scholarly journals Developing Adequate Communication of Waste Footprints of Products for a Circular Economy—A Stakeholder Consultation

Resources ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 78 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rafael Laurenti ◽  
Michael Martin ◽  
Åsa Stenmarck

Relatively few consumers are conscious of the waste generated in the course of producing the goods that they consume, although most are aware of the amount of waste they dispose of. This article reports on a small-scale survey (N = 28) among stakeholders aimed at developing adequate communication of preconsumer waste footprints of consumer goods in the context of the circular economy. Life cycle assessment (LCA) practitioners and consumers assessed five methodological details of an approach for calculating and communicating a product waste footprint (PWF). Most of the respondents expressed that the guidelines described in the proposed PWF methodology are good enough for the purposes of differentiating waste and byproducts, and defining which material flow shall be accounted for. Some LCA practitioners declared that the proposed streamlined method may not be adequate for conveying the environmental significance of waste types. The respondents also expressed that the PWF concept would be primarily useful and/or needed for consumers and government, and in the contexts of improving environmental awareness of consumers, environmental policy making, visualizing waste flows in a circular economy, and improving resource efficiency in industry, and less useful/needed in a business-to-business context. The PWF has been successfully used by diverse stakeholder groups in Sweden mostly to promote sustainable production and consumption across society. A notable example is the ‘invisible waste’ (#invisiblewaste) campaign of the Swedish Waste Management Association (Avfall Sverige). The concerns of the LCA experts have therefore not held true. The symbolic power and parsimony of the PWF concept appears to be effective in sensitizing consumers towards waste issues so that circular economy strategies beyond recycling are possible to be fully realized.

2020 ◽  
Vol 85 (2) ◽  
pp. 279-304
Author(s):  
Timothy D. Everhart ◽  
Bret J. Ruby

This article offers insights into the organization of Scioto Hopewell craft production and examines the implications of this organization through the lens of ritual economy. We present a novel analysis of investigations at the North 40 site, concluding that it is a craft production site located on the outskirts of the renowned Mound City Group. High-resolution landscape-scale magnetic survey revealed a cluster of three large structures and two rows of associated pits; one of the buildings and three of the pits were sampled in excavations. Evidence from the North 40 site marks this as the best-documented Scioto Hopewell craft production site. Mica, chert, and copper were crafted here in contexts organized outside the realm of domestic household production and consumption. Other material remains from the site suggest that crafting was specialized and embedded in ceremonial contexts. This analysis of the complex organization of Scioto Hopewell craft production provides grounds for further understanding the elaborate ceremonialism practiced by Middle Woodland (AD 1–400) societies and adds to the known complexity of craft production in small-scale societies. Furthermore, this article contributes to a growing body of literature demonstrating the utility of ritual economy as a framework for approaching the sociality of small-scale societies.


2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 413
Author(s):  
Maximilian Kardung ◽  
Kutay Cingiz ◽  
Ortwin Costenoble ◽  
Roel Delahaye ◽  
Wim Heijman ◽  
...  

The EU’s 2018 Bioeconomy Strategy Update and the European Green Deal recently confirmed that the bioeconomy is high on the political agenda in Europe. Here, we propose a conceptual analysis framework for quantifying and analyzing the development of the EU bioeconomy. The bioeconomy has several related concepts (e.g., bio-based economy, green economy, and circular economy) and there are clear synergies between these concepts, especially between the bioeconomy and circular economy concepts. Analyzing the driving factors provides important information for monitoring activities. We first derive the scope of the bioeconomy framework in terms of bioeconomy sectors and products to be involved, the needed geographical coverage and resolution, and time period. Furthermore, we outline a set of indicators linked to the objectives of the EU’s bioeconomy strategy. In our framework, measuring developments will, in particular, focus on the bio-based sectors within the bioeconomy as biomass and food production is already monitored. The selected indicators commit to the EU Bioeconomy Strategy objectives and conform with findings from previous studies and stakeholder consultation. Additionally, several new indicators have been suggested and they are related to measuring the impact of changes in supply, demand drivers, resource availability, and policies on sustainability goals.


2001 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 167-186 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sérgio C. Benício de Mello ◽  
Martin Collins

Consumer marketing literature is abundant with research on perceived risk. However, little research has investigated the perceived risk measure in business-to-business, specially regarding its various measurement methodologies employed with respect to their validity. A basic goal of marketing as a science is to provide theoretical explanations for buying-selling behaviour. Whoever seeks such explanations normally borrows and develops constructs and theoretical propositions that cannot be promptly generalized. Thus, this research is primarily concerned with testing and discussing two perceived risk measurement scales across two buying situations (business-to-business) using different types of validation techniques. It tests some assumptions and tenets in models of perceived risk by submitting these measures to a convergent and discriminant validation using the multitraitmultimethod approach. The total of firms from two industrial sectors (pharmaceutical and clothing) in the largest States of the Brazilian Federation were consulted. The results indicate that both scales and their variations are valid to assess risk perception. The certainty/seriousness approach proved to be slightly better than the riskiness approach.


