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The Routledge Handbook of Waste, Resources and the Circular Economy

Background The circular economy Situating circular economy principles in the field of waste and resource management Challenges associated with the concept of a circular economy The structure of the Handbook Conclusions References I The need for and challenges surrounding circularity Natural resources. Consumption, pollution, and health risks: developed versus developing economies Introduction The use of natural resources Natural resources: distribution and consumption around the world Environmental issues due to the exploitation of natural resources: the status in developed and developing economies Environmental and health issues due to the exploitation of natural resources: case studies Conclusions References Consumption and materialism: from acquisitive to responsible materialism Introduction The role of consumers in the circular economy Consumer acceptance of circular products: barriers and opportunities Barriers Opportunities Some practical cases Conclusions References Further reading Embedding more circular approaches to the management of resources Introduction Challenges faced Key resources Adopting a more circular approach to resource management References Environmental justice, waste management, and the circular economy: global perspectives Introduction Exporting environmental injustices Waste, pollution, and socioeconomic development Facilitating a more circular approach and reducing environmental injustices References Resource consumption and the associated health risks: a brief overview Introduction Risks posed Reducing the risks Conclusions References The Sustainable Development Goals as drivers for change Evolution of drivers for waste and resource management Improved waste and resource management as an entry point for achieving multiple Sustainable Development Goals Linking waste and resource management to the Sustainable Development Goals Direct entry points to the Sustainable Development Goals Linkages to global environmental crises Climate change Marine plastics Indirect linkages to all the remaining Sustainable Development Goals Indicators for the Sustainable Development Goals Conclusions Acknowledgements References Triggers for industrial symbiosis: lessons learnt from twenty-five case studies Introduction Strategy Triggers National level Regional/local, including city level Firm level Conclusions References Bought today, gone tomorrow? from linear to circular consumption Introduction Obsolescence as a social construct The communication of obsolescence - insights into media discourses Perceptions and experiences of obsolescence - results of consumer research Factors influencing life span from a holistic perspective Notes References II Measuring and implementing circularity Africa – juxtaposition between rapid urbanisation, industrialisation, and the need to preserve traditional circular systems The circular economy in the African context Africa’s circular economy policy landscape Agenda 2063 and the Durban Declaration: frameworks for a continental transition to circular economy Country-level circular economy policies and legislation Private-sector small and medium-sized organisations and non-profits drive the circular economy in Africa Rapid urbanisation is eroding circular economy practices in Africa Critical enablers for an African circular economy transition A circular economy vision supported by political will Enabling regulatory frameworks at the country, provincial, and city levels is needed Cooperation at the global level to support system enablers Capacity building to increase awareness of circular economies and create the skills needed for circular economies in Africa Enhanced research, development, and innovation based on the African context Financial support to ensure that circularity remains at the heart of African economies An enhanced people-centric approach to circular economy development Conclusions Notes References Conceptualising circular start-ups Introduction Definitions of sustainable and circular business models Theoretical framework Discussion and Conclusion Notes References Ecodesign and circular design of products: concepts, assessment, and strategies Introduction Advantages of ecodesign and circular design Standardisation related to ecodesign and circular design Legislation related to ecodesign and circular design Procedure for designing a product Tools for assessing the circular/environmental impacts of a product Environmental assessment tools Materials use, energy use, and toxic materials matrix Lifecycle assessment Circular assessment tools Design strategies Environmental strategies New concept development Selection of low-impact materials Reduction of material use Optimisation of production techniques Optimisation of distribution system Reduction of impact during use Optimisation of lifetime Optimisation of end-of-life system Circularity strategies Long-lasting Loop-lasting Bioinspired/biobased Conclusions References Approaches to monitoring and evaluation of resource recovery from waste towards a circular economy Introduction Monitoring and evaluation: importance and definitions Monitoring and evaluation approaches in achieving a circular economy Macro-, meso-, and micro-level metrics used for monitoring and evaluation of achieving the circular economy Discussion Conclusions References Complexity and the circular economy: systems approaches for change Introduction Complexity, systems thinking, and managing transitions to the circular economy Complexity and complex systems The circular economy as a complex system The implications of complexity for managing transitions to the circular economy Tools and approaches for managing change to the circular economy Top-down and bottom-up processes for change High-level, goal-oriented governance approaches Policy tools and approaches Tools and approaches for evaluation and participation Conclusions References Circular economy meso-level planning: an approach with ‘distributed economies’Introduction Grounds for expecting support from distributed economies to circular