV panel, increasing the electrical conversion efficiency and recovering useful heat. This paper investigates these innovative systems from an environmental sustainability perspective. A PV-PCM prototype, built and tested over a reference year, has been taken as case study. The recovered heat by the PCM is intended as peak shaving for the domestic hot water (DHW) energy demand of a typical residential building. The analysis involves both the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), basing on the ISO standard 14040, and the circularity of the proposed system, proposing an alternative calculation procedure to the new Italian standard UNI 1608856. Results show that the proposed system allows the reduction of impact on climate change of around 11%, reaching a potential circularity performance of around 45%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this research paper is to explore the antecedents and consequences of circular entrepreneurship in emerging markets. The consequences of circular entrepreneurship will be explored through the lens of three dimensions of sustainability: social, economic, and environmental. This study used a multi-case approach, which is frequently applied in circular business literature. The study used convenient and purposeful sampling techniques to identify circular entrepreneurs starting a business by recognizing opportunities in CE. We interviewed the 15 entrepreneurs (all participants engage in plastic circular entrepreneurship) with more than 8 years of experience. We employed a semi-structured interview method because respondents explored important information during the interview. Atlas.ti, a prominent qualitative software package, was used for analysis. This study portrays the antecedents and consequences of circular entrepreneurship identified when circular entrepreneurs take the initiative to serve low-income customers. This study points out that circular entrepreneurs can be motivated both intrinsically and extrinsically. The consequences of circular entrepreneurship show how such enterprises impact on society, sustainability, and the economy. The study points out that circular entrepreneurship can have both positive and negative impacts on the environment. By investigating the determinants and consequences of circular entrepreneurship in emerging markets, the authors make a significant contribution to the field of circular economy and entrepreneurship. We have limited logistics and resources, thus we did not collect data from stakeholders, who might provide a richer picture and insights into how circular products affect their lifestyle. Policymakers can get a better understanding of such enterprises from the findings of this study. They should reassess policies regarding circular entrepreneurship and suggest ways to promote open innovation within circular entrepreneurship. Circular enterprises serve low-income customers by offering an affordable product with attractive features. The government should develop an open innovation action-packed forum to find, design, and create prototypes, as well as introduce more comprehensive sustainable solutions for wastable plastic products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Transition dynamics and agency are insufficiently considered in sectors with complex configurational set-ups. • We introduce the concept of the contestation axis. • Considerable agency can play out along other axes than the typical niche-regime axis. • We analyze contestation axes in the waste sector in Denmark. • Circular economy visions trigger agentic processes between multiple socio-technical configurations. Research in sustainability transitions increasingly acknowledges that the structural characteristics of socio-technical systems differ. However, little attention has been paid to the specific transition dynamics that can result from this structural variation. In response, this paper develops a framework for studying transition dynamics that takes the structural characteristics of socio-technical systems and their influence on agency into account. We introduce the concept contestation axis to highlight alternative potential interfaces between functional solutions in a socio-technical system. We argue that considerable agency and frictions between actors can play out at other axes than between established regimes and emerging niches. Our conceptual framework is applied to a case study in the waste sector. We explore how the growing influence of the circular economy triggers misalignment between multiple socio-technical configurations in the Danish waste sector. In the case, we zoom in on three actual frictions that have manifested along different contestation axes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Insulation materials in the construction industry play a crucial role in improving the thermal performance of buildings, reducing energy demands, and reducing carbon emissions. With the growing emphasis on decarbonization, the construction sector is increasingly adopting bio-based insulation materials from renewable and eco-friendly sources as a more sustainable circular economy (CE) strategy to replace mineral and plastic insulation materials. However, due to limited environmental data availability, their efficacy and environmental sustainability in climate mitigation relative to their conventional counterparts remain unclear. This study fills this critical knowledge gap by conducting a literature review and mapping the key physical and environmental properties of bio-based