scholarly journals Circular investments as a key to solving the growth dilemma

2021 ◽  
Vol 188 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 58-68
Author(s):  
Ludmila Kormishkina ◽  
◽  
Evgenii Kormishkin ◽  
Vladimir Gorin ◽  
Dmitrii Koloskov ◽  
...  

The rationale for this study is based on the extreme importance of finding a solution to a complex growth dilemma arising from the negative effects of human activity and the limited ability of the ecosystem to regenerate and provide resources required by mankind to ensure sustainable development and the long-term prosperity. The research is aimed at proving a scientific hypothesis that states: when the global raw-materials crisis becomes increasingly noticeable in various countries of the world, including Russia, circular investments may become a driver for long-term economic growth and the launch of far-reaching reforms of the economy in the 21st century. Circular investments in this paper are viewed as a special type of real eco-investment that combines advancements in technology and innovations to ensure renewal and industrial-scale reproduction of resources (raw materials and energy) from industrial and household waste, along with the mitigation and/or elimination of negative effects, on the environment. A multiple linear regression model has been developed to confirm a statistically-relevant connection between circular investments and real GDP. As a methodological foundation for the model, we used the classic Cobb-Douglas production function modified to take into account industrially reproduced raw material resources included in the production process. Further, we have defined major limits for circular investments in Russia today and highlighted the primary measures which are to be taken to launch circular investments in order to find a solution to the complex growth dilemma.

2018 ◽  
Vol 20 (4) ◽  
pp. 712-718

<p>Re-Tek UK and its partners, Enscape Consulting and the University of West of Scotland commenced trials for the collection and recovery of critical raw materials from waste electrical and electronic (WEEE) products in July 2016. Sponsored by the EU LIFE funded project ‘Critical Raw Material Closed Loop Recovery’ coordinated by WRAP with EARN, ERP UK Ltd, KTN Ltd and Wuppertal Institute as beneficiaries. The trials are aimed at boosting the recovery of critical raw materials (CRMs) from household waste electrical and electronic products (WEEE) and Information Communications Technology (ICT) in particular, after functioning equipment is separated out for re-use. The new collection models provided residents with the opportunity to drop-off unwanted electrical and electronic appliances at a time and place that suits them, through a collaborative approach which encourages local authorities, educational establishments, businesses, and Social Enterprises, etc to act as hub sites. Hubs were designed to minimize product damage and encourage drop-off, rather than hoarding. Extraction methods developed after the collection phase of the trial looked at the opportunity to recover cobalt, gold and silver from ICT products, with the potential to inform how a more sustainable supply chain could be developed in Scotland. The elements studied were selected to demonstrate financial opportunity (gold/silver) and a strategic priority material (cobalt) for long term supply. These are based on bioleaching and electrochemical recovery using novel carbon based electrode systems, and chemical processing methods using extraction techniques with an assessment of pilot performance and scale up challenges. Our report is on the state of progress towards practical solutions to WEEE and CRM recovery.</p>


Author(s):  
Michael Lankin ◽  
Yanhai Du ◽  
Caine Finnerty

Silica is a well-known impurity in solid oxide fuel cell raw materials, namely NiO and yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ). At elevated temperatures silica will migrate to the grain boundaries, form insulating siliceous phases, and lead to a decrease in the ionic conductivity of the electrolyte. Furthermore, silica impurities have been shown to damage the anode/electrolyte interface, such that an overall decrease in cell performance and long-term stability is observed. Despite the fact that silica is ubiquitous in commercial-grade raw materials and can be incorporated from several extrinsic sources, it has negative effects on the solid oxide fuel cell, such that any further contamination should be avoided to prevent performance degradation and eventual cell failure. This paper reviews and outlines the sources and effects of silica on the solid oxide fuel cell, and attempts to determine a guideline for acceptable levels of silica contamination.


1969 ◽  
Vol 23 ◽  
pp. 33-36
Author(s):  
Jørn Bo Jensen ◽  
Sara Borre ◽  
Jørgen O. Leth ◽  
Zyad Al-Hamdani ◽  
Laura G. Addington

In the summer of 2010, the Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland (GEUS) mapped the potential raw materials and substrate types, over large parts of the Danish economic sector of the North Sea, in cooperation with Orbicon A/S. The mapping was carried out for the Danish Nature Agency; it is part of the general mapping of raw material resources within the territories of the Danish state and forms part of the input for the implementation of the European Union’s Marine Strategy Framework Directive. The purpose was (1) to provide an overview of the distribution, volume and composition of available raw materials and (2) to identify, describe and map the distribution of the dominant marine bottom types.


2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 174
Author(s):  
Deni Aditya Susanto

The Indonesian SME cluster has not fully implemented the cluster concept, causing the SME cluster to stagnate. The Meubel SME Cluster of Pasuruan City and Malang City are two prime clusters working to show their economic crisis performance several times. This study aims to examine the factors of inter-firm linkage and business strategy on business performance. Methodologically, this study uses several analytical methods, namely multiple linear regression, to measure the influence between inter-firm linkage and business strategy variables on business performance, SWOT matrix to map strategy, and descriptive analysis to present non-parametric findings. This study analyzed 60 samples of MSEs from a population of 350 business units. The results of the study mentioned that aspects of business strategy (finance, marketing, human resources, research, development, and operations) had a more significant effect on business performance (sales, profits, assets, labor, and productivity) than inter-firm linkage (backward, forward, and horizontal). Through SWOT matrix analysis, the inter-clustering linkage of Malang City and Pasuruan cluster SMEs is naturally created. Access to raw materials and labor in the city of Malang began to be complicated even though consumers’ potential from large tourists and access to adequate technology. In contrast, Pasuruan City is lt to do marketing because of geographical conditions’ weakness even though the raw material resources and labor are abundant. The specialization of production is created with Pasuruan City as the production base and Malang City as the Marketing Base.Keywords: Cooperatives, Business Strategy, Inter-Clustering LinkageJEL: Q13, L21, C38


