Den globala uppvärmningen anses idag vara ett av de största hoten mot vår planet. Vi människor är en stor bidragande orsak, efter årtionden av ständigt ökande utsläpp och gränslös konsumtion. Åtgärder måste genomföras inom samtliga sektorer i vårt samhälle. En av dessa sektorer är textilindustrin som årligen producerar mängder med nya produkter för att täcka kunders behov av ständig förnyelse. Som ett steg bort från det linjära slit-och-släng-samhället har företag börjat implementera cirkulära försörjningskedjor, s.k. closed-loop supply chains (CLSC). Denna studie undersöker hur svenska detaljhandelsföretag inom modebranschen arbetar med CLSC för att minska sin klimatpåverkan men även för att skaffa sig konkurrensfördelar. Detta görs genom en teorigenomgång som ligger till grund för en empirisk studie av fyra företag, där två av företagen studeras djupgående genom intervjuer med representanter från företagen. De två andra företagen har studerats på grundare nivå genom granskning av företagens hållbarhetsredovisning och hemsidor. Författarna undersöker även vilka drivkrafter och hot som företag ser med CLSC.

Bakgrund:Vi konsumerar redan idag en och enhalv gånger jordens bärkapacitet,ochkommer 2030behöva två jordklotför att stödja vår konsumtion.Dettamedförockså en ännu högre konsumtionsökning som kommer att sätta ett ännu högretryck på jorden. Den linjära ekonomin som bygger på att utvinna resurser,producera, konsumera och sen bli kvitt avfalletfungerar helt enkeltinte i längdenoch framtiden stavas därför nu cirkulär ekonomi. En industri som spelar en storrollinomsamhället ochsomdessutomärdenstörstautsläpparenav alla industrieri Sverige är stålindustrin. Stålindustrin är därför den industri som genom enomställning från linjär till cirkulär ekonomi kan spela en viktig roll iimplementationen av ett mer cirkulärtsamhälle. Syfte: Syftet med denna studie är att mot bakgrunden av det allt mer pressadevärldsläget undersöka omställningen från linjär till cirkulär ekonomi inomstålindustrin. Frågeställning:Vadhar företaginomstålindustrinsåsomSandvikgjortförattlyckas implementera en mer cirkulärekonomi? Metod: Studien är en kvalitativ fallstudie där primärdata samlades in via tresemistruktureradeintervjuer.Studienharettinterpretativistisktperspektivsamten abduktiv ansats. Slutsats: Studiens resultat visar att Sandvik genom existerande kanaler ochproduktionsanläggningarhaftengodgrundföratt smidigtkunnaställaomderasproduktionmot att blimer cirkulär.Företagets industriparkdärde kontrollerarflera steg av produktionskedjan blirdärför enklare att anpassa och ställa om motcirkulär ekonomi.Vidare har företagets relativt platta organisationsstrukturIVfrämjat innovation bland de anställda och skapat en företagskultur där nyacirkulärekonomiskaprojektochinnovationersnabbtkanomsättastillverklighet. Kunskapsbidrag: Denna studie har bidragit med att skapa en djupare förståelseför hur det affärsmässiga perspektivet och cirkulär ekonomi kan fungera ihopgenom praktiska exempel hos fallföretaget. Den har också bidragit medinformationkringstyrningsmetoderochorganisationsstrukturersompåolikasättkan främja implementationen av cirkulärekonomi. / Background:We are already consuming one and a halftimes the earth's carryingcapacity today, and by 2030 we will need two globes to support our consumption.This will result in an even higher consumption increase which will put a higherpressure on the globes resources. The linear economy thatis based on extractingresources, producing, consuming and then getting rid ofthe waste does not workin the long run.Instead,the future is now spelled circular economy.An industrythat plays a major role in society and which is also the biggest emitter of allindustries in Swede is the steel industry. The steel industry is therefore theindustry that,through a conversion from linear to circular economy, can play animportant role in how the circular economy is implemented in order to lead theway towards a circular society. Purpose: The purpose ofthis study is to examine the shiftfrom linear to circulareconomy in the steelindustry againstthe background ofincreased pressure on theglobal situation. Researchquestion:What have companies inthe steelindustry such as Sandvikdone to successfully implement a more circular economy? Methodology: The study is a qualitative case study where primary data wascollected via three semi-structured interviews. The study uses a perspective ofinterpretivism and an abductive approach.VI Conclusion:The study's results showthat Sandvik through existing channels andproduction facilities, had a good basis for smoothly adjusting their productiontowards becoming more circular. The company's industrial park, where theycontrol several stages of the production chain, is therefore easier to adapt andreadjust to circular economy. Furthermore, the company's relatively flatorganizational structure has facilitated innovation among its employees andcreated a corporate culturewherenewcircular economic projects and innovationscan quickly be translated intoreality. Contributions: This study has helped create a deeper understanding of how thebusiness perspective of circular economy can work through practical examplesfrom the case company. It has also contributed information on managementcontrolmethods andorganizational structures thatinvariousways canpromotethe implementation of circulareconomy.

