Abstract Background:Industrial symbiosis, a concept where waste or by-products from one industry serve as resources for another has gained attention as industries seek sustainable and efficient resource management solutions. However, the practical implementation of industrial symbiosis remains complex. Purpose:This research investigates the factors influencing the establishment of industrial symbiosis among stakeholders in Vetlanda, Sweden. Method:Utilizing a qualitative approach, interviews with six regional stakeholders provide insights into the dynamics of symbiotic relationships and the obstacles and aids to their development. Key findings indicate that financials, collaboration, resources, geographical proximity, politics and regulations are crucial factors when establishing industrial symbiosis partnerships. Conclusion:Despite potential benefits like resource efficiency and reduced environmental impact, practical challenges like high initial investment costs and organizational complexities remain significant. This study contributes to understanding the conditions necessary for successful industrial symbiosis implementation and suggests areas for future research that include, continuation of this research and cross regional research.

No / This research is an attempt to identify the kind of culture which is needed for a major transnational company to become a circular economy based organization based on the guidelines of Ellen McArthur Foundation. It aims to identify and learn from organizations with the relevant culture on the particular traits which may assist other organizations foster the culture required to implement a circular economy strategy. The information gathered is expected to contribute empirical information on culture management for circular economy strategy and an attempt to fill in the literature gap on strategy, mind-set shift and culture change, especially in transitioning towards sustainable business practices. The thesis mind-map and outline of chapters have been provided. Literature pointed out that alignment between organizational culture and strategy ensures successful implementation. The development of a more sustainable economic model, the circular economy, has triggered organizations to look into their business strategies and adjust accordingly. This research is an attempt to identify and learn from organizations with relevant culture on the particular traits which may assist other organizations foster the culture required to implement a circular economy strategy. The researchers applied Johnson’s (2001) cultural web and other relevant literatures on organizational culture, leadership, collaboration, and form constructs for an exploratory case study. Several management qualities have been mentioned namely the development of cross-functional teams, establishment of relationships beyond transactional partnerships, a risk oriented learning environment, entrepreneurial organization culture and structure, and empathetic leadership.

Yes / Circular supply chain (CSC) emphasises surge in application of reuse, recycling, remanufacturing and thereby promotes transformation from linear to circular model of flow of products. Supply chains of manufacturing industries have become global over the years. Products manufactured in developing nations are being sent to developed nations for mass consumption. Developed nations have regulatory policies, technological knowhow and modern infrastructure to adopt CSC model. Their counterpart is trailing in these aspects. In literature, limited work has been performed on identifying challenges of implementing CSC in developing nations. Therefore, employing literature review and feedback received from experts, 16 important barriers were identified to CSC adoption in India. These barriers were analysed using integrated Interpretive Structural Modelling ? MICMAC approach. The findings will contribute in transforming supply chains thereby bringing economic prosperity, addressing global warming and generating employment opportunities. Finally, crucial policy measures and recommendations are proposed to assist managers and government bodies.

Yes / The issues of food loss and waste (FLW) in the global supply chains have recently attracted attention. However, the causes of and strategies for mitigating FLW at different stages of the supply chains remain under researched. Our research aims to address these gaps in knowledge in a three-fold way: i) we identified the key causes (through root-cause analysis) of FLW in the supply chain of developed and less developed countries; ii) we systematically classified measures and policies that have been implemented to mitigate FLW; and iii) we developed an interdisciplinary conceptual framework for waste utilisation practices that can contribute towards the triple bottom-line in food systems. A root-cause analysis was performed and mitigation strategies identified by systematically analysing and synthesising the research published over the past 20 years (1998 to 2018) in the areas of FLW in the supply chain. We propose a conceptual model for the prevention of FLW utilising a systems approach through the concept of a circular economy. Since the agri-food sector is largely interdisciplinary, in our proposed model, we have also demonstrated a method of integrating contributions from multiple disciplines towards achieving total depollution (zero waste) in the supply chain. / Support provided by the British Academy/Leverhulme Small Research Grant, Reference No: SG160072, for the development of the study.

Yes / In order to grow the food the world needs, there is a pressing need to gain a more detailed understanding of how innovative solutions can be incorporated into the agricultural supply chains, particularly within production, for environmentally, economically, ethically and socially viable food production. Despite a number of innovative solutions available, many challenges in agricultural supply are still prevalent, with researchers to date largely focusing on these challenges in isolation, as opposed to exploring the relationships held between these challenges. Thus, supported by Circular Economy, Agriculture, Industry 4.0 literature and expert opinions, agricultural supply chain challenges are modelled and analysed using ISM methodology to help uncover 12 agricultural challenges which ultimately impede goods moving within the supply chain. Findings discovered that the Unproductive Workers and Pesticide Hazards are the key drivers of agricultural challenges. The ISM Hierarchical model elucidates research propositions and a parsimonious model for future research.

Yes / Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore the use, applicability and relevance of strategic planning as a process and tool when applied to exploring food security challenges, in the context of existing research on food security and food waste in the food supply chain. The issues associated with robust and resilient food supply chains within a circular economy are increasingly being seen as supportive of creating enhanced levels of food security but the authors argue that this is only sustainable when strategically planned as part of a cross-enterprise, information-rich and complex supply chain. The relevance of the Political, Economic, Social, Technological, Legal and Environmental (PESTLE) strategic planning tool is explored to establish whether it can play a role tacking the complexity of food insecurity (i.e. a lack of food security). Design/methodology/approach – This is a viewpoint piece therefore as a result, thought, normative literature and supposition are used as a means to ground and orientate the views of the authors. Findings – The authors identify and conclude that strategic planning tools like PESTLE across enterprises may not be relevant in supporting the reduction of food insecurity. This conclusion is predicated on the heightened level of complexity surrounding the pursuit of food security and the simplistic categorisation of PESTLE factors in a linear fashion that underpin this tool. Rather, the authors’ call for the use of strategic planning tools that are able to capture a large number of inter-related factors holistically. Practical implications – This insight to the inter-related factors that contribute to food insecurity will allow policy developers, decision makers and others to develop their understanding of how strategic planning can support increased levels of food security within a circular economy and across cross-enterprises. Originality/value – The authors contribute to the literature through a new insight of how normative strategic planning tools need to evolve in a complex, inter-connected world of international business and geo-politics. In doing so, it is expected that this research will motivate others to develop their line of enquiry around uncovering and exploring those inter-relationships connecting PESTLE factors.