Author(s):  
Cicilia Larasati Rembulan ◽  
Avin Fadilla Helmi ◽  
Bagus Riyono

Purpose The concept of power in the literature is not conclusive yet and still contradictive. As contested concept, power have multi-definition in the literature. This study aims to construct a concept of power between organizations, state-owned enterprises (SOE) and communities in the context of community-based tourism in Borobudur, Indonesia. Design/methodology/approach Participants were 29 individuals representing SOEs (i.e. executive members) and local communities (e.g. village chiefs, community enterprise, managers and residents). Data collection was conducted through interviews, focus group discussions, field records and documents. Using grounded theory, the data were analyzed using open, axial and selective coding. Findings This study discovered that power was fluid. At first, power was a static resource then when it exchanged, it turned into relational/power interplay and at last, became output resource. There was a transformation of antecedent resources of power into a consequential source of power through relationship processes. Research limitations/implications This study should be replicated in other settings for further research, for example, in a business-to-business context and business-to-government to develop a general framework. Practical implications Policymakers should be aware of such fluid power to ensure that community-based tourism programs can benefit all parties involved. Originality/value Findings from this study make several contributions to current literature as follows: this study extends from the existing theories of power, the community-based tourism context where this study was conducted represents actual social situation allowing it to be transferrable to real environment and elaborating theory of power into a comprehensive framework.


2020 ◽  
pp. 47-67
Author(s):  
Alexey S Sysoev

The article analyses the approaches to the definition of ‘circular economy’ and ‘professional in circular economy’ in the Ukrainian and Polish scientific space. It is shown that in Ukraine today there is a linear economic model, according to which enterprises extract natural resources and sell what they produce to consumers who throw away products, if it no longer serves its purpose. As a result of this model, our natural resources are reduced and the amount of waste we generate increases, which leads to environmental instability and environmental degradation. The concept of ‘professional in circular economics’ in the Ukrainian educational and economic field is absent, in contrast to European countries, in particular the Republic of Poland, where the circular economy is considered as a strategy of economic development and much attention is paid to training professionals in circular economics and to improving qualification of those, who are already working. The purpose of the work is to highlight the approaches to understanding the circular economy and the content of the activities of professionals in a circular economy in the Ukrainian and Polish scientific field. Circular economy is characterized as a general name of economic activity aimed at energy saving, regenerative environmentally friendly production and consumption. The role of the circular economy as the most successful way of saving resources and materials, and thus the way to constant economic growth, in contrast to the traditional model of economic development. It is emphasized that the transition to a circular economy will create new jobs in many sectors of the economy. Ukrainian experts, in particular economists, emphasize the importance of the transition to a circular economy (instead of a linear one). Key words: linear economy; professionals’ training in circular economy; circular economy; professional in circular economy.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 19-35
Author(s):  
Nicolae Pintilie ◽  

This paper aims to create an image of progress towards circular economy registered by European Union countries through specific indicators. In this way, this paper is based on the study and analysis of the 13 indicators, grouped on 4 pillars: Production and consumption, Waste management, Secondary raw materials, Competitiveness and innovation. After the presentation of the methodology, the paper develops an analysis in time and space of the selected indicators, then an analysis of the countries with their grouping on clusters, creating a map of them and highlighting the current situation of circular economy in the European Union. Moreover, the paper also presents the evolution of the countries regarding circular economy, which has a big importance taking into account that in the European Union the preoccupations for this concept is higher from one period to another. Among the most interesting results are: (1) a massive concentration of countries with problems for Waste management pillar; (2) Europe is one of the regions with the largest contribution in terms of circular economy, but the concept is developing differently from one country to another; (3) The scoreboard evolution is particularly useful in revealing the continuous actions adopted by countries in order to facilitate the conversion to circular economy. Finally, the paper presents possible limits of the research, but also future directions of its development.


2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (21) ◽  
pp. 11720
Author(s):  
Wesley Malcorps ◽  
Richard W. Newton ◽  
Silvia Maiolo ◽  
Mahmoud Eltholth ◽  
Changbo Zhu ◽  
...  

Seafood supply chains are complex, not least in the diverse origins of capture fisheries and through aquaculture production being increasingly shared across nations. The business-to-business (B2B) seafood trade is supported by seafood shows that facilitate networking and act as fora for signaling of perceptions and values. In the Global North, sustainability related certifications and messaging have emerged as an important driver to channel the demands of consumers, institutions, and lead firms. This study investigates which logos, certifications, and claims were presented at the exhibitor booths within five seafood trade shows in China, Europe, and USA. The results indicate a difference in the way seafood is advertised. Messaging at the Chinese shows had less of an emphasis on sustainability compared to that in Europe and the USA, but placed a greater emphasis on food safety and quality than on environmental concerns. These findings suggest cultural differences in the way seafood production and consumption is communicated through B2B messaging. Traders often act as choice editors for final consumers. Therefore, it is essential to convey production processes and sustainability issues between traders and the market. An understanding of culture, messaging strategies, and interpretation could support better communication of product characteristics such as sustainability between producers, traders, and consumers.


2020 ◽  

Abstract This case study was prepared as part of an Asian Development Bank (ADB) Special Evaluation Study (SES) on Small-Scale Freshwater Rural Aquaculture Development. In the context of the SES, this case study used primary and secondary data and published information to document the human, social, natural, physical and financial capital available to households involved in the production and consumption of freshwater farmed fish and to identify channels through which the poor are affected. The history, biophysical, socioeconomic and institutional characteristics of Lake Taal, Batangas, Philippines are described, followed by accounts of the technology and management used for tilapia cage farming and nursery operations, with detailed profiles of fish farmers and other beneficiaries. Transforming processes are then discussed with respect to markets, labour, institutions, support services, policy, legal instruments, natural resources and their management and environmental issues. Main outcomes, conclusions and implications for poverty alleviation are then summarized.


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