Orientador: Daniel Jugend / Resumo: A conscientização sobre a sustentabilidade nos negócios tem auxiliado às empresas a atualizar suas operações, concentrando-se na redução dos impactos ambientais em todas as etapas. Diante disso, o modelo de negócios da economia circular se torna uma alternativa para alcançar a prosperidade das empresas sem comprometer os recursos naturais no futuro. Considerando-se a transição para a economia circular, é necessário adotar alguns princípios que guiarão as empresas a atingir esse nível. No entanto, existem barreiras que dificultam esse desenvolvimento. Esta pesquisa teve como objetivo principal, analisar a relação entre estímulos, barreiras e pressão dos stakeholders com a adoção dos princípios da economia circular. A amostra analisada nesta pesquisa é composta por 86 empresas brasileiras inseridas em setores importantes para a economia circular, tais como: agronegócio, construção civil e eletroeletrônico. A pesquisa traz evidências empíricas de que os estímulos para adoção da economia circular apontados pela literatura e pressão dos stakeholders estão relacionados positivamente com a adoção dos princípios da economia circular, enquanto as barreiras tradicionalmente apontadas pela literatura estão relacionadas negativamente com essa adoção. Os resultados deste estudo indicam quais estímulos, barreiras e stakeholders se relacionam mais fortemente com cada princípio do framework ReSOLVE. Enquanto a pressão dos funcionários está mais ligada ao princípio da Circularidade, a pressão... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: Business sustainability awareness has helped companies update their operations by focusing on reducing environmental impacts at all stages. Given this, the circular economy business model becomes an alternative to achieve business prosperity without compromising natural resources in the future. Considering the transition to the circular economy, it is necessary to adopt some principles that will guide companies to reach this level. However, there are barriers that hinder this development. The main objective of this research was to analyze the relationship between stimuli, barriers and stakeholder pressure with the adoption of circular economy principles. The sample analyzed in this research is composed by 86 Brazilian companies inserted in important sectors for the circular economy, such as: agribusiness, construction and electronics. The research provides empirical evidence that the incentives for circular economy adoption pointed by the literature and stakeholder pressure are positively related to the adoption of the circular economy principles, while the barriers traditionally pointed by the literature are negatively related to this adoption. The results of this study indicate which stimuli, barriers, and stakeholders relate most strongly to each ReSOLVE framework principle. While employee pressure is more closely linked to the principle of circularity, media and consumer pressure are linked to greater adoption of the virtualization principle. In addition, this survey show... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Mestre