Yes / There is general agreement on the importance of green roofs as ways of reducing GHG emissions, reducing overall costs and improving sustainability in urban areas. This systematic literature review highlights life cycle sustainability assessment as an essential criterion to evaluate green roofs. A bibliometric analysis was used to quantitatively review relevant literature. The Scopus database was chosen as a bibliographic database of academic publications. Thes period of search started from 2003 and final search was conducted on February 15, 2023. Based on further in-depth reading, 88 publication records which met the selection criteria, including 74 papers and 14 conference papers. Researchers from the United States contributed almost 31 % of the documents. We evaluated leading studies in this field and discussed assessment method, system boundaries and research gaps through a critical literature review and a systematic search review. Finally, we propose a framework and identify a gap and future research. The environmental aspect of green roofs have received more attention than economic issues. We found that most economic evaluations of green roofs are limited to their construction stage. As yet there is no comprehensive social study on green roofs. We considered a unified study of the economic, environmental impact and social evaluation of green roofs to be warranted. Additionally, various measurement methods should be used to assess the economic profitability of green roofs over the long term. In summary, this study provides a deeper understanding of the environmental, social, and economic performance of green roofs and identifies research gaps as well as future research directions. / The full-text of this article will be released for public view at the end of the publisher embargo on 21 Nov 2024.

Yes / There is general agreement on the importance of green roofs as ways of reducing GHG emissions, reducing overall costs and improving sustainability in urban areas. This systematic literature review highlights life cycle sustainability assessment as an essential criterion to evaluate green roofs. A bibliometric analysis was used to quantitatively review relevant literature. The Scopus database was chosen as a bibliographic database of academic publications. Thes period of search started from 2003 and final search was conducted on February 15, 2023. Based on further in-depth reading, 88 publication records which met the selection criteria, including 74 papers and 14 conference papers. Researchers from the United States contributed almost 31 % of the documents. We evaluated leading studies in this field and discussed assessment method, system boundaries and research gaps through a critical literature review and a systematic search review. Finally, we propose a framework and identify a gap and future research. The environmental aspect of green roofs have received more attention than economic issues. We found that most economic evaluations of green roofs are limited to their construction stage. As yet there is no comprehensive social study on green roofs. We considered a unified study of the economic, environmental impact and social evaluation of green roofs to be warranted. Additionally, various measurement methods should be used to assess the economic profitability of green roofs over the long term. In summary, this study provides a deeper understanding of the environmental, social, and economic performance of green roofs and identifies research gaps as well as future research directions. / The full-text of this article will be released for public view at the end of the publisher embargo on 25 Nov 2024.

This thesis explores the challenges Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) face in complying with EU sustainable packaging regulations as they pose ever tightening guidelines to follow. The study respondents are representatives from SMEs operating within the EU, who provided insights through semi-structured interviews. Employing the 7Rs framework—Rethink, Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Repurpose, Recycle, and Rot—this research investigates how these enterprises adapt their packaging strategies to align with EU directives aimed at achieving 70% recyclable and reusable packaging by 2030. Despite varied challenges such as high costs and diverse regulatory demands across EU states, SMEs demonstrate resilience and innovation in their compliance strategies. environmental impact while maintaining economic viability. Such as an SME transitioning from using plastic packaging to cardboard, driven by both regulatory requirements and carrier fees for non-compliance, which resulted in reduced environmental impact and improved customer satisfaction. This research provides insights into the dynamic interplay between regulatory frameworks and business practices, offering a deeper understanding of sustainability in the packaging industry.

Purpose: This study investigates the hedonic shopping values of Generation Z in the context of online second-hand fashion shopping, focusing on how environmental concerns, ethical reverence, and cost considerations influence their behaviors. This study delves into the existing research gaps by examining the complex interplay between hedonic values and pro-environmental behaviors, especially among younger consumers. Theoretical background: Background and theory highlight the increasing consumer awareness regarding the environmental impacts of fast fashion, leading to a shift towards sustainable alternatives such as second-hand shopping with low costs as a priority. The sections note that this trend is particularly pronounced among Generation Z, a demographic known for their digital nativity and strong ethical consciousness. Theoretical foundations address the high consumption of textiles and the corresponding environmental impact, underscoring the importance of promoting a circular economy in Sweden. Method: The quantitative data was collected through online surveys, which yielded 388 responses and was analyzed using SPSS. The results of all four hypotheses were accepted through Cronbach’s Alpha and Pearson Correlation Coefficient, and further analyzed through a regressionanalysis. Result & Conclusion: The results showed that all four hypotheses were accepted, with Hypothesis 3 having the weakest connection regarding the hedonic shopping value in the context of online second-hand purchases. Generation Z demonstrates an ability to prioritize ethical reasons over personal reasons and pleasure in their purchases, creating a complex paradox that influenced the conclusion and led to an updated conceptual framework where ethical reverence is no longer linked to Hypothesis 1, despite the general presence of hedonic shopping value among Generation Z. Future research is recommended to compare Generation Z with other demographic groups and conduct in-depth studies to observe how behavior changes over time within the same context.