System interaction, System of Systems, and environmental impact of products

Abdoli, Shiva; Kara, Sami; Hauschild, Michael Zwicky

doi:10.1016/j.cirp.2019.04.051

Cited by 20 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 6 publications

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“…The benefits of resource efficiency are now outweighed by the large amount of mobile phones produced, used and disposed unexploited worldwide. Similarly, the production of lightweight, fuel-efficient car by using aluminium reduces the ownership cost and leads to an increase in the travel rate (due to fuel-efficiency) and associated emissions (Abdoli et al 2019 ), offsetting the expected benefits.…”

Section: Examples Of Ce ‘Mishaps’ In Resource Recovery Systemsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…These are only but few examples that demonstrate the counterproductive effects occurring at the production, consumption and management levels and which may lead to unintended consequences, the so-called rebound effects (Abdoli et al 2019 ). This is possibly because changes are either rushed into our system before they are well-understood, or occur in silos, leading to a rather fragmented pattern of solutions towards achieving the CE.…”

Section: Examples Of Ce ‘Mishaps’ In Resource Recovery Systemsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…From an engineering perspective, this network of dynamically interacting sub-systems is called ‘System of Systems’ (SoS) (Abdoli et al 2019 ). The SoS has been used since the 1950s to describe systems composed of independent constituent systems, or sub-systems, that synergistically interact towards achieving a common goal (Nielsen et al 2015 ).…”

Section: A Systems-based Approach To Realising Transitions To Cementioning

confidence: 99%

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A systems thinking approach to understanding the challenges of achieving the circular economy

Iacovidou

Hahladakis

Purnell

2020

Environ Sci Pollut Res

114

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Circular economy (CE) is extensively discussed around the globe. Presently, discussions are mostly concerned with the importance of achieving CE and the benefits associated therewith, with the various barriers surrounding its implementation being less debated. Understanding the context in which circularity can flourish is a prerequisite in building the capabilities to deal with the multi-faceted challenges that currently hamper progress in closing the material, component and product loops. In this study, we discuss the importance of systems thinking in understanding the way resource recovery systems operate, and in promoting deep transformational change. We suggest that transformational change needs to go beyond closing materials, components and products (MCPs) loops, and promote sustainability in the way resources are exploited, used and managed throughout the system. By adopting a system of systems approach, we postulate that there are five interconnected sub-systems that need to be considered for supporting transitions to CE, namely, resource flows and provisioning service; governance, regulatory framework and political landscape; business activities and the marker; infrastructure and innovation; and user practices. This holistic approach provides a useful means to cutting through systemic complexity, and focuses on the dynamics between processes, values and actors in the value chain, and their dependence on cultural, spatial and temporal characteristics. We conclude that a systems-based approach can build up the capabilities required to identify and understand persistent linear trends and, in turn, support forward-thinking and time investment in enabling sustainable transitions. This, in turn, can help to align priorities and transform our current practices, speeding up the process of closing the MCP loops in a sustainable manner.

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Section: Examples Of Ce ‘Mishaps’ In Resource Recovery Systemsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Examples Of Ce ‘Mishaps’ In Resource Recovery Systemsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: A Systems-based Approach To Realising Transitions To Cementioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

A systems thinking approach to understanding the challenges of achieving the circular economy

Iacovidou

Hahladakis

Purnell

2020

Environ Sci Pollut Res

114

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“…A considerable amount of research has focussed on understanding how to make products and services more resource efficient [1,2]. Yet, when applying a systems perspective, it becomes clear that many of society's needs are not just fulfilled through direct use of products and services but rather through a sociotechnical system (STS) in which products and services are embedded [3]. An STS consists of interconnected material objects such as infrastructure and products, as well as the services and legal systems necessary to provide the desired functionality.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…An STS consists of interconnected material objects such as infrastructure and products, as well as the services and legal systems necessary to provide the desired functionality. Given that technical systems are always embedded in organisational and social contexts that interact [3], improvements in product and service are an essential requirement, but not enough and deep and systemic changes are needed in STS for a sustainability transformation.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Conceptualising Design Fixation and Design Limitation and Quantifying Their Impacts on Resource Use and Carbon Emissions

Wasserbaur

Sakao

2020

Sustainability

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Design for sustainability needs to apply a societal perspective. The purpose of this paper is to combine the concept of design fixation with higher levels of analysis. Design fixation is used to describe a blind adherence to known concepts during the design process. It is used mostly at the micro level of design with the focus on the activities of an individual designer or a group of designers. In this paper, design fixation gets conceptually lifted to the levels of the organisation and the institution. We ask how the understanding of design fixation helps to achieve higher resource efficiency. Examples of organisational and institutional design fixations are presented. A System Dynamics model is used to simulate the impacts of design fixation on resource use of a sociotechnical laundry systems. Applying this lens suggests that in order to solve societal design fixations, systemic parameters like infrastructure, business models, or policies need to be considered design parameters. The simulation results show that high-level design fixations can have significant impact on resource use.

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