Svenska företag har börjat prata om cirkulär ekonomi (CE)som en viktig del inom företagsverksamheter där CE har kommit att ersätta tidigare “praxis” för hållbar utveckling. Flera stora svenska företag däribland H&M och Ikea uttrycker att de vill vara en del i att leda samhällets omställning mot cirkulär ekonomi. Samtidigt bidrar H&M och Ikea till en massproduktion av konsumtionsvaror vilket leder till en förbrukning av stora mängder naturresurser. Denna studie syftar till att genom en fallstudie undersöka hur H&M och Ikea talar om CE i sin verksamhet samt hur H&M och Ikea genomopinionsbildning försöker påverka omställningen mot CE. Textanalystillämpades för att genomföra studien och svara på följande frågeställningar: Vilka argument framför H&M och Ikea kring att en omställning mot CE är nödvändig? Vilka ambitioner uttrycker H&M och Ikea i omställningen mot CE? Vilka strategier framför H&M och Ikea att de tillämpar i omställningen mot CE och vad framför de som utmaningar med arbetet? Hur uttrycker sig H&M och Ikea kring vem som har ansvar att leda omställningen mot CE? Hur uttrycker sig H&M och Ikea som opinionsbildare i omställningen mot CE? Resultatet av studien visar att H&M och Ikea framför hur en fortsatt linjär produktion och konsumtion inte är hållbar där de framför ambitioner om att de vill leda omställningen och vill implementera cirkularitet genom hela deras värdekedjor. Resultatet visar att H&M och Ikea uttrycker strategier gällande förändring av affärsmodeller, designprocesser, ökad återanvändning-och återvinning av material. Vid implementering av CE framför H&M och Ikea utmaningar gällande teknik, samarbete och regleringar. Gällande ansvar framför H&M och Ikea att de åtar sig ett ansvar i omställningen men de poängterar att beslutsfattare behöver ta ett större ansvar i att främja företagsarbete mot en omställning. Resultatet visar också att H&M och Ikea som opinionsbildare uttrycker att de vill påskynda omställningen mot CE. / Swedish companies have begun to talk about CE as an important part of companies' operations where CE has come to replace previous “practices” for sustainable development. Several large Swedish companies, including H&M and Ikea, say that they want to be part of leading society's transition towards a circular economy. At the same time H&M and Ikea constitute a mass production of consumer goods which contributes to the consumption of large amounts of natural resources. This study aims to investigate how H&M and Ikea talk about CE in their operations through a case study and how H&M and Ikea try to influence the transition to CE through opinion formation. Text analysis was applied to carry out the study and answer the following questions: What arguments do H&M and Ikea express about why a conversion to CE is necessary? What ambitions do H&M and Ikea express in their transition to CE? What strategies do H&M and Ikea express that they apply in the transition towards CE and what are the challenges they face in these processes? How do H&M and Ikea express themselves about who is responsible for leading the transition towards CE? How do H&M and Ikea express themselves as opinion formation in the transition to CE? The results of the study show that H&M and Ikea express that continuous linear production and consumption is not sustainable where they express ambitions that they want to lead the transition and that they want to implement circularity throughout their value chains. The results show that the H&M and Ikea express strategies regarding transformation of business models, design processes and increased reuse-and recycling of materials. When implementing CE companies face challenges regarding technology, collaboration, and regulations. In the context of responsibility H&M and Ikea express that they undertake a responsibility in the transition, but they point out that decision-makers need to take greater responsibility in promoting companies' transition processes. The result also shows that H&M and Ikea as opinion formation express that they want to speed up the transition to CE.

abstract: The circular economy is viewed as a solution to many of the environmental and social ills that the linear economy has exacerbated. Whether it is through refill solutions or redesigning a cardboard shipping container, fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) brands are rethinking the way their products are delivered to consumers through business model innovations that promote circularity. The consumer plays the important, often overlooked, role of enabler within circular business models. This study aims to increase broader understanding of what motivates circular consumption of fast-moving consumer goods while analyzing the relationship between motivators and the behaviors required to participate. Semi-structured interviews provide insights from consumers who are currently purchasing household cleansers from brands that operate with a circular business model. Results from this study highlight a group of consumers that are distinguished by their common desire to reduce their personal consumption of plastics. There is clear indication that these consumers are in fact seeking out ways to consume more sustainably. A significant subset of this group expresses concern regarding ingredients used in the products. Health concerns for themselves, their family, or a pet are driving a desire to understand product ingredients. There is evidence to indicate that the concern for personal consumption of plastics is being driven by information distributed via social media and supported by targeted advertisements for brands that address this concern. / Dissertation/Thesis / Masters Thesis Sustainability 2020

