Thematic exploration of sectoral and cross-cutting challenges to circular economy implementation
Abstract Circular economy (CE) offers a pathway towards sustainable, closed-loop resource systems, but widespread adoption across industrial sectors is limited by fragmented knowledge and varied implementation approaches. This article reviews sector-specific challenges and opportuni...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Other Authors: | |
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Springer Berlin Heidelberg
2021
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| Online Access: | https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/136819 |
| _version_ | 1826191316517650432 |
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| author | Singh, Shweta Babbitt, Callie Gaustad, Gabrielle Eckelman, Matthew J Gregory, Jeremy Ryen, Erinn Mathur, Nehika Stevens, Miriam C Parvatker, Abhijeet Buch, Raj Marseille, Alicia Seager, Thomas |
| author2 | Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering |
| author_facet | Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering Singh, Shweta Babbitt, Callie Gaustad, Gabrielle Eckelman, Matthew J Gregory, Jeremy Ryen, Erinn Mathur, Nehika Stevens, Miriam C Parvatker, Abhijeet Buch, Raj Marseille, Alicia Seager, Thomas |
| author_sort | Singh, Shweta |
| collection | MIT |
| description | Abstract
Circular economy (CE) offers a pathway towards sustainable, closed-loop resource systems, but widespread adoption across industrial sectors is limited by fragmented knowledge and varied implementation approaches. This article reviews sector-specific challenges and opportunities associated with implementing and measuring the benefits of CE strategies. Literature mapping highlights progress towards CE implementation in food, chemicals, metals, consumer electronics, and building and infrastructure sectors, and towards measuring CE outcomes via systems analysis methods like life cycle assessment (LCA) and material flow analysis (MFA). However, key challenges were also identified that point to future research and demonstration needs. First, research on CE adoption typically exists as case studies that are closely linked to a sector. But literature has not effectively synthesized knowledge gained across domains, particularly understanding underlying barriers to CE and where they occur in product life cycles. Second, research on CE outcomes often applies well-established methods without adapting for unique attributes of CE systems. A key opportunity is in integrative methodological advances, such as expanded use of consequential LCA, development of physical Input–Output tables, and integrating MFA with dynamical models. Finally, regardless of sector, new CE business models are seen as a critical enabler to realize success, but theoretical frameworks in literature are not well-tested in practice. The review also highlights opportunities to harness other emerging trends, such as big data, to provide better information for system modelers and decision-oriented insight to guide CE stakeholders.
Graphic abstract |
| first_indexed | 2024-09-23T08:54:01Z |
| format | Article |
| id | mit-1721.1/136819 |
| institution | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-09-23T08:54:01Z |
| publishDate | 2021 |
| publisher | Springer Berlin Heidelberg |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | mit-1721.1/1368192023-12-22T20:48:43Z Thematic exploration of sectoral and cross-cutting challenges to circular economy implementation Singh, Shweta Babbitt, Callie Gaustad, Gabrielle Eckelman, Matthew J Gregory, Jeremy Ryen, Erinn Mathur, Nehika Stevens, Miriam C Parvatker, Abhijeet Buch, Raj Marseille, Alicia Seager, Thomas Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering Abstract Circular economy (CE) offers a pathway towards sustainable, closed-loop resource systems, but widespread adoption across industrial sectors is limited by fragmented knowledge and varied implementation approaches. This article reviews sector-specific challenges and opportunities associated with implementing and measuring the benefits of CE strategies. Literature mapping highlights progress towards CE implementation in food, chemicals, metals, consumer electronics, and building and infrastructure sectors, and towards measuring CE outcomes via systems analysis methods like life cycle assessment (LCA) and material flow analysis (MFA). However, key challenges were also identified that point to future research and demonstration needs. First, research on CE adoption typically exists as case studies that are closely linked to a sector. But literature has not effectively synthesized knowledge gained across domains, particularly understanding underlying barriers to CE and where they occur in product life cycles. Second, research on CE outcomes often applies well-established methods without adapting for unique attributes of CE systems. A key opportunity is in integrative methodological advances, such as expanded use of consequential LCA, development of physical Input–Output tables, and integrating MFA with dynamical models. Finally, regardless of sector, new CE business models are seen as a critical enabler to realize success, but theoretical frameworks in literature are not well-tested in practice. The review also highlights opportunities to harness other emerging trends, such as big data, to provide better information for system modelers and decision-oriented insight to guide CE stakeholders. Graphic abstract 2021-11-01T14:33:35Z 2021-11-01T14:33:35Z 2021-01-26 2021-04-13T03:26:15Z Article http://purl.org/eprint/type/JournalArticle https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/136819 en https://doi.org/10.1007/s10098-020-02016-5 Article is made available in accordance with the publisher's policy and may be subject to US copyright law. Please refer to the publisher's site for terms of use. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH, DE part of Springer Nature application/pdf Springer Berlin Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg |
| spellingShingle | Singh, Shweta Babbitt, Callie Gaustad, Gabrielle Eckelman, Matthew J Gregory, Jeremy Ryen, Erinn Mathur, Nehika Stevens, Miriam C Parvatker, Abhijeet Buch, Raj Marseille, Alicia Seager, Thomas Thematic exploration of sectoral and cross-cutting challenges to circular economy implementation |
| title | Thematic exploration of sectoral and cross-cutting challenges to circular economy implementation |
| title_full | Thematic exploration of sectoral and cross-cutting challenges to circular economy implementation |
| title_fullStr | Thematic exploration of sectoral and cross-cutting challenges to circular economy implementation |
| title_full_unstemmed | Thematic exploration of sectoral and cross-cutting challenges to circular economy implementation |
| title_short | Thematic exploration of sectoral and cross-cutting challenges to circular economy implementation |
| title_sort | thematic exploration of sectoral and cross cutting challenges to circular economy implementation |
| url | https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/136819 |
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