Waste is a global composite of organic and inorganic derivatives from human activities. Municipal solid waste consists primarily of plastics from households and e-wastes, creating opportunities for waste management businesses. The purpose of this study was to explore leadership strategies for reducing operational costs in waste management businesses in Liberia. In this multiple case study, 6 business leaders from 6 waste management businesses in Liberia were recruited as participants. The conceptual framework guiding the study was the transformational leadership theory. Each business leader responded to open-ended questions in a semistructured interview. Data were analyzed by iteratively searching recurrent codes to elicit themes. Themes that emerged included education and training for customers and staff, as well as efficiency and effectiveness for value creation from waste. Based on the findings of this study, waste management business leaders might contribute to social change by employing marginalized population segments in local communities. The marginalized segments in communities could be empowered to communicate waste management messages about recycling, supplementing their skills and messages using waste management technological innovations. The results from this study might provide insight into how waste management leaders might use innovative solutions to reuse, recycle, and re-engineer wastes. The results from this study might help waste management business leaders envision opportunities for improvement on waste-to-energy products and services in the lives of customers and employees.

The contemporary economic, social and environmental context is at the edge of change. Governments, individuals and, companies need to take drastic measures to save the planet Earth. It has been globally communicated and understood that our lifestyle is not sustainable. If we do not transform how we produce, consume, travel and live, the future generation’s ability to evolve in the world we know today might be compromised. The study is using the Circular Economy as a way to rethink industries and furniture usage. In this case, the researcher inquired the office furniture industries. The goal at the end of the research process is to find an alternative to the linear business model established in the office furniture industry. The project is providing a holistic vision on the furniture’s journey from production to recycling. The proposal is based on the analysis of the current state of the office furniture industry to transform the linear business model to a circular model. The research was mainly lead thanks to three collaborators. The most important collaborator in the study is Steelcase. The company is the leader and expert in the office furniture field. Thanks to one year of experience at Steelcase, the researcher acquired deep knowledge about the office furniture industry in the heart of the industry of interest. It allowed to collect valuable information to understand the challenges office furniture industries are facing. And, finally, analyse the potential and challenges the transition from a linear to a circular business model represents for office furniture companies. The researcher also gained knowledge from dealers working at Blanchet-D’Huismes, who have a lot of expertise about the workplace and the office furniture industry. Finally, the last collaborator involved in the study is WeWork, a company renting workplaces, which represent the new business models appearing in the office industry. The research is lead from a designer’s point of view. Thanks to the experience and conversations with professionals from the workplace industry, valuable knowledge was acquired. With a deep understanding of the office furniture industry, the researcher designed a circular model. In order to share the findings of the research, the model was visualised with diagrams which allow anyone from the office furniture industry to understand the project. The goal of the project is to communicate the issues with the current model and propose a new approach to how the workplace could be furnished in the future.

The textile industry has a substantial negative impact on the environment. In order to decrease the environmental impact, the industry needs to transition to a more sustainable and circular system. One way of doing so is to increase participation in circular practices, like participating in circular end-of-life practices or purchasing second-hand or recycled textile products. This Master’s thesis explores the consumer role in this transition and is structured in a two-step approach. The first part investigates how consumers’ value and risk perceptions of different circular practices in the textile industry are related to their consumption behaviour by conducting a consumer survey (N = 3000) in three European countries. The second part of the thesis then identifies from an organisational stakeholder perspective how the consumer survey results can be practically applied in the textile industry. The thesis follows a mixed method approach, combining a quantitative consumer survey with a qualitative stakeholder survey.The results show that in most cases, consumers’ value perceptions of circular textile practices are significantly positively related to their consumption behaviour or participation in these, whereas perceived risks are negatively related. The findings also show which individual value and risk dimensions are related to which specific circular practice. Based on these results, organisational stakeholders identify different possibilities on how these findings can be practically applied in the textile industry. Suggestions focus on encouraging specific circular practices shown to be important to consumers, adapting marketing strategies and developing new policies to increase participation in more sustainable and circular alternatives.

