Brazil plays a prominent role in the global production of sugarcane and contributes to the renewable energy sector by producing ethanol. However, few studies have explored the adoption of the circular economy in the sugarcane ethanol sector. This article is aimed at analyzing and prioritizing barriers to the adoption of the circular economy in leading Brazilian sugarcane ethanol companies. For this, the analytical hierarchy process method and case studies methods were used. The main barriers identi ed were economic and nancial, mainly due to dependence on high investments in production process technologies and the resulting uncertainties about returns. Another barrier was the lack of Brazilian legislation concerning the circular economy. We discuss the implications of our ndings and present mechanisms for overcoming barriers and the role in supporting circular economy adoption in emerging economies.

PurposeDespite the potential of open innovation (OI) to reduce barriers to the adoption of the circular economy (CE), little is known about the integration of the two themes and how OI could contribute to a more sustainable economy. The objective of this study is to investigate how OI can contribute to the adoption of the CE.Design/methodology/approachThis study adopts a systematic review of the literature sampled from the Scopus and Web of Science scientific databases.FindingsThe main findings of the study are (1) the utilization of OI within CE is still a recent phenomenon, one which emphasizes the collaboration between stakeholders and the co-creation approach; (2) the collaboration of stakeholders can be applied to align the objectives of interested parties, in a joint effort to resolve the environmental problems of the three levels of CE and (3) an action-creation approach can be adopted as a strategy to encourage the participation of consumers in the development of environmentally sustainable products, which may favor the transition to the CE.Originality/valueThe article presents the state of the art on the CE guided by OI, highlighting the opportunities and challenges of the correlation between the two themes. The article also shows the theoretical and practical implications for an OI-driven circular economy.

The wood sanding process entails a small reduction in the dimensions of the workpiece in the course of modifying its surface morphology, which affects the aesthetics and the subsequent application of a coating. However, sanding is costly, partly because it is performed empirically without standardization. Therefore, this study analyzed the influence of sandpaper factors on the behavior of wood surface roughness for Pinus elliottii. A complete factorial experiment was performed, varying two types of abrasives, aluminum oxide and silicon carbide, in three grit sizes (80, 100, and 120), and three sandpaper conditions (new, semi-new, and worn). The tests were performed using a flat sander with a pneumatic circuit and monitoring system for data acquisition, which were analyzed through multiple Tukey tests. The results were organized in a consultation table that compared the combination of factors analyzed, informing whether they produced roughness of the wood equal to or distinct from each other. The results showed that new aluminum oxide sandpapers with grit sizes of 80, 100, and 120 produced roughness of the wood different from each other, while the carbide did not. Therefore, there is no need to trade or buy silicon carbide sandpaper in these grit sizes.

This paper identifies, through a literature review, how 53 circular economy (CE) practices are related to the capability approach (CA) proposed by Sen. The main goal was to identify how a virtuous cycle between CE and CA can be developed. Five instrumental freedoms (IF) were analysed: economic facilities, social opportunities, protective security, political freedoms, and transparency guarantees. These relationships were analysed in three flows: CE practices positively impacting IF, CE practices negatively impacting IF, and the feedback influence of IF on CE practices. The results show that 32 of the 53 practices previously mentioned have not yet been studied from the CA context, which indicates that there are several research opportunities. From the practices considered, 72 articles were analysed in the final sample. The results suggest that several CE practices are aligned with the CA, considering that all five IF were identified as positive outcomes of CE practices. However, in some contexts, certain practices can have negative outcomes, which indicates that CE, at least in some cases, may not be considered as sustainable, as it decreases IF and, therefore, the social aspect of sustainability. The results also highlight that there is a feedback from IF to CE, in such a way that investing in the expansion of IF can facilitate the development of CE practices. Therefore, this study concludes that CE is indeed a way to fully operationalize sustainable development.

O presente trabalho aborda a importância da preservação ambiental para o crescimento e sustentabilidade de uma organização. Através de um modelo matemático simples e objetivo, desenvolveu-se um estudo buscando quantificar os problemas relacionados à Gestão Ambiental. Este estudo realizou-se por meio de entrevistas e visita técnica a uma empresa do setor de comercialização e instalação de todo o sistema de prevenção contra incêndios, em Ituiutaba-MG. O foco do trabalho refere-se à quantificação de cascos de extintores reaproveitados e busca alternativas para destinar corretamente outros componentes que não são reutilizados na empresa, como pó, adesivos, mangueiras, válvulas e luvas. Dentre os softwares de otimização utilizados em Pesquisa Operacional, constatou-se que a melhor alternativa para o trabalho seria o uso do Lingo, uma vez que o problema em questão possui baixa complexidade envolvendo um pequeno número de variáveis. O trabalho propõe três soluções: introduzir a coleta seletiva para recolher os materiais que seriam incinerados; vender e/ou fornecer o pó descartado para produção de fertilizantes ou para tratamento de esgoto.