economy Theoretical foundations for the analyses of the distributed economies model Fundamentals of economic analysis of sustainability: the neoclassical paradigm Some limits and pitfalls of the neoclassical paradigm applied to sustainability analysis Fundamentals of economic analysis of sustainability: the institutional/ecological paradigm Paradigmatic alignment of the distributed economies model with ecological economics’ support of the circular economy Conclusion References Further reading III Policy and legislative considerations The role of policy in creating a more circular economy Introduction The policy process What is policy?Why is public policy ever needed?should policymakers be interested in creating a circular economy?How can policy drive a circular economy?The policy options Literature review Case studies Regulatory framework - packaging extended producer responsibility (United Kingdom)Business support scheme - the REBus project (European Union)Collaboration platforms - the Plastics Pacts (United Kingdom and global)Public procurement and infrastructure - Chinese circular economy demonstrator projects Challenges Swimming against the tide Legislating is hard Where’s the evidence?Making the perfect the enemy of the good The risk of unintended consequences What do we want?Future opportunities Conclusion References Further reading Legal considerations for a circular economy Introduction Selected legal issues Meaning and enforcement of circular economy Circular economy literature: whither law?Procurement and ownership Overcoming contradictions?Suggested future directions Conclusion References Further reading Economic and trade considerations of circular economy approaches Introduction Circularity and international trade The challenges facing international trade and circularity Growth and circularity International trade and growth: trends and anomalies Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement: the future of a United Kingdom-Canada circular economy Conclusion References Managing waste at the national and local levels Managing solid waste at the national and local level Stakeholders and their roles in solid waste governance The green versus the brown agenda Private, public, or merit good?Defining a glocalised strategy for solid waste management?National-level guidance on local waste management Biowaste management as a priority Implementation at the local level References IV Sharing economies and capacity building Making sustainable markets and the forming of a circular economy Markets and the work of concerning market actors in order to bring about change Making up sustainable markets as moral markets From sustainable markets to circular economies References Becoming eco-literate through experiential encounters with food Introduction Learning for living: a failure of environmental education?The pedagogic landscape of eco-literacy: what does it mean to be ‘eco-literate’?The pedagogic landscape of food: a role for experiential learning as ecological literacy?A critical political pedagogy as eco-literacy for food The sensing body as a site for learning food eco-literacy Conclusions Notes References Implementing low-carbon strategies – analysis of barriers Spurring investment in low-carbon technology Barriers for investment in energy efficiency Payback time Volatility of energy prices Competition for capital Failure to recognise non-monetary benefits Lack of strategic relevance Basic enterprise strategies and relation to energy efficiency investment Incubation Growth Maturity Decline Experiences in implementing low-carbon strategies Results of energy audits in 280 enterprises Results related to life-cycle phase of the companies Conclusions Acknowledgements References Overcoming financial, social, and environmental challenges faced by cooperatives: case studies from the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil Introduction Types of cooperatives Methods Study context The research approach and data collection Results General findings Key findings from each interviewee Discussion Conclusions References The informal recycling sector – environmental criminals or the future of the circular economy?Introduction What is informal recycling?Who are informal recyclers?The scale and impact of informal recycling Key challenges faced by informal recyclers An inclusive urban resource economy?The circular economy and global development Informal workers in the contemporary economy: fourth industrial revolution Conclusions Notes References Refugee camps and circular economy in Palestinian West Bank: challenges and opportunities Circular economy and principles of integrated sustainable waste management Solid waste management in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and West Bank refugee camps Selected experiences in solid waste recovery Cardboard collection and reuse Organic waste management Plastic recovery Refugee engagement, a crucial component Elements for future opportunities Conclusion Acknowledgements References V Recycling Exploring household dynamics for recycling in the United Kingdom: a case study of recycling habits in greater London Introduction Household waste recycling Household waste management research: psychology and practice Materials and methods Investigating the ‘green casuals’Methods Results Household dynamics, ‘decision-making,’ and contested spaces of recycling practices Waste systems, technologies, and information Un-packing the packaging Waste trajectories Discussion and conclusions Acknowledgements References Circular start-ups: five business model archetypes as frontrunners of circular disruption Introduction Methods Regional and organisational scope Data analysis Results and discussion Sector and market overview Circular business model strategies and innovations Towards a typology of circular start-ups Design-based start-ups Waste-based start-ups Platform-based start-ups Service-based start-ups Nature-based start-ups Conclusions Notes References Enablers and barriers for industrial symbiosis: lessons learnt from twenty-five case studies Introduction Enablers The role ofgovernment/regional authorities Intermediaries/knowledge