insulation materials, thereby assessing their potential for climate mitigation. Specific definitions and criteria established in this study for biobased insulation materials facilitated the mapping of 174 emerging materials and products at the lab-scale. These include 39 distinct bio-based materials, either in their raw form or combined with 40 binders from various material groups such as minerals, polymers, biopolymers, and other innovative solutions. Most mapped products show favorable performance in cradle-to-gate embodied carbon (EC), benefiting from biomaterials' carbon storage. However, significant variations in physical and environmental properties among these products highlight areas for improvement, particularly in embodied energy (EE) and thermal conductivity compared to glass wool. This paper attempts, for the first time, a comprehensive categorization of these products based on three criteria: thermal performance, climate mitigation, and environmental sustainability, grounded in critical physical and environmental properties. Cellulose and straw bale emerge as competitive options for thermal performance and environmental sustainability in climate mitigation, with potential for scalable adoption. However, further research on the physical and environmental properties of bio-based insulation materials is crucial to improve their assessment and categorization, and consequent recommendation for broader adoption in sustainable construction practices. [Display omitted] • Developed standardized definitions for biobased insulation materials by composition. • Categorized and mapped 174 bio-based insulation materials for climate mitigation. • Varied physical and environmental properties on the material level are observed. • EC values of most bio-based insulation materials are comparable to glass wool. • Cellulose and straw bales are promising alternatives for climate mitigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Waste collection bins with smart capabilities play a crucial role in contemporary urban landscapes, forming integral components of efficient and sustainable waste management practices worldwide. This paper conducts a thorough review of state-of-the-art smart bins, emphasizing advanced features such as material separation and integrated automation. The analysis, based on 79 selected articles from a pool of over 1400 publications, underscores critical gaps in the existing literature. While a widely accepted common ground that outlines the definition for smart bins exists, in the form of waste disposal containers incorporating functionalities such as fill-level monitoring and IoT connectivity, this research identifies substantial areas for improvement. Specifically, material separation practices, including automated waste segregation, and the overall maturity of conceptual frameworks present significant challenges, hindering the optimization of resource recovery essential for pioneering circular economy models. Moreover, a lack of uniformity and standardization in automation techniques is apparent across studies. Various articles propose divergent approaches, each with distinct advantages and drawbacks. Notably, no unified solution emerges that could harness collective strengths and mitigate shortcomings. Identifying these issues is paramount for advancing the field and tackle sustainability-related challenges within modern smart cities. • Exploration of the utilization of smart waste bins in urban settings. • Review of sensing and actuation capabilities in smart bins. • Highlight of limitations in material segregation automation. • Proposal of holistic concept for improved resource recovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Under the promotion of sustainable development goals, cleaner production (CP) has become an important strategy for energy-intensive manufacturing industries to maintain their competitiveness. Studies have shown that the implementation of Industry 4.0 (I4.0) can effectively promote the CP process in manufacturing. However, existing studies often focus on specific scenarios, limiting a comprehensive assessment of the industry's overall status. This paper aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the main research areas of I4.0 and its key impacts on CP by employing systematic mapping studies. By reviewing 121 studies retrieved from the Web of Science, a hierarchical analysis framework centered on the product life cycle (PLC) has been introduced. This framework provides a holistic analysis of sustainable intelligent manufacturing, summarizing the application of I4.0 and its impact on CP across the PLC stages. The main findings reveal a growing focus on I4.0 and CP, with the manufacturing and maintenance stages of the PLC being primary research scenarios. Moreover, attention should be directed towards integrating clean technologies, bolstering industrial data security, fostering circular economy practices, and exploring emerging fields like Industry 5.0. Moreover, to better explain the impact of this study, management implications are also provided from the three dimensions of theory, practice, and policy. These viewpoints and conclusions are of great significance for guiding future research and practical applications. • A comprehensive review of Industry 4.0 and cleaner production is conducted. • Systematic mapping and bibliometric methods are employed. • A hierarchical framework based on product life cycle is proposed. • The current challenges and future prospects are discussed. • Management implications from