From Waste Management to Resource Efficiency—The Need for Policy Mixes

Wilts, Claas Henning; Gries, Nadja von; Bahn‐Walkowiak, Bettina

doi:10.3390/su8070622

Cited by 69 publications

(53 citation statements)

References 7 publications

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“…The lack of a concrete, coherent, and strict legislative framework often impedes SMEs' consideration of integrating green solutions in their operations. For example, in EU waste legislation there is no coherent definition or classification of waste materials (e.g., to distinguish waste from byproduct materials used for recycling), thus inducing limitations on cross-border transportation of waste [36], while there are significant differences in the ambition of targets along the waste hierarchy [37]. This is reinforced by the lack of appropriate market signals (low prices of raw materials), which does not encourage the efficient use of resources or the transition to a circular economy [38].…”

Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

Implementation of Circular Economy Business Models by Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs): Barriers and Enablers

Rizos

Behrens

Gaast³

et al. 2016

Sustainability

783

708

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Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are increasingly aware of the benefits of closing loops and improving resource efficiency, such as saving material costs, creating competitive advantages, and accessing new markets. At the same time, however, various barriers pose challenges to small businesses in their transition to a circular economy, namely a lack of financial resources and lack of technical skills. The aim of this paper is to increase knowledge and understanding about the barriers and enablers experienced by SMEs when implementing circular economy business models. Looking first at the barriers that prevent SMEs from realising the benefits of the circular economy, an investigation is carried out in the form of a literature review and an analysis of a sample of SME case studies that are featured on the GreenEcoNet EU-funded web platform. Several enabling factors that help SMEs adopt circular economy practices are then identified. The paper concludes that although various policy instruments are available to help SMEs incorporate circular economy principles into their business models, several barriers remain. The authors recommend that European and national policies strengthen their focus on greening consumer preferences, market value chains and company cultures, and support the recognition of SMEs' green business models. This can be achieved through the creation of dedicated marketplaces and communities of practice, for example.

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Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

Implementation of Circular Economy Business Models by Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs): Barriers and Enablers

Rizos

Behrens

Gaast³

et al. 2016

Sustainability

783

708

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Such as lifecycle thinking, consideration of systemic levels and interplay between implementation levels (macro, meso, micro, and nano) are essential for an effective measure of product performance in the light of circular economy. Additionally, a multi-dimensional scoring system representing different perspectives of circular economy should be preferred, and ideally, distinction between circularity loops-in direct link with Lansink's ladder of waste hierarchy [43,44]-should be established [45]. As there are different ways to close the loop, the overall circularity score should go further than a single and global score that encompasses and consider all different possible closed-loops at the same level without differentiation.…”

Section: Practical Implications and Guidance For The Design Of Such Amentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Recycling 2017, 2, 6 13 of 18 should be established [45]. As there are different ways to close the loop, the overall circularity score should go further than a single and global score that encompasses and consider all different possible closed-loops at the same level without differentiation.…”

Section: Circularity Class C: Refurbish/remanufacturementioning

confidence: 99%

How to Assess Product Performance in the Circular Economy? Proposed Requirements for the Design of a Circularity Measurement Framework

et al. 2017

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Abstract:Assessing product circularity performance is not straightforward. Meanwhile, it gains increasingly importance for businesses and industrial practitioners who are willing to effectively take benefits from circular economy promises. Thus, providing methods and tools to evaluate then enhance product performance-in the light of circular economy-becomes a significant but still barely addressed topic. Following a joint agreement on the need to measure product circularity performance, this paper provides an overview of mechanisms aiming to help industrial practitioners in this task. In fact, three existing approaches to measure product circularity performance have been tested on an industrial case study and criticized regarding both their applicability in industry and their accordance with circular economy principles. Although these methods and tools deliver a first and rapid trend of product circularity performance, the whole complexity of circular economy paradigm is far from being considered. In addition, operational guidance for engineers, designers or managers to improve their products in a circular economy context are missing. As a result, both recommendations for industrial practitioners and guidelines for the design and development of new frameworks, tools and indicators aiming at measuring product circularity performance are provided. This includes cornerstones, key requirements and practical implications to support enhanced circularity measurement that will be developed in further work, accordingly to circular economy paradigm and industrial reality.

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“…Conventional techniques for management of biodegradable wastes are becoming increasingly expensive and energy inefficient. Secondly, the chemical treatment methods are hazardous to both environment and humans (Wilts et al, 2016). As a result, search for more sustainable approaches becomes important for conversion of wastes into byproducts that can be directly used for commercial purposes (Benhabiles et al, 2013).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Purification and molecular characterization of chitinases from soil actinomycetes

Das¹,

Kumar²,

Kumar³

et al. 2017

Afr. J. Microbiol. Res.

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Microbial extracellular chitinases are used in agriculture as effective biocontrol agents and in waste degradation, pharmaceutical and food industry. Actinomycetes are widely tapped group for production of extracellular chitinases. In the present study, approximately 260 actinomycetes were isolated from various ecological habitats was subjected to primary analyses and screened for production of chitinase by plate assay method. Diameter of zones of hydrolysis ranged from 8 to 16 mm. Based on the results, isolates 130, 194, 184, NRRLB 24916 (Streptomyces mexicanus) and NRRLB 16746 (Streptomyces albidoflavus, positive control) were selected for secondary screening and purification. Enzyme activity was estimated in crude cell free extract and partially purified samples. Activity ranged from 7.16 to 14.12 IU/ml (in crude extracts) and 12.1 to 23.10 IU/ml (in partially purified samples). In case of highest chitinase producing isolate 130, effect of various fermentation conditions (pH, temperature and substrate concentration) was studied in crude extract. Furthermore, complete purification of isolate 130 was done by column chromatography and the activity in purified fraction was found to be 32.12 IU/ml. The K m and V max values of the purified fractions for isolate 130 were 2.11 µg/ml/min and 53.11mg/ml respectively. This shows that the enzyme has high affinity for the substrate. SDS gel electrophoresis of the purified fraction showed presence of single band of approximately 65 to 70 kDa. Analyses of purified chitinase were done using MS/MS technique. N-terminal sequence corresponded to chitinase, the gene encodes a protein of 453 amino acid residues. Comparison of deduced amino acid sequence to other chitinases in the database indicated that enzyme showed 70% similarity with chitinase from Streptomyces plicatus and belongs to glycoside hydrolase family 18. Homology modeling showed that the enzyme was folded into a domain of (α/β) 8 barrel structure. Identification of secondary structure was done by CD spectroscopy. Isolate 130 was capable of degrading biodegradable wastes such as crustacean shells.

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From Waste Management to Resource Efficiency—The Need for Policy Mixes

Cited by 69 publications

References 7 publications

Implementation of Circular Economy Business Models by Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs): Barriers and Enablers

Implementation of Circular Economy Business Models by Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs): Barriers and Enablers

How to Assess Product Performance in the Circular Economy? Proposed Requirements for the Design of a Circularity Measurement Framework

Purification and molecular characterization of chitinases from soil actinomycetes

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