During the last decades, the circular economy has enabled a new kind of business model that is challenging the traditional linear way of doing business. The purpose of this thesis is to investigate how an international social enterprise work towards a circular business model, as well as the challenges and opportunities that comes with operating in an emerging market. Previous research on the subject is limited which leaves a research gap in existing literature. Indonesia is an emerging country that is struggling with a weak recycling infrastructure and   lack of waste management, which has resulted in an ocean plastic pollution problem.   In the theoretical framework, relevant aspects of the circular economy, social enterprises and opportunities and challenges with operating in an emerging market are presented. A conceptual framework concludes the literature review by illustrating how the concepts ties together. In order to answer the research questions, a qualitative research method has been followed throughout this single case study, combined with an abductive approach. The data has been collected through semi-structured interviews presented together with secondary data, in order to get a deeper understanding of the case. By examining an international social enterprise with operations in an emerging market, findings on what opportunities and challenges this social enterprise encounter in Indonesia are presented together with how they work towards a circular business model. This study indicates that the international social enterprise challenges the linear way of doing business and can be set as an example for other companies that has a social mission and wants to do business in a sustainable way.   The analysis discusses the relation between the theoretical concepts and the empirical findings, together with observations from the authors. The analysis is followed by the concluding chapter where the contributions are stated, and the research questions are answered, followed by implications, limitations and suggestions for future research. The findings showed that international social enterprises can find opportunities in infrastructure- and institutional gaps in emerging markets. In addition, the findings indicate that a strong social mission can reduce the challenges of operating in an emerging market. The findings have contributed to introducing the social enterprise phenomenon into the international business research field, as well as international social enterprises operating in emerging markets. The authors also provide their definition of the concept ‘social enterprise’.

Purpose - The purpose of this study is to gain insights into the implementation of circular economy from the perspectives of local entrepreneurs and organizations within the Växjö region. Design/methods/approach - This paper follows the case study design with local entrepreneurs and organizations as the unit of analysis. The authors adopted both iterative and abductive thinking in order to alternate between analysis of theories and empirical material. Systematic literature review with themes was used as a specific purpose and research question was specified from the beginning. When collecting empirical material, guided and semi-structured interviews were used. For the data analysis, “initial coding” was utilized, which allowed the authors to differentiate themes and thus perform a thorough analysis. Findings - Växjö Kommun has a long-term goal of fostering sustainability and circularity within the Växjö region through numerous communication channels and continuous collaboration and cooperation with various groups of stakeholders. Their efforts have facilitated the emergence of initiatives and projects from small entrepreneurs. However, the relationship between Växjö Kommun and other stakeholders (local entrepreneurs and organizations) face difficulties due to a lack of communication and differences in perception of how the strategies should be implemented. Practical implications - Through collecting, analyzing and combining theoretical and empirical material, insights were gained into the implementation of circular economy. Based on these, recommendations to the local entrepreneurs and organizations were outlined, which can be utilized when rethinking their strategies related to sustainable and circular projects in the region of Växjö. Originality/value - The originality of this paper lies in the absence of previous research conducted on similar topics within this local context. The authors believe that their paper will be valuable to both local entrepreneurs and organizations who wish to better understand the implementation of circular economy. At the same time, the findings could be useful for other scholars who wish to continue this research.

