Circular economy in the Brazilian chemical industry: A proposal for a circularity index

This study explores the circularity performance within Brazil's basic chemical (bulk organics and chemical processing) sector utilizing a comprehensive Circular Economy Index (CEI) and investigating its evolution between 2015 and 2019. Accordingly, the present study integrates an industrial per...

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Main Authors: André Gustavo de Andrade Monteiro, Gabriela Scur, Claudia Aparecida Mattos, Maria Célia de Oliveira
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2024-04-01
Series:Cleaner Engineering and Technology
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666790824000107
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author André Gustavo de Andrade Monteiro
Gabriela Scur
Claudia Aparecida Mattos
Maria Célia de Oliveira
author_facet André Gustavo de Andrade Monteiro
Gabriela Scur
Claudia Aparecida Mattos
Maria Célia de Oliveira
author_sort André Gustavo de Andrade Monteiro
collection DOAJ
description This study explores the circularity performance within Brazil's basic chemical (bulk organics and chemical processing) sector utilizing a comprehensive Circular Economy Index (CEI) and investigating its evolution between 2015 and 2019. Accordingly, the present study integrates an industrial perspective focusing on geographical variations and presents results that underline waste generation, recycling, energy consumption, and emissions across different states. The results revealed circular behaviors for basic chemicals, emphasizing concerns beyond emissions, such as waste and energy management. State-level analyses revealed consistent impacts of operations. Further analysis identified the strategic and institutional factors influencing CEI variation. Strategic factors included net sales revenue, improvements, and spending on people, with an unexpected inverse relationship between net sales revenue and CEI. The institutional factors include growth potential, social sustainability, innovation, and environmental sustainability. The results demonstrate the significant impacts of innovation and mixed effects on growth potential and socio-environmental sustainability, possibly linked to inadequate legislation and consumer perceptions. This study suggests that states that prioritize economic growth may neglect sustainability, requiring a nuanced approach to balance competitiveness and circularity goals. These findings emphasize the importance of government policies, stakeholder collaboration, and consumer awareness in fostering circular practices.
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spelling doaj.art-54f1a4636c534810bfcfb0c72ad5a0b82024-04-09T04:13:30ZengElsevierCleaner Engineering and Technology2666-79082024-04-0119100730Circular economy in the Brazilian chemical industry: A proposal for a circularity indexAndré Gustavo de Andrade Monteiro0Gabriela Scur1Claudia Aparecida Mattos2Maria Célia de Oliveira3Centro Universitário FEI, Av. Humberto de Alencar Castelo Branco, 3972-B, São Paulo, BrazilCorresponding author.; Centro Universitário FEI, Av. Humberto de Alencar Castelo Branco, 3972-B, São Paulo, BrazilCentro Universitário FEI, Av. Humberto de Alencar Castelo Branco, 3972-B, São Paulo, BrazilCentro Universitário FEI, Av. Humberto de Alencar Castelo Branco, 3972-B, São Paulo, BrazilThis study explores the circularity performance within Brazil's basic chemical (bulk organics and chemical processing) sector utilizing a comprehensive Circular Economy Index (CEI) and investigating its evolution between 2015 and 2019. Accordingly, the present study integrates an industrial perspective focusing on geographical variations and presents results that underline waste generation, recycling, energy consumption, and emissions across different states. The results revealed circular behaviors for basic chemicals, emphasizing concerns beyond emissions, such as waste and energy management. State-level analyses revealed consistent impacts of operations. Further analysis identified the strategic and institutional factors influencing CEI variation. Strategic factors included net sales revenue, improvements, and spending on people, with an unexpected inverse relationship between net sales revenue and CEI. The institutional factors include growth potential, social sustainability, innovation, and environmental sustainability. The results demonstrate the significant impacts of innovation and mixed effects on growth potential and socio-environmental sustainability, possibly linked to inadequate legislation and consumer perceptions. This study suggests that states that prioritize economic growth may neglect sustainability, requiring a nuanced approach to balance competitiveness and circularity goals. These findings emphasize the importance of government policies, stakeholder collaboration, and consumer awareness in fostering circular practices.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666790824000107Circular economyChemistryIndicatorsModelsPrincipal component analysisLinear regression
spellingShingle André Gustavo de Andrade Monteiro
Gabriela Scur
Claudia Aparecida Mattos
Maria Célia de Oliveira
Circular economy in the Brazilian chemical industry: A proposal for a circularity index
Cleaner Engineering and Technology
Circular economy
Chemistry
Indicators
Models
Principal component analysis
Linear regression
title Circular economy in the Brazilian chemical industry: A proposal for a circularity index
title_full Circular economy in the Brazilian chemical industry: A proposal for a circularity index
title_fullStr Circular economy in the Brazilian chemical industry: A proposal for a circularity index
title_full_unstemmed Circular economy in the Brazilian chemical industry: A proposal for a circularity index
title_short Circular economy in the Brazilian chemical industry: A proposal for a circularity index
title_sort circular economy in the brazilian chemical industry a proposal for a circularity index
topic Circular economy
Chemistry
Indicators
Models
Principal component analysis
Linear regression
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666790824000107
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