theory, practice, and policy are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the face of climate change, the circular economy is attracting the attention of public authorities, international institutions, industry and academia. There is currently no consensus on its definition and it varies according to the sectors and actors. The objectives of this work are threefold: (i) to identify all the discourses and initiatives attributed to the circular economy in order to situate them according to whether they belong to weak or strong sustainability; (ii) to enhance the value of this information by centralizing it, and creating tools to facilitate its exploration and access; (iii) to analyze how these initiatives allow circular economy to address global sustainability. Questions regarding data sources and processing of this information were raised to facilitate the collection of relevant data. This work focuses on information published on social networks, in particular Twitter called X now. Several data processing techniques such as text mining, geocoding and knowledge graph generation are applied. Data visualization tools are used to show the distribution of the data on a spatial, thematic and temporal level. The results obtained confirm the over-representation of circular economy practices based on weak sustainability in developed countries, while circular economy initiatives based on strong sustainability are most common in the Global South. This paper provides evidence on the social contribution of circular economy, which is less addressed in the technocentric approach. [Display omitted] • Global circular economy initiatives are collected, analyzed and mapped. • Circular economy initiatives are classified as strong or weak sustainability. • Weak sustainability initiatives exist in Global North, strong ones in Global South. • The circular economy is reconciled with the social pillar of sustainability. • Circular Economy can be linked to theories of social and environmental justice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aerobic granular sludge (AGS) biotechnology has been explored for wastewater treatment for over two decades. AGS is gaining increased interest due to its enhanced treatment performance ability and the potential for resource recovery from AGS-based wastewater treatment systems. Resource recovery from AGS is a promising approach to sustainable wastewater treatment and attaining a circular economy in the wastewater management industry. Currently, research is at an advanced stage on recovering value-added resources such as phosphorus, polyhydroxyalkanoates, alginate-like exopolysaccharides, and tryptophan from waste aerobic granules. Recently, other value-added resources, including curdlan, have been identified in the aerobic granule matrix, and this may increase the sustainability of biotechnology in the wastewater industry. This paper provides an overview of AGS resource recovery potential. In particular, the potential for enhanced curdlan biosynthesis in the granule matrix and its recovery from AGS wastewater treatment systems is outlined. [Display omitted] • Phosphorus yield of 25.10 mg/g SS is recoverable from aerobic granular sludge (AGS). • AGS has high polyhydroxyalkanoates storage capacity of 40–70% of cell dry weight. • High selection pressure affects high alginate-like exopolymers recovery (682 mg/gVSS). • Tryptophan yield from conventional activated sludge can be doubled in AGS systems. • Research needed on curdlan biosynthesis in AGS and development of recovery protocols. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rate of access to electricity in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is just 42 %. The private market for household-scale off-grid solar (OGS) products (pico solar and solar home systems) is regarded as a key tool for increasing electricity access in SSA. However, the growing volume of unabated waste from OGS products poses a significant environmental risk. Based on a systematic literature review of 52 papers, the dynamics of SSA's OGS market, the drivers of OGS waste, the environmental and health impactions of OGS waste, the barriers to waste management, and potential circular economy solutions to address SSA's OGS waste flow are analysed. The market landscape is decentralised and predominantly unregulated. The lifetime of OGS products is found to be short (less than four years), limited by affordability constraints, the lack of local technical expertise, detrimental usage habits, and low access to maintenance and repair services. The widespread uptake of OGS products and short product lifetimes has resulted in rapidly increasing waste volumes across SSA (an estimated 12,000 tonnes of waste generated in 2020, a 545 % increase from 2016). The current informal recycling practices are found to have extremely severe environmental consequences. In particular, the informal recycling of lead-acid batteries is a primary driver of lead exposure in SSA. Formal waste management initiatives are hindered by competition with informal practices, inadequate legislation, the complexity of reverse logistics, the negative recycling value of some OGS products, and the absence of sophisticated formal recycling infrastructure. Furthermore, the emerging consensus on how to address SSA's OGS waste, from the industry's body and legislation across SSA, is found to be inadequate as it fails to address the majority of the waste flow. Finally, the authors recommend circular economy solutions such as promoting local resource