scholarly journals Current Status of Circular Economy Research in Finland

Resources ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 40
Author(s):  
Aida Hosseinian ◽  
Jenni Ylä-Mella ◽  
Eva Pongrácz
Keyword(s):  
Circular Economy ◽  
Business Models ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
National Level ◽  
Resource Scarcity ◽  
Current Status ◽  
Materials Management ◽  
Research Fields ◽  
Waste Management Practices

Circular economy has emerged as a sustainable alternative to the traditional, linear, extract-produce-use-dump economy. The scientific society, practitioners, policymakers, and business sectors are all actively taking part in driving the transition toward circular economy in their own sectors. Every sector is striving to address the environmental issues of their own area, and to find solutions to the problem of resource scarcity. However, there is a lack of comprehensive studies on the general status of circular economy research and applied projects. Finland aims to be a global pioneer in this field, which is why there is a tremendous boost in research in various fields of sustainable materials management. Therefore, there is a need to have a better perspective of the research society’s efforts to accelerate the transition to circular economy. The objective of this paper is to review scientific research and practices of circular economy transition in Finland, in order to categorize and analyze them. The paper aims to give an insight into the current status and provide a comprehensive understanding of the trend changes during the past 20 years. The analysis shows that there is growing attention to circular economy in many research fields, researchers and practitioners in all fields have responded to the need of the society. However, the recycling-based ‘end-of-pipe’ interpretation of circular economy is still more dominant than developing and implementing strategies for circular product design, dematerializing society, and developing service-based business models. It is important to bear in mind that circular economy is about much more than improved resource flows and waste management practices. Achieving a circular economy needs the engagement of the society, it needs invention and innovation and it also requires the creation of new technologies, products, services, and business models. This study gives a comprehensive perspective at the national level and addresses the key actions and sectors which require more investment and attention from the scientific community to boost the transition toward circular economy. There are some limitation in this study derived from the method of data collection and selection of databases. Due to this, there may be valuable works that were not published, or only in the Finnish language and were, therefore, not identified in this study.

Emerging Industrial Revolution: Symbiosis of Industry 4.0 and Circular Economy: The Role of Universities

2020 ◽  
Vol 25 (3) ◽  
pp. 505-525 ◽  
Author(s):  
Seeram Ramakrishna ◽  
Alfred Ngowi ◽  
Henk De Jager ◽  
Bankole O. Awuzie
Keyword(s):  
Economic Growth ◽  
Circular Economy ◽  
Industry 4.0 ◽  
Business Models ◽  
Industrial Revolution ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Fourth Industrial Revolution ◽  
New Jobs

Growing consumerism and population worldwide raises concerns about society’s sustainability aspirations. This has led to calls for concerted efforts to shift from the linear economy to a circular economy (CE), which are gaining momentum globally. CE approaches lead to a zero-waste scenario of economic growth and sustainable development. These approaches are based on semi-scientific and empirical concepts with technologies enabling 3Rs (reduce, reuse, recycle) and 6Rs (reuse, recycle, redesign, remanufacture, reduce, recover). Studies estimate that the transition to a CE would save the world in excess of a trillion dollars annually while creating new jobs, business opportunities and economic growth. The emerging industrial revolution will enhance the symbiotic pursuit of new technologies and CE to transform extant production systems and business models for sustainability. This article examines the trends, availability and readiness of fourth industrial revolution (4IR or industry 4.0) technologies (for example, Internet of Things [IoT], artificial intelligence [AI] and nanotechnology) to support and promote CE transitions within the higher education institutional context. Furthermore, it elucidates the role of universities as living laboratories for experimenting the utility of industry 4.0 technologies in driving the shift towards CE futures. The article concludes that universities should play a pivotal role in engendering CE transitions.

scholarly journals Smart Manufacturing Systems and Applied Industrial Technologies for a Sustainable Industry: A Systematic Literature Review

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (8) ◽  
pp. 2897
Author(s):  
Raffaele Cioffi ◽  
Marta Travaglioni ◽  
Giuseppina Piscitelli ◽  
Antonella Petrillo ◽  
Adele Parmentola
Keyword(s):  
Literature Review ◽  
Systematic Literature Review ◽  
Circular Economy ◽  
Manufacturing Systems ◽  
Business Models ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
Smart Manufacturing ◽  
Smart Devices ◽  
Digital Innovation ◽  
Smart Manufacturing Systems

Smart manufacturing is considered as a new paradigm that makes work smarter and more connected, bringing speed and flexibility through the introduction of digital innovation. Today, digital innovation is closely linked to the “sustainability” of companies. Digital innovation and sustainability are two inseparable principles that are based on the concept of circular economy. Digital innovation enables a circular economy model, promoting the use of solutions like digital platforms, smart devices, and artificial intelligence that help to optimize resources. Thus, the purpose of the research is to present a systematic literature review on what enabling technologies can promote new circular business models. A total of 31 articles were included in the study. Our results showed that realization of the circular economy involved two main changes: (i) managerial changes and (ii) legislative changes. Furthermore, the creation of the circular economy can certainly be facilitated by innovation, especially through the introduction of new technologies and through the introduction of digital innovations.