abstract: The continued reliance on fossil fuel for energy resources has proven to be unsustainable, leading to depletion of world reserves and emission of greenhouse gases during their combustion. Therefore, research initiatives to develop potentially carbon-neutral biofuels were given the highest importance. Hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL, a thermochemical conversion process) of microalgae is recognized as a favorable and efficient technique to produce liquid biofuels from wet feedstocks. In this work, three different microalgae (Kirchneriella sp., Galdieria sulphuraria, Micractinium sp.) grown and harvested at Arizona State University were hydrothermally liquefied to optimize their process conditions under different temperatures (200-375 °C), residence times (15-60 min), solids loadings (10-20 wt.%), and process pressures (9-24 MPa). A one-factor-at-a-time approach was employed, and comprehensive experiments were conducted at 10 % solid loadings and a residence time of 30 min. Co-liquefaction of Salicornia bigelovii Torr. (SL), Swine manure (SM) with Cyanidioschyzon merolae (CM) was tested for the presence of synergy. A positive synergistic effect was observed during the co-liquefaction of biomasses, where the experimental yield (32.95 wt.%) of biocrude oil was higher than the expected value (29.23 wt.% ). Co-liquefaction also led to an increase in the energy content of the co-liquefied biocrude oil and a higher energy recovery rate ( 88.55 %). The HTL biocrude was measured for energy content, elemental, and chemical composition using GC-MS. HTL aqueous phase was analyzed for potential co-products by spectrophotometric techniques and is rich in soluble carbohydrates, dissolved ammoniacal nitrogen, and phosphates. HTL biochar was studied for its nutrient content (nitrogen and phosphorous) and viability of its recovery to cultivate algae without any inhibition using the nutrient leaching. HTL biochar was also studied to produce hydrogen via pyrolysis using a membrane reactor at 500 °C, 1 atm, for 24 h to produce 5.93 wt.% gas. The gaseous product contains 45.7 mol % H2, 44.05 ml % CH4, and 10.25 mol % of CO. The versatile applications of HTL biochar were proposed from a detailed physicochemical characterization. The metal impurities in the algae, bio-oil, and biochar were quantified by ICP-OES where algae and biochar contain a large proportion of phosphorous and magnesium. / Dissertation/Thesis / Doctoral Dissertation Chemical Engineering 2020

abstract: ABSTRACT Historically, Life Cycle Assessments (LCA) guided companies to make better decisions to improve the environmental impacts of their products. However, as new Circular Economy (CE) tools emerge, the usefulness of LCA in assessing linear products grow more and more obsolete. Research Question: How do LCA-based tools account for reuse/multiple life cycles of products verses CE-based tools? The Kaiteki Innovation Framework (KIF) was used to address the question of circularity of two packaging materials using an Environmental LCA to populate its 12 CE dimensions. Any gaps were evaluated with 2 LCA- based and 2 CE-based tools to see which could address the leftover CE dimensions. Results showed that to complete the KIF template, LCA data required one of the LCA-based tools: Social Life Cycle Assessment (SLCA) and both CE-based tools: Circular Transition Indicators (CTI) and Material Circularity Indicator (MCI) to supplement gaps in the KIF. The LCA addressed 5 of the KIF dimensions: Innovation Category Name, Description, GHG Impact, Other Environmental Impacts, and Value Chain Position. 3 analytical tools addressed 5 more:: Effect on Circularity, Social Impacts, Enabling Technologies, Tier 2 and 3 Requirements, and Value Chain Synergies. None of the tools could address the KIF Dimensions: State of Development or Scale Requirements. All in all, the KIF required both LCA-based and CE-based tools to cover social and socio-economic impacts from a cradle-to-cradle perspective with multiple circular loops in mind. These results can help in the research and development of innovative, circular products that can lead to a more environmentally preferred future. / Dissertation/Thesis / Masters Thesis Sustainability 2020

Supply chain management is found to be highly related to collaborations among stakeholders to create successful strategies for the supply chain. To leverage circularity in the textile and clothing industry, successful circular strategies that support the businesses in an economic and environmental manner are key. Through this research, the interconnection and communication between the relationships within the supply chain are found to be the most significant factor. In this qualitative study, the purpose of the research was to investigate how relationships and partnerships in the textile supply chain can affect and enable commercial scale for recycling of textiles-to-textiles. In-depth semi-structured interviews with six key stakeholders in the European textile industry. This study found that relationship characteristics such as trust, communication and strategic values through long-term relationships and key suppliers play an important role in realizing textile-to-textile recycling. Furthermore, findings confirm that the financial aspects are the most prominent condition for textile recycling to improve win-win partnership models to promote key operational conditions. With Europe having a leading position in the textile industry, the research study has geographically limited the empirical scope to solid focus on textile supply chain and business relationships in Italy to provide the study with accurate cluster accusation.