I takt med att samhället upptäckt de effekter som de mänskliga utsläppen skapat så har ettstort kall på omställning till mer hållbara affärsmodeller börjat ske. En bransch somidentifierats och har stor potential att signifikant reducera sina utsläpp är bygg- ochfastighetsbranschen, som idag bidrar till cirka 21% av de årliga växthusgasutsläppen iSverige. Omställningen i branschen innebär att de nuvarande linjära arbetsmetoderna måsteövergå till cirkulära, där återbruk av byggnadsmaterial spelar en betydande roll.Uppfattningen från branschen är att grannlandet Danmark ligger steget före när det kommertill omställningen och arbetar mer med återbruk. I denna studie så har det undersökts om såär fallet samt vad det är som begränsar återbruk i Sverige. Syftet med studien har varit att utreda om det förekommer några större skillnader mellanländerna och utifrån resultatet ge förslag på vilka områden som Sverige bör prioritera föratt påskynda omställningen. Studien är uppdelad i tre delar. Den första är en litteraturstudiedär det teoretiska ramverket byggs upp kring respektive land. Den andra är en kvalitativintervjustudie som utgår från en strukturerad intervju där svaren analyserats kring följandetvå områden: (1) Myndighetsaspekter och (2) Branschrelaterade aspekter. Studiens sista delär en integrerad analys där frågeställningen besvaras med hjälp av insamlade data. Studiens resultat visar att Danmark har ett visst försprång när det kommer tillimplementering av regler som främjar ett ökat återbruk inom sektorn. Samtidigt visarstudien att båda länderna har antagit liknande strategier och står inför liknande utmaningar,både externa som interna. Studien visar bland annat behovet av att skapa affärsmodeller förhantering demonterat material från byggnader. Det skulle underlätta för planering kring ochfrämjar återbruk i branschen. Utifrån resultaten har det identifierats tre områden som författarna anser behöver prioriterasför att påskynda omställningen. Dessa är (1) Branschsammarbeten, (2) Effektiv marknadför återvunnet material, (3) Regler och krav från myndigheter. / As society has discovered the effects of human emissions, there has been a great call for atransition to more sustainable business models. One industry that has been identified andhas great potential to significantly reduce its emissions is the construction and real estateindustry, which today contributes to about 21% of the annual greenhouse gas emissions inSweden. The transition in the industry requires that the current linear working methods mustbe transformed into circular ones, where reuse of building materials plays a significant role.The industry’s perception is that neighboring Denmark is one step ahead when it comes tothe transition and works more with reuse. In this study, it has been investigated whether thisis the case and which factors limit reuse in Sweden. The purpose of the study has been to investigate whether there are any major differencesbetween the countries and, based on the results, suggest which areas Sweden shouldprioritize to accelerate the transition. The study is divided into three parts. The first is aliterature study where the theoretical framework is built up around each country. The secondis a qualitative interview study based on a structured interview where the answers areanalyzed around the following two areas: (1) Regulatory aspects and (3) Industry-relatedaspects. The last part of the study is an integrated analysis where the question is answeredwith the help of collected data. The results of the study show that Denmark has a certain advantage when it comes toimplementing rules that promote increased reuse in the sector. However, the study showsthat both countries have adopted similar strategies and face similar challenges, both externaland internal. Among other things, the study shows the need to create business models formanaging dismantled materials from buildings. This would ease planning and promote reusein the industry. Based on the results, three areas have been identified that the authors believe need to beprioritized to accelerate the transition. These are (1) Industry collaboration, (2) Effectivemarkets for recycled materials, (3) Rules and requirements from authorities.

The clothing industry faces significant environmental sustainability challenges, prompting increased pressure on organizations to adopt sustainable practices. There has been an increase of pressure towards organizations to become more sustainable, which has impacted how managers make their decisions. One concept that has received a lot of attention is the idea of a circular economy. This study focuses on understanding how organizations manage the balance between investing in a circular economy and how it relates to perceived financial performance. Using an abductive approach, qualitative data was collected from six participants to understand their experiences and perceptions. The participants were three managers and three circular economy experts. The participants' experiences and perceptions are presented across four key themes: sustainability, financial performance, consumers, and policy. The empirical findings reveal that sustainability initiatives are believed to lead to better financial outcomes. The research showed that the future of the clothing industry is towards a circular economy. Uncertainty remains regarding the financial benefits associated with circular economy practices. External factors, such as regulatory interventions, emerged as viable drivers for promoting circular economy practices. Creating secondhand markets for clothes was highlighted as an effective strategy in the transition to manage CE. This study shows the complexities and challenges organizations faces in managing CE. For CE management to be efficient, new legislation is essential to eliminate greenwashing and establish a level playing field.