scholarly journals Sustainable Production and Consumption of Food. Mise-en-Place Circular Economy Policies and Waste Management Practices in Tourism Cities

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (17) ◽  
pp. 9986
Author(s):  
Mark Anthony Camilleri
Keyword(s):  
Food Waste ◽  
Circular Economy ◽  
Hospitality Industry ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Tourist Destinations ◽  
Preventative Measures ◽  
Production And Consumption ◽  
Tourism And Hospitality Industry ◽  
Tourism And Hospitality ◽  
Waste Management Practices

Although previous researchers have explored the circular economy practices of different businesses in various contexts, currently, there are still a few contributions that are focused on the sustainable preparation and consumption of food in the tourism and hospitality industry context. Hence, this paper sheds light on case studies from hotels, restaurants, and cafes that are located in urban tourist destinations. This research suggests that catering businesses can implement a number of responsible initiatives by introducing preventative measures and recycling practices to curb food loss and the generation of waste. In conclusion, this contribution implies that there is scope for regulatory authorities and policymakers to encourage hospitality practitioners to engage in circular economy approaches and to incentivize them to minimize food waste in tourism cities.

scholarly journals Features of Digitalization in the Construction Industry as an Important Factor of Its Sustainable Development

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (12) ◽  
pp. 169-174
Author(s):  
K. Voskovykh
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Construction Industry ◽  
Business Models ◽  
Industrial Revolution ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
Cost Savings ◽  
Resource Scarcity ◽  
Current Level ◽  
Construction Site ◽  
Fourth Industrial Revolution

This article determines that in the context of global digitalization, the competitiveness and sustainable development of companies depend on the speed of mastering new technologies. Assessment of the current level of the construction industry indicates its lag behind other industries. The aim of the study is to analyze the current level of digitalization of construction companies and summarize the constraining factors. The importance of continuous digitization of production and logistics, networking of autonomous smart objects or the use of self-learning systems in order to increase flexibility and optimize processes is emphasized. The main benefit of implementing digital business models is reducing the time it takes to make decisions, implement a project, and bring products to market. The factors holding back digital processes at the construction site are highlighted: a high proportion of manual production, over-regulation, dependence on the public sector and cyclical changes, the scale of the company. New technologies resulting from the fourth industrial revolution promise more efficient processes, greater time and cost savings, greater productivity and quality. The construction industry must catch up with other industries, because it also has to face the challenges of globalization, urbanization, climate change, resource scarcity, demographic change and other events that disrupt its sustainable development. Construction Site 4.0 promises improvements, but the fourth industrial revolution on the construction site is just beginning.

scholarly journals Fintech: A Literature Review

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 80
Author(s):  
Ferdinando Giglio
Keyword(s):  
Financial Services ◽  
Financial Stability ◽  
Business Models ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
National Level ◽  
Industrial Sector ◽  
World Bank Group ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Acceleration Force ◽  
Bank Group

This article analyzes the Fintech evolution. After describing the process of this phenomenon, some of the main definitions are provided both nationally and internationally. Finally, six main models of Fintech are analyzed. Through a systematic literature, 14 articles have been selected that deal with the phenomenon of Fintech. Six Fintech business models implemented by the ever growing number of Fintech startups have been identified, payment, wealth management, crowdfunding, loan, capital market and insurance services. Internationally, Fintech has already been defined by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the World Bank Group (WBG), the Financial Stability Board (FSB), the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO), the Bank for International Settlements (BIS). On a national level, on the other hand, Fintech has been analyzed by various countries, USA, United Kingdom, Singapore, China, Switzerland, China, Australia and the European Union. Fintech refers to a broad set of innovations - observable in the financial field in a broad sense - which are made possible by the use of new technologies both in the offer of services to end users and in the internal production processes of financial operators as well as in the design of market enterprises, without thereby compromising new possible configurations of intersectoral activities. Fintech appears to be representative of innovative methods - based on technology - of carrying out activities directly or indirectly connected to financial services rather than being a pre-defined industrial sector. Following the logic of the digital economy, Fintech contributes to designing an open and continuous network of modular services for businesses, individuals and banking, financial and insurance intermediaries, becoming a powerful acceleration force for the integration policies of the financial services markets in the EU.

Applications Driven Information Systems

2017 ◽  
pp. 159-171
Author(s):  
Kayvan Miri Lavassani ◽  
Bahar Movahedi
Keyword(s):  
Information Systems ◽  
Business Models ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
Business Ecosystem ◽  
Business Environments ◽  
Organizational Information ◽  
Business Ecosystems ◽  
Industrial Ecosystems ◽  
Contemporary Management

Advancements in organizational information systems and developments in business environments have brought important changes to the contemporary management practices and business models. Organizations have evolved beyond their specific and general environments towards business ecosystems. This study investigates the evolutions of organizational information systems and business environments in the contexts of business ecosystem. Based on an evolutionary study of organizational information systems and business ecosystem an ontological model is proposed for the adoption of new technologies in the real world designs with particular attention to the application of technology. We call for further empirical and conceptual research in understanding and exploring the role of business ecosystems in organizational operations and industrial ecosystems.