agents Social/relationships Leadership Geographical/spatial Process Technology Barriers Materials Capacity and capability Complexity and continuity Communication and coordination Leadership and mindset Geographical/spatial Technology Economic and environmental Policy/regulation (firm/network level) and contracts Policy, regulation, and investment at a government/regional/local/city authority level Conclusions Reference A proposed approach for a solid waste collection system in an African rural town: a case study from Kenya Introduction Waste collection and management in developing countries The case study area Methods Evaluating waste generation patterns Understanding the views of the community Developing the collection system Results Waste production and composition The views of the community Design of a system for waste collection and disposal Discussion Conclusions Acknowledgements References Circular economy opportunities in Africa – emerging sectors and missing narratives Circular economy development in Africa Plastics The case of South Africa: leveraging extended producer responsibility activities and introducing a Plastic Pact The case of Ghana: leveraging global action to develop a local policy framework The case of Rwanda: utilising regulation for behaviour and market change Agriculture Research, development, and innovation in AgTech based on the local context Electronics The case of Nigeria: developing a circular economy for electronics policy framework The case of South Africa: the need for a roadmap The missing narratives in Africa’s circular economy Leveraging the role of the informal waste management sector The case of Accra, Ghana: an informal waste management system Packa-Ching and WeCyclers: technology and incentives to access recyclables in informal settlements The role of design in circular economy transitions Circular economy opportunities in building systems Circular economy opportunities in water systems Questions that remain unanswered References VI Reuse Modular smartphones and circular design strategies: the shape of things to come?Modular smartphones and circular design strategies A brief history of the sociotechnical developments of mobile phones The evolution of a new technology (1861-1990)Commercialisation, segmentation, and product differentiation (1991-2007)Dominance of the multipurpose smartphone (2007-2019)Investigating the convergence and deconvergence of mobile phones Living with a smartphone in everyday life: possibilities for modular smartphones The frugal user The overburdened user The seeking-optimisation user People living with smartphones in everyday life and reflections on modular smartphones Discussion and conclusions Note References The use of by-products in new materials Introduction Sustainable Development Goals and the use of by-products Registers of by-products By-products in construction Reinforced concrete By-products in reinforced concrete Fibre-reinforced concrete By-products in fibre-reinforced concrete Superplasticisers By-products as superplasticisers By-products as cement and aggregates Designing by-products in ‘green’ cements Conclusion References Using circular supply chains to create community biogas Introduction Ecosystems approach to creating community biogas The Suderbyn project: a case study Community biogas and the circular supply chain system Using industrial symbiosis to trigger community biogas initiatives in Germany and United Kingdom Germany United Kingdom Conclusion References Circular economy initiatives in India: a case study approach Introduction Key challenges faced Adopting a circular economy Circular economy case studies Towards a circular economy Conclusions References Product-service system business models and circular economy Introduction Business model innovation for circular economy Circular economy Circular business model Product-service systems for the circular economy Product-service systems Product-service systems and circularity Case Study From selling gas generators to gases Co-existence of product-service systems business models Product-oriented product-service system: selling products and providing technical services Use-oriented product-service system: leasing products and providing technical services Result-oriented product-service system: selling industrial gases From linear to circular: how product-service systems affect the circularity in the supply chain Traditional product-based model Product-oriented product-service system Use-oriented product-service system Result-oriented product-service system Circularity as a source of value creation of product-service systems Discussion and conclusions References Circular business models in selected geographical contexts: an analysis of two cases Introduction Theoretical background: enabling factors of circular business models Evaluating the cases Case studies The Netherlands: the Bundles case Italy: the Astelav case Discussion and conclusions References Implementing low-carbon strategies in small and medium-sized enterprises: auditing strategies Introduction to energy efficiency and low-carbon energy supply Background The potential for energy efficiency in small and medium-sized enterprises Low-carbon strategies Implementation strategy Experiences in implementing low-carbon strategies Energy audits in 280 enterprises Results of the energy audits Feedback from the audits Conclusions Acknowledgements Note References Circular economy principles in Africa: the case of off-grid solar in Kenya Introduction The role of off-grid solar products and the societal benefits Key drivers for adoption and market penetration Opportunities enabled by business models in off-grid solar sector Proactive activities of industry and challenges at end of life Policy versus voluntary approaches Conclusions and way forward Notes References Circular supply chain: emerging opportunities and challenges Introduction Linear supply chain Circular supply chains Opportunities of the circular supply chain Challenges of circular supply chain Conclusions References Introduction Key messages going forward References

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