The global unsustainable production and consumption patterns in the fashion and textile industry are a prevailing problem. With the rising trend of European brands reshoring their textile manufacturing and upcoming circular economy frameworks from the EU, the Turkish textile industry may face pressures to transform towards circularity in order to remain competitive. To address the research gap concerning prevalent challenges to implement circularity principles in the critical stage of product design, the purpose of this thesis is to explore the barriers to adopting circular product design in the Turkish textile sector from a manufacturers perspective. This study was conducted in Istanbul with eleven textile and apparel manufacturers of different kinds. To reach a nuanced understanding of each perspective, a qualitative research methodology, through semi-structured interviews with factory managers, was used. The empirical findings of barriers are categorised as internal (financial, responsibility, knowledge) and external (country- and industry-specific). Major internal barriers include prioritising profits over circularity, prioritising customer demand over circular design, and unfamiliarity with key concepts. Country-specific external barriers include lack of competent personnel in Turkey and harsh taxation policies. Industry-level barriers include insufficient resources, limited control over fast-fashion demands, and lack of innovative technologies. This thesis contributes to an increased understanding of the scarcely researched topic and enables practitioners to develop efficient policies and business strategies to ease sustainable business development. Future research is suggested to explore drivers and strategies to apply circular product design within the Turkish textile industry. Additionally, further research can be conducted where this study is replicated but from the perspective of brand retailers with procurement operations in Turkey.

Environmental issues related to the Electronic and Electrical Equipment industry lead companies to consider a new sustainability model to decouple economic growth from resource consumption and waste generation. A significant body of literature focuses on materials and process innovation in the field of Printed Circuit Board (PCB), simultaneously limited attention has been given to industry practices and circular economy strategies. This study aims to contribute insights into sustainable circular economy practices in the PCB industry; it examines the current integration of sustainability and circularity principles in PCB companies in Sweden and assesses the associated strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. Drawing on the strategies outlined in the Circular Electronic Roadmap, the study identified four main pathways relevant to design and development, procurement, and business model. The study, being exploratory and qualitative in nature, conducted semi-structured interviews with six PCB companies in Sweden. The results show that the concept of sustainability is dynamic, factors such as business nature, company size, market competitiveness, regulations, stakeholder’s expectations and priorities, and emerging frameworks are influencing the degree to which these practices are integrated into the companies. Numerous strengths include utilizing Life Cycle Analysis (LCA), adopting circular business model, sustainable technology innovation, and prioritizing environmental sustainability as an impact. Two main weaknesses are customers restriction and constrain in PCB design and upfront resource investment. Collaboration, local and regional innovation, active role of business association, and prospects for secondary market materials are discovered to serve as opportunities to advance the circular transition for companies Threats to sustainability practices include a lack of customer demand or interest, limited material information and traceability, and technical complexity of PCB. Overall, these findings could provide practical guidance for PCB companies and other stakeholders to support decision-making and actions to improve sustainability practices in the industry. / Miljöutmaningar relaterade till elektronisk- och elektrisk utrustningsindustri får företag att överväga en ny hållbarhetsmodell för att frikoppla ekonomisk tillväxt från resursförbrukning och avfallsgenerering. En betydande mängd litteratur fokuserar på material och processinnovation för tillverkningen av kretskort (eng. PCB), samtidigt som begränsad uppmärksamhet har ägnats åt industripraxis och strategier för cirkulär ekonomi. Den här studien syftar till att bidra med insikter om hållbar cirkulär ekonomi inom PCB-industrin. Den undersöker den nuvarande integrationen av hållbarhets- och cirkularitetsprinciper i PCB-företag i Sverige och bedömer associerade styrkor, svagheter, möjligheter och hot. Utifrån de strategier som beskrivs i färdplanen för cirkulär elektronik (eng. Circular Electronics Roadmap) identifierade studien fyra huvudområden som är relevanta för design och utveckling, upphandling och affärsmodell. I studien, som är explorativ och kvalitativ till sin karaktär, genomfördes semistrukturerade intervjuer med sex PCB-företag i Sverige. Resultaten visar att hållbarhetsbegreppet är dynamiskt, och att faktorer som typ av verksamhet, företagets storlek, marknadskonkurrens, regleringar, intressenternas förväntningar och prioriteringar, samt framväxande ramverk påverkar i vilken utsträckning dessa metoder integreras i företagen. Styrkor inkluderar användning av livscykelanalys (LCA), att anamma cirkulära affärsmodeller, hållbar teknikinnovation och prioritering av miljömässig hållbarhet. Två huvudsakliga svagheter är kundernas restriktioner i PCB-design samt resursinvesteringar i början av processen. Samarbete, lokal och regional innovation, aktiv roll för industriorganisationer och framtidsutsikter för återanvändning av material på den sekundära marknaden har upptäckts som möjligheter att främja den cirkulära övergången för företag. Hot inkluderar bristande efterfrågan eller intresse från kunderna, begränsad information och spårbarhet av material, samt PCB:s tekniska komplexitet. Sammantaget kan dessa resultat ge praktiska riktlinjer för PCB-företag och andra intressenter för att vägleda beslutsfattande och åtgärder för att förbättra hållbarhetsarbetet i industrin.