scholarly journals Serious Games in Secondary Education to Introduce Circular Economy: Experiences With the Game EcoCEO

2021 ◽  
Vol 2 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julie Roba ◽  
Tom Kuppens ◽  
Lise Janssens ◽  
Anse Smeets ◽  
Saskia Manshoven ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Secondary Education ◽  
Circular Economy ◽  
Serious Games ◽  
Business Models ◽  
Resource Scarcity ◽  
Difficulty Level ◽  
Upper Secondary Education ◽  
Upper Secondary ◽  
Material Scarcity

The concept of the circular economy is being proposed as an alternative for the current linear economy. However, little research has been done on how to integrate this topic within education. Serious games are suggested as an appropriate way to create awareness about and stimulate behavioral change toward sustainable development. Therefore, the serious game ecoCEO has been developed to introduce the circular economy concept within upper secondary education. The game's intention is to introduce students to the challenge of resource scarcity, circular product design, sustainable entrepreneurship and circular business models. EcoCEO has been tested among 42 students, whose written reflections were qualitatively examined. EcoCEO appears successful, at least partially, in contrasting the circular economy with the linear economy and in conveying relevant concepts such as recycling and reuse. EcoCEO also illustrates the importance of the circular economy within the context of material scarcity. Moreover, most students in our case study seem to have a good impression of the role and responsibilities of a (sustainable) entrepreneur. Despite its difficulty level, the majority of the students reported having fun while playing ecoCEO.

Solid Waste Management Practices in Pakistan

2020 ◽  
pp. 248-269
Author(s):  
Maria Manzoor ◽  
Iram Gul ◽  
Irum Iqrar ◽  
Muhammad Arshad
Keyword(s):  
Waste Management ◽  
Solid Waste ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Solid Waste Management ◽  
Environmental Issue ◽  
Waste To Energy ◽  
Current Status ◽  
Waste Generation ◽  
Per Capita ◽  
Waste Management Practices

This chapter covers different aspects of solid waste management (SWM) in Pakistan. Being a developing country, Pakistan is facing serious environmental issue as a result of improper and limited SWM practices. The current status of waste generation is far high than waste management operation working in the country. Detailed information has been provided on account of waste generation per capita, waste composition and types, current status of waste management practices, policy and legislations on solid waste management. Furthermore, particular challenges in local setups for achieving waste management goals have been highlighted. There is urgent need to look into the various options to deal with proper management of solid waste in the country. In this regard, various projects by governmental and private sector have been initiated. Particularly, projects related to waste to energy (WTE) have been planned and operational in certain parts of the country.

Circular Economy for India

2019 ◽  
pp. 272-298 ◽  
Author(s):  
Saravan Krishnamurthy ◽  
Geoffrey Fudurich ◽  
Prakash Rao
Keyword(s):  
Waste Management ◽  
Economic System ◽  
Environmental Degradation ◽  
Circular Economy ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Industrial Ecology ◽  
Indian People ◽  
The People ◽  
Waste Management Practices ◽  
Wealth Generation

The stewardship of resources for the good of the people is an ancient concept in India, practiced by revered kingdoms. This chapter discusses the original ideals of stewardship and how colonization caused a deterioration of this philosophy in favor of materialistic wealth generation. Colonization followed by the development of an industrialized and capitalistic leaning in the economy brought wealth and increased consumption for Indian people and also created multiple waste-related issues. These issues require a drastic overhaul of waste management practices, with particular attention to industrial ecology. Modern stewardship by India's CSR community is essential to prevent further environmental degradation due to poor waste management practices. The circular economy holds promise as a new economic system and philosophy that can refocus society towards the values of stewardship espoused by the nation's ancestors, while transitioning to a circular economy.

scholarly journals Strategies for Improving Recycling at a Higher Education Institution: A Case Study of the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus, Barbados

2015 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jamar Bailey ◽  
Maria Pena ◽  
Terry Tudor
Keyword(s):  
Waste Management ◽  
West Indies ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Public Awareness ◽  
National Level ◽  
Education Institution ◽  
The West ◽  
Waste Management Practices ◽  
The University

Enhancing the sustainability of the management of waste from Higher Educational Institutions (HEIs) is becoming an increasingly important issue, globally. Using the University of the West Indies (UWI), Cave Hill campus, in Barbados as the case study HEI, and a combination of questionnaires, key informant interviews and waste audits, the study aimed to understand waste management practices on campus, as well as to gain an insight into how waste is managed at the national level. The results suggest that the key challenge facing sustainable waste management at the University and the country in general was limited financial resources. Key motivators for recycling at the UWI were its benefits to keeping the Campus clean and the generation of funds. The major barriers were a lack of motivation, high bin contamination and a lack of knowledge regarding the Recycling Initiative. Bin location had a significant impact on recyclable and contamination levels. Per capita overall and recyclable arisings at the University were 393.93 grams and 308.35 grams respectively. Recommendations included increased education and initiative awareness and strategies to reduce bin contamination. At the national level, increased public awareness programs and involving everyone in the process were key strategies proposed to overcome the challenges.

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