Cascading Utilization of Wood: a Matter of Circular Economy?

Abstract

Purpose of Review The aim of this study was to analyze the differences and similarities between the concepts circular economy (CE) and cascading utilization (CU) and the interactions between these concepts. The method chosen for this study was a qualitative content analysis, which was conducted on academic CU publications that appeared between 1990 and 2016. To identify connections between CU and CE, the findings of this study are compared to the results of a recent review on CE. Recent Findings From the perspective of the broader goals of CE and CU, both concepts promise to increase resource efficiency by supporting the multiple use of a resource. Research conducted on both concepts has included analyses of the environmental impacts of the CU or CE systems and descriptions of frameworks and tools used to develop cascade chains or measure the circularity of a given resource. Even though the concepts have many similarities, the research has mostly been conducted independently, and the number of connections between the two concepts is surprisingly low. Summary In general, the results of the analysis supported the hypothesis that CU and CE have many parallels and similarities. The CU concept addresses primarily resource management whereas CE provides a more holistic approach. Practically, the publications on CE include considerations of many kinds of resources, whereas publications on CU include a stronger focus on bio-based materials. Despite these differences, CU was shown to clearly fit into the CE concept in that it provides a specific focus on the utilization possibilities (e.g., reuse, recycling, and up-cycling) of a given resource. The term CU may be used whenever one or more of these measures are used.

Wood utilization scenarios and their sustainability impacts in Finland

“…Other experts criticized Pulp and bioenergy on being a vision too short-term and unambitious, and relying on too few production lines which might be economically risky. The policy and research experts visioning the Versatile uses -scenario as the favorable development were more willing to focus on new innovations creating new wood-based products with higher substitution potential, and increase material circulation through integrated systems in line with recommended cascading principle and multi-product factories (D'Amato et al 2017;Mair & Stern 2017;Packalen et al 2017). In general, Versatile uses -scenario was seen as a possible next step scenario for Pulp and bioenergy, which seems likely since their drivers were in line, too.…”

Restorative and regenerative: Exploring the concepts in the circular economy

“…), become “healthy waste” (Braungart et al., ) that can be returned to its source. According to the EMF (, 2), “non‐toxic materials are cascaded and eventually returned to the soil, thus restoring natural capital.” Cascading is the further use of a biological material in multiple applications to extract additional value from the resource (Mair & Stern, ) before it becomes a “healthy waste.” According to this view, biological materials (e.g., food leftovers, natural fibers, bio‐wastes from production) that have served their purpose can be transformed into compost and soil (EMF, ; Kalmykova et al., ) and be returned to either ecosystems or, more probably, to industrial systems. This is based on the assumption that biological materials can biodegrade safely and return to the soil to feed environmental processes.…”

Assessment of upstream bioprocessing

“…First, biomass constituents are to be converted into valued materials and chemicals, and later the remaining fraction into energy. This approach allows the production of various products (Mair and Stern 2017), economic flexibility as well as, to a certain extent, independency from market prices of single products.…”