Today, the world's natural ecosystems are threatened by increased extraction of raw materials andgreenhouse gas emissions to the atmosphere. One of the drivers of this problem is the impact fromindustries through their production. A possible strategy to reduce pressure on natural ecosystems is toincrease the use of industrial ecosystems. The circular economy is an approach that supports the reuseof products by reusing, recycling and minimising waste. Like a natural ecosystem, waste can beused as an input material for new production. Today, the construction industry contributes to a largeamount of waste, requires a large amount of extracted materials and generates high levels ofgreenhouse gas emissions. One of the world's most widely used construction materials is concrete. Byreusing and recycling concrete, the need for virgin material and waste sent to landfill can be reduced. The aim of the study is to contribute to a better understanding of the current economic barriers andhow different activities could be improved to create economic profitability and stimulate the reuse andrecycling of concrete. Through a literature study of previous research regarding economic barriers ofreuse and recycling of building materials, different circular strategies for the management of concrete,and EU and Swedish legislation, regulations, and certifications for circular economy in theconstruction industry, relevant interview questions could be developed. The interviews represent theresult and answer questions regarding current economic barriers for reuse and recycling of concreteand opportunities for future profitability, as well as exploring the environmental suitability ofdifferent circular strategies in the concrete industry. A total of 10 interviews were conducted withdifferent stakeholders in the concrete and construction industry. The main economic barriers identified in the study regarding reuse of concrete are due to lack ofmarket interest, difficult logistics involving transport and storage of elements, getting an economicflow in the business model, increased labour and quality certification. The most essential economicbarriers to the recycling of concrete are due to a potential risk for the material to be classified as waste,increased transport of materials, planning of material supply, higher cost of recycled materialcompared to virgin material, and regulations that promote high-value reuse. Identified opportunitiesthat can contribute to improved future profitability for both reuse and recycling of concrete arecircular strategies and business models, the ability to demonstrate reduced climate impact,regulations and standards, and new work methods. The interviews have also indicated that different circular strategies for the management of concreteare suitable in different types of projects. The upcycling of materials should not be favoured at anycost if it can be proven that the method of recycling contributes to the need for less virgin material.Circular strategies in the concrete industry should beneficially be included in a CE at the societal level.In this way, synergies can be created, and the use of resources can benefit both the environment andthe economy. / Idag hotas världens ekosystem genom allt fler uttag av naturens egna råvaror och ökadeväxthusgasutsläpp till atmosfären. Industrier har stor påverkan på detta problem. En möjlig strategiför att minska påfrestningar på naturliga ekosystem är att i högre utsträckning utnyttja industriellaekosystem. Cirkulär ekonomi är en metod som stödjer återanvändning av produkter genom attåterbruka, återvinna och minimera mängden avfall. Likt ett industriellt ekosystem kan avfall användassom ingående material vid nyproduktion. Idag bidrar byggindustrin till en stor mängd avfall, kräveren stor mängd utvunnet material och genererar höga växthusgasutsläpp. Ett av världens mestanvända byggmaterial är betong. Genom att återbruka och återvinna betong kan behovet avjungfruligt material och avfall som behöver deponeras minskas. Syftet med studien är att bidra till en bättre förståelse av nuvarande ekonomiska hinder och hur olikaaktiviteter kan förbättras för att skapa ekonomisk lönsamhet och stimulera återbruk och återvinningav betong. Genom en litteraturstudie bestående av tidigare forskning av ekonomiska hinder medåterbruk och återvinning av byggmaterial, olika cirkulära strategier för hantering av betong, samt EUoch svenska lagar, regleringar och certifieringar för cirkulär ekonomi i byggbranschen kunde lämpligaintervjufrågor tas fram. Intervjuerna ligger till grund för resultatet och besvarar frågor vad gällerdagens ekonomiska hinder för återbruk och återvinning av betong och möjligheter för framtidalönsamhet, samt utforskandet av lämplighet för olika cirkulära strategier i betongindustrin. Totaltgenomfördes 10 intervjuer med olika aktörer inom betong- och byggindustrin. De främsta ekonomiska hinder som identifierats i studien vad gäller återbruk av betong beror påavsaknad efterfrågan, försvårad logistik som innebär transportering och förvaring av element, att fåett ekonomiskt flöde i affärsmodellen, ökade arbetsmoment och kvalitetssäkring. De mest väsentligaekonomiska hinder vad gäller återvinning av betong beror på risken att materialet kan klassas somavfall, ökad mängd transporter av material, planering av materialåtgång, den högre kostnaden föråtervunnet material jämfört med jungfruligt material och regleringar som förespråkar återanvändningav högt värde. Identifierade möjligheter som kan bidra till förbättrad framtida lönsamhet för bådeåterbruk och återvinning av betong är cirkulära strategier och affärsmodeller, möjligheten att påvisaminskad klimatpåverkning, regler och standarder samt nya arbetsmetoder. Utifrån intervjuerna har det även framkommit att olika cirkulära strategier för hantering av betong ärlämpliga vid olika projekt. Att upcycla materialet bör inte till varje pris eftersträvas om det kan bevisasatt metoden för återvinningen kan bidra till ett behov av en lägre mängd jungfruligt material.Cirkulära strategier inom betongindustrin bör fördelaktigt inkluderas i en CE på samhällsnivå. Då kansynergier skapas och användning av resurser kan främja både miljö och ekonomi.

