TY - JOUR
T1 - Thematic exploration of sectoral and cross-cutting challenges to circular economy implementation
AU - Singh, Shweta
AU - Babbitt, Callie
AU - Gaustad, Gabrielle
AU - Eckelman, Matthew J.
AU - Gregory, Jeremy
AU - Ryen, Erinn
AU - Mathur, Nehika
AU - Stevens, Miriam C.
AU - Parvatker, Abhijeet
AU - Buch, Raj
AU - Marseille, Alicia
AU - Seager, Thomas
N1 - Funding Information:
Authors thank the International Symposium and Sustainable Systems Technology (ISSST) and the organizers and participants in the 2018 Circular Economy special session. Funding for specific sections of this paper was received from the National Science Foundation and is acknowledged by M. Eckelman (CBET-1454414), C.W. Babbitt (CBET-1639391 and CBET-1934542) and S. Singh (CBET-1805741).
Funding Information:
Authors thank the International Symposium and Sustainable Systems Technology (ISSST) and the organizers and participants in the 2018 Circular Economy special session. Funding for specific sections of this paper was received from the National Science Foundation and is acknowledged by M. Eckelman (CBET-1454414), C.W. Babbitt (CBET-1639391 and CBET-1934542) and S. Singh (CBET-1805741).
Publisher Copyright:
© 2021, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH, DE part of Springer Nature.
PY - 2021/4
Y1 - 2021/4
N2 - Abstract: Circular economy (CE) offers a pathway towards sustainable, closed-loop resource systems, but widespread adoption across industrial sectors is limited by fragmented knowledge and varied implementation approaches. This article reviews sector-specific challenges and opportunities associated with implementing and measuring the benefits of CE strategies. Literature mapping highlights progress towards CE implementation in food, chemicals, metals, consumer electronics, and building and infrastructure sectors, and towards measuring CE outcomes via systems analysis methods like life cycle assessment (LCA) and material flow analysis (MFA). However, key challenges were also identified that point to future research and demonstration needs. First, research on CE adoption typically exists as case studies that are closely linked to a sector. But literature has not effectively synthesized knowledge gained across domains, particularly understanding underlying barriers to CE and where they occur in product life cycles. Second, research on CE outcomes often applies well-established methods without adapting for unique attributes of CE systems. A key opportunity is in integrative methodological advances, such as expanded use of consequential LCA, development of physical Input–Output tables, and integrating MFA with dynamical models. Finally, regardless of sector, new CE business models are seen as a critical enabler to realize success, but theoretical frameworks in literature are not well-tested in practice. The review also highlights opportunities to harness other emerging trends, such as big data, to provide better information for system modelers and decision-oriented insight to guide CE stakeholders. Graphic abstract: [Figure not available: see fulltext.]
AB - Abstract: Circular economy (CE) offers a pathway towards sustainable, closed-loop resource systems, but widespread adoption across industrial sectors is limited by fragmented knowledge and varied implementation approaches. This article reviews sector-specific challenges and opportunities associated with implementing and measuring the benefits of CE strategies. Literature mapping highlights progress towards CE implementation in food, chemicals, metals, consumer electronics, and building and infrastructure sectors, and towards measuring CE outcomes via systems analysis methods like life cycle assessment (LCA) and material flow analysis (MFA). However, key challenges were also identified that point to future research and demonstration needs. First, research on CE adoption typically exists as case studies that are closely linked to a sector. But literature has not effectively synthesized knowledge gained across domains, particularly understanding underlying barriers to CE and where they occur in product life cycles. Second, research on CE outcomes often applies well-established methods without adapting for unique attributes of CE systems. A key opportunity is in integrative methodological advances, such as expanded use of consequential LCA, development of physical Input–Output tables, and integrating MFA with dynamical models. Finally, regardless of sector, new CE business models are seen as a critical enabler to realize success, but theoretical frameworks in literature are not well-tested in practice. The review also highlights opportunities to harness other emerging trends, such as big data, to provide better information for system modelers and decision-oriented insight to guide CE stakeholders. Graphic abstract: [Figure not available: see fulltext.]
KW - Business & Innovation
KW - Circular Economy
KW - Data and Modeling
KW - Industrial Ecology
KW - Sectoral Themes
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U2 - 10.1007/s10098-020-02016-5
DO - 10.1007/s10098-020-02016-5
M3 - Review article
AN - SCOPUS:85099815045
SN - 1618-954X
VL - 23
SP - 915
EP - 936
JO - Clean Technologies and Environmental Policy
JF - Clean Technologies and Environmental Policy
IS - 3
ER -