conservation activities and pursuing effective public-private partnerships to capitalise on domestic value generating activities within the OGS waste chain. • Off-grid solar market and waste flow in sub-Saharan Africa are mostly unregulated. • Estimated 12,000 tonnes of waste generated in 2020, a 545 % increase from 2016. • Off-grid solar waste has significant impacts, including childhood lead exposure. • Emerging waste management consensus fails to address most of the waste flow. • Profitable opportunities to close the lead-acid battery material loop in Africa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The implementation of sustainability principles is becoming fundamental for companies, also for creating added value in the production processes. Production managers should not consider only the economic-financial aspects in their decisions, but also the environmental and social implications to extend the benefits to all current and future world populations. This vision requires to develop and apply sustainability-oriented methodologies to compare alternative production strategies. This paper contributes to addressing this problem by proposing a methodology that allows comparing different production strategies by considering their sustainable impact, starting with the definition of their processes. An aggregated sustainability index has been designed for this purpose. Thus, the paper contributes to the literature on the evaluation of sustainability through the development of a methodology, which can be used by the practitioners as a decision support tool to identify the most sustainable production strategy according to the objective of the company and the specific production process considered. Then, the proposed methodology has been applied to compare two different production strategies, i.e., AM-based remanufacturing and the production of new components. A simulation model has been implemented to reproduce the behaviour of the two competing production strategies. Although the results depend on the utilized data, this application showed that it is possible to distinguish different areas of convenience for each strategy. Moreover, findings revealed that the sustainability of the production strategies is strictly connected to the adopted technology and the importance given to the economic, environmental and social aspects by the company. • A sustainability based methodology for comparing production strategies is proposed. • Remanufacturing and new production strategies are considered. • Additive Manufacturing technologies are considered to conduct the assessment. • Remanufacturing is always the best strategy from the environmental perspective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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]

Discussions about the circular economy have taken place in parallel with, but largely independently of, discussions about degrowth. The present paper brings into dialogue the two fields by contemplating what circularity in business could entail in the context of transformations towards degrowth societies. To this end, the paper relates to a recent, holistic reconceptualisation which views degrowth transformations in terms of both less and more on four planes of social being: material transactions with nature, social interactions between people, social structures and people's inner being. These planes signify depth of social being. The paper looks at business through the lens of this reconceptualisation before zooming in on circularity as an important manifestation of a sustainability practice in business. We argue that, in the context of degrowth, implementation of circularity as a principle and a practice should be deep. Relating circularity to each plane of social being, we focus particularly on the plane of people's inner being, the reason being that our mode of relating with the world would need to be significantly different to what it currently is, if deep circularity practices are to become more widespread. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The global society faces an existential threat if it fails to meet current and future material needs of its populations, while staying within the carrying capacity of our planet. An approach that has been put forwards to address this complex challenge is to aim to close our society's material flows through introduction of a Circular Economy (CE). This paper provides an extensive literature review to understand the evolution of material circularity concepts and strategies, and their potential for increasing material efficiency and reduce environmental impacts towards meeting the material needs of our societies in an environmentally sustainable manner. Based on the review it can be concluded that CE may have a strong potential to help address the challenge. However, this requires broadening the focus of CE from technical and economical to political and socio-cultural dimensions, adopting a whole-systems approach, aiming to redesign economic and social relations to not just reduce the impact humanity has on the environment but actually achieve a balance in human-nature relations with a planetary boundary thinking. Pursuing purely technical and economic avenues to implement CE for increasing material circulation and sustainable growth on the foundation of our current linear economic system, will not achieve its full potential. It will not be sustainable but continue to produce the challenges that we currently have. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]