This thesis is being conducted by two final year Bachelor degree students, collaborating with a Swedish fashion brand producing leather sneakers with the aim to investigate the most common wear and tear of shoes in metropolitan and suburban environments. Shoes are readily known for having a relatively short product lifecycle and with few alternatives to prolong the materials usefulness at the end. Furthermore consumers find that the main problems that make them not want to repair, are mainly financial reasons and a lack of knowledge in repair methods. This study has conducted a survey to gain information of the most common wear and tears regarding shoes in order to meet what the consumers want for products in a repair kit. The study involved a qualitative interview about material expertise about the shoes used in this study with selected and qualified respondents from the fashion brand company. The data collected was sufficient to create a product list for a repair-kit and shows a PU-solution to repair damaged leather, heel patches to repair ripped lining, a cyanoacrylate glue to mend detached/broken outsoles and an informational manual should be the main components for the repair kit. This study is designed to work as a future recommendation specification of requirements to the company this study is collaborating with to prolong the time of usage for the shoes.

Textil- och modeindustrin är en av de mest miljöförorenande industrierna i världen, med dess resursintensitet och stora mängd producerat avfall. De senaste åren, med start från år 2000 har klädproduktionen fördubblats, medan det genomsnittliga antalet gånger plagget används innan det slängs har minskat. Förändringar i produktionsteknik, konsumtionsmönster och materialval är sannolikt inte tillräckligt för att vända textilindustrins påverkan på miljön. Branschen behöver övergå från den nuvarande linjära ekonomin till en mer cirkulär ekonomi där design spelar en central roll. Denna studie belyser de svenska modeföretagens arbete med cirkulära designstrategier och utforskar hur kunskap om cirkulära strategier från andra branscher skulle kunna hjälpa modebranchen att gå mot ökad cirkularitet. Med hjälp av mixed method undersöktes den svenska modebranschens arbete med cirkulära design strategier och branschens utmaningar för ökad cirkularitet. Studien utforskade även organisationer utanför modebranschen för att avgöra hur deras cirkulära framgångar kan implementeras på modeindustrin. Resultaten visar att medan svenska modeföretag implementerar cirkulära designstrategier regelbundet behöver det inte översättas till ökad total cirkulariteten i deras kollektioner. Studien finner att ett gemensamt mått på cirkularitet inom modeprodukter, en systemförändring där cirkulär design och affärsmodeller implementeras genom hela värdekedjan, och ökat samarbete kombinerat med nödvändig infrastruktur är de mest nödvändiga faktorerna för att öka cirkulariteten inom branschen. / The textile and fashion industry is one of the most environmentally polluting industries in the world, with its resource intensity and large amount of produced waste. In recent years, starting from the year 2000, clothing production has doubled, while the average number of times a garment is used before it is thrown away has decreased. Changes in production technologies, consumption patterns and material choices are likely not, enough to reverse the textile industry's impact on the environment. The industry needs to shift from the current linear economy to a more circular one where design plays a pivotal role. This study sheds light on the Swedish fashion companie's work with circular design strategies and explores how knowledge about circular strategies gained from other industries could help fashion move towards increased circularity. With help of mixed method research the Swedish fashion industry's work with circular design strategies and the industry's challenges for increased circularity were examined. The study also explored organizations outside the fashion industry to determine how their circular successes can be implemented here. The results show that while Swedish fashion companies implement circular design strategies regularly it doesn’t necessary translate into increased overall circularity of their collections. The study finds that a common measure for circularity in fashion products, a systemic change where circular design and business models are implemented throughout the entire value chain, and increased collaboration paired with necessary infrastructure are the most necessary factors to increase circularity within the industry.