2016 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 15
Author(s):  
Hartono Hartono ◽  
Deny Dwi Hartomo

<p><em>Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) have a very significant impact on the Indonesian economy. Therefore, it is important to do research in order to determine the condition of current performance and analyze the factors that influence the development of MSMEs and to provide strategic advice on the development of MSMEs in Surakarta. Long-term goal is the development of MSMEs in Surakarta in the future as measured from the increase in sales, so the SMEs entrepreneurs increase revenue, reduce unemployment and ultimately can reduce the level of poverty in Surakarta by particular and Indonesia by general.</em></p><p><em>The study took a sample of 91 MSMEs entrepreneurs spread across five districts in the city of Surakarta. Each district taken by SMEs entrepreneurs with purposive sampling method. Mapping MSMEs performance conditions were analyzed descriptively to describe various aspects such as firm age, labor, raw materials, capital and problems faced. While the factors that influence the development of MSMEs were statistically analyzed with multiple regression models.</em></p><em>The results showed that the performance of the mapping conditions of SMEs in Surakarta average face problems in raw material costs, labor costs and promotion costs, as well as in the capital. Capital cost and total variable evidenced by the positive and significant impact on the development of the business. While the age factor and the company's workforce does not have a significant influence on the development of SME. It can be understood that the main problem in SMEs are raw materials and capital. There is a type of business that is not easy to obtain raw materials in the market. Therefore SME development strategy with more emphasis on the supply of raw material, marketing, production, and capital.</em>


2019 ◽  
pp. 1-16
Author(s):  
Olja Munitlak Ivanovic

Ethical and ecological responsibility represent the root of sustainable development taking into account intergenerational justice. Mass production and consumption have left negative effects on the environment. Disregarding ecological responsibility, production processes were mainly based on uncontrollable use of raw materials and non-renewable energy sources. Taking into account limitation of raw materials, economic and ecological disasters, a concept of resilience has been developed to make all elements of society flexible in terms of unwanted shocks. This chapter describes two conceptual economic models: linear and circular. The linear model is based on the principle “take, produce, consume, and throw,” meaning that usability of waste is reduced and that waste is simply thrown out after consumption. Circular economic model takes into account environmental responsibility, but it also makes companies more competitive. Waste is treated and processed adequately and used as raw material in production, thus increasing competitiveness. Waste that cannot be processed is disposed permanently.


2018 ◽  
Vol 284 ◽  
pp. 916-921
Author(s):  
Mihail Gerasimovich Bruyako ◽  
L. Grigoryeva

Mineral raw natural resources are not unlimited. Preservation of such non-renewable resources is the most urgent task of mankind. The development of non-waste technologies, the integrated use of secondary raw materials, which simultaneously reduces environmental damage - one of the ways to solve environmental problems. Utilization of wastes makes it possible to solve issues of environmental protection as well as resource saving. In the light of environmental requirements, building materials based on recycled materials, including cellulose-containing solid waste, have significant advantages over other traditional materials. Development of technology for obtaining new effective environmentally safe composite highly filled materials based on cellulose-containing solid household waste for the production of construction products is a rational link in solving the general problem of improving the environmental situation. In the article there are three main ways of combining gypsum binder with cellulose-containing solid household waste. Investigations were carried out on the effect of changing the ratio of cardboard / gypsum binder, specific pressing pressure, sequence of combination of components on the properties of the final product. The strength of the material was determined from the values of the flexural strength, the compression to complete destruction of the sample, and at 10% deformation. Studies have been carried out to increase moisture resistance. The results showed that the most optimal way of combining is the 2 way. The increase in moisture resistance is significantly enhanced by the action of organosilicon hydrophobisers.


2014 ◽  
Vol 1001 ◽  
pp. 368-372
Author(s):  
Miroslava Netopilová ◽  
Jan Mikulenka ◽  
Anna Benešová

The article focuses on the research and development of a new composite material applicable in building industry, renewable raw material resources and industrial waste materials. The aim of the research is not only the application of concrete secondary raw materials but also the gaining of required safety aspects of these composite materials, i.e. certain fire technical characteristics.


2013 ◽  
Vol 838-841 ◽  
pp. 2338-2341
Author(s):  
Marcela Fridrichová ◽  
Karel Dvořák ◽  
Iveta Hájková

The insufficient occurrence of raw material resources on our territory was one of the historical reasons for marginal production of sulphated binders from secondary raw-material resources. Also the unprofitability of material production based on calcium sulphate was related to this fact. This was changed in the end of the last century when formation of waste raw materials increased with industrial development. Secondary gypsums became basic raw material for production of plaster boards, plaster mixtures and anhydrite self-levelling mixtures. Wet flue gas cleaning desulphation process during which the energogypsum is formed is nowadays realised in major part of our power stations. Annual production of the energogypsum produced in this way in particular power stations is about 250 kt. The energogypsum is generally stored in stock piles as a so called stabilisate and partially is delivered to cement works as a solidification regulator. Chemogypsum is produced in chemical works where waste waters with content of SO42- occur, which must be desulphated with lime in water ambient. Further it is formed in citric acid productions where also sulphated waters occur. Last but no least it is also produced in industrial production of phosphates. Production of titanium dioxide is another example of the industry where the possibility of gypsum formation exists.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Aiga Ivdre

The Thesis aims to develop innovative polyols suitable for the production of rigid PU foam from recycled PET flakes and renewable raw material resources (rapeseed oil and tall oil) and to evaluate the effect of polyols on the most important properties of rigid PU foams as a thermal insulation material.


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