This thesis explores the challenges and opportunities of reusing construction and demolition waste within Sweden's construction sector, employing a PEST-SWOT analytical framework. The focus is on three primary materials prevalent in residential single-family houses: brick, concrete, and timber. The study identifies key political, economic, social, and technological factors that influence material reuse practices. The analysis highlights substantial barriers including regulatory complexities, lack of incentives, and the tendency to often prioritize new over reused materials due to perceived risks and higher costs associated with reuse. Despite these challenges, the research identifies significant opportunities for advancing material reuse. These include the potential for implementation of technological advancements in material processing, and growing public and governmental support for sustainable construction practices. The thesis goes forward by proposing strategic recommendations aimed at enhancing the adoption of reuse practices, thereby contributing to a more sustainable and resource-efficient construction sector in Sweden. / Demand trust for circular building materials

The research explores how Swedish apparel companies are integrating Circular Economy (CE) principles into the product design phase and identifies Critical Success Factors (CSFs) and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for circular and profitable apparel products. It uses a multiple case study approach, interviewing employees from five companies involved in the Vinnova project. Key findings include the importance of design for durability, balancing recycled content with quality, and the need for measurable CE principles. The study highlights the need for KPIs to track circular design performance and suggests managers prepare for upcoming EU ESPR legislation. Limitations include its focus on Swedish companies and the short research timeframe. Future research should further explore the impact of ESPR and develop more KPIs for CE in the apparel industry.

Globally, the rising extraction of raw materials results in substantial resource depletion. The global circularity rate declines yearly as goods manufacturing consumes energy, fossil fuels, and primary materials. In the EU, about 11 million tonnes of furniture are discarded annually, and most end up in landfills. Sweden discards about 330.000 tonnes of office furniture each year. Sharing and reusing with Circular Economy (CE) strategies can possibly reduce environmental impact, yet challenges may arise from extra measures and expectancies when sharing. There are few studies that assess CE strategies in the use phase and environmental impacts of furniture. For the evaluation of CE strategies and a product's potential environmental impact and comparing user scenarios, this study used a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). The goal is to explore under what circumstances height adjustable desks (desks) in four user scenarios (baseline scenario and three scenarios with adopted CE strategies for closing, slowing, and narrowing the material loops) are the most beneficial for the environment. The evaluation is conducted by analysing the scenario’s potential impact (i.e., midpoint categories GWP, HNCT and MRS). The results show that the manufacturing of the desk frame has a significant impact in the midpoint categories GWP and MRS, and the manufacturing of the motor in the midpoint category HNCT, in all four scenarios. The rental scenario, with high utilisation (80%) due to flexibility, has the lowest potential impact, compared to the three other scenarios with 40% utilisation. Two sensitivity analyses were conducted, which showed that the utilisation rate and lifespan of parts (due to aesthetic expectations) is crucial for what scenario that has the best outcome. Rental and reuse have a lower impact compared to recycling and baseline. The circumstances of high utilisation rate and flexibility benefitted the rental scenario. Product design strategies such as modular, easy repair and maintenance, and the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) keeping ownership or agreeing with the user are critical for substituting parts in the reuse and rental scenarios. This study shows that renting office desks is the best option, compared to the other scenarios, as long as utilisation is over 54% and high user expectations do not demand new desktops every 5th year.

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.

Yes / This paper presents experimental and numerical investigation on an innovative composite floor system with deconstructability. In this system, a composite slab formed with metal profiled decking is connected to a steel beam using demountable shear connectors. A series of push tests was conducted to investigate the behaviour of this form of shear connectors. In addition to the push tests, a full-scale composite beam was tested to failure in the laboratory under a number of cycles of monotonic loading. For direct comparison, a similar composite beam test was conducted using same section size, concrete strength, but using the conventional welded headed stud connectors. Test results showed that the behaviour of the composite beam with demountable shear connectors is comparable with the specimen with welded shear connectors. After the test was terminated, the demountable shear connectors were unfastened and the composite floor can be easily lifted off from the steel beam. Test result showed that these demountable shear connectors possess high ductility in comparison with the equivalent welded shear connectors. Simple design rules currently use in Eurocode 4 for the welded shear connections and Eurocode 3 for bolts are proposed to predict the shear resistance of this form of demountable shear connectors.

För att kunna uppnå de högt uppsatta klimatmålen så står byggsektorn och fastighetsbranschen inför en omvälvande omställning där hänsyn till framförallt den cirkulära ekonomin kommer att stå i centrum. I dagsläget står bygg- och anläggningssektorn för cirka 20% av samtliga växthusgasutsläpp i Sverige och för att vända de linjära arbetsmetoderna till cirkulära så kommer återbruk av byggnadsmaterial att spela en tongivande roll. Att återbruka och att återanvända istället för att bara demontera och bygga nytt stärks av såväl ekonomiska som miljömässiga aspekter.I denna kandidatuppsats så har det undersökts vilka de juridiska aspekterna kopplade till återbruk är och vad relevant lagrum kan göra för att framtvinga såväl som underlätta för återbruk. Det har undersökts ifall återbruk med hjälp av lagen överhuvudtaget går att reglera och till hänsyn med vilka incitament det i så fall bör ske.Uppsatsens resultat visar att det i dagsläget går att styra mot återbruk men att det ej går att tvinga fram. Lagrum reglerar ett förberedande av återbruk men reglering gällande implementeringen är dessvärre bristfällig. För att nå de resultat som vi siktar mot och för att uppnå våra klimatmål så behöver lagrum justeras. / To achieve the ambitious climate goals, the construction sector and real estate industry are facing a transformative transition where consideration for the circular economy will be at the forefront. Currently, the construction and civil engineering sector account for approximately 20% of all greenhouse gas emissions in Sweden, and to shift from linear to circular work methods, the reuse of building materials will play a pivotal role. Reusing and repurposing instead of solely dismantling and constructing anew is reinforced by both economic and environmental aspects.This study examines the legal aspects associated with reuse and what relevant legal frameworks can do to both enforce and facilitate reuse. It investigates whether reuse can be regulated through the law at all, and considers what incentives, if any, should be in place to encourage it.The study's findings indicate that it is currently possible to steer towards reuse but not to enforce it. Legal provisions regulate preparation for reuse, but unfortunately, regulation regarding implementation is lacking. In order to achieve the results we aim for and to reach our climate goals, legal provisions need to be adjusted.

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.

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.

The circular economy, in which products, materials and resources circle back into the system rather than ending up as waste, offers the possibility to decouple economic growth from environmental degradation. For the sector of information and communication technologies (ICT), where the products contain a wide range of critical raw materials and have a large environmental impact during their manufacturing phase, a shift from today’s linear consumption is especially important. While such a transition requires action from actors on all system levels, the users have a unique position to drive the transition through a change in their behaviour. The aim of this thesis is to build knowledge about how user organisations can enable a transition to a circular ICT sector. A case study was performed at a large ICT reseller in Sweden where the current use of internal laptops and smartphones was investigated and analysed. The data collection resulted in the identification of 15 barriers that we claim hinder the case company from becoming a circular user of ICT products. A categorisation of the barriers further showed that the majority of them are found on an organisational level. We argue that among them, the most impactful barrier is an ambiguous responsibility for the post-use collection of products within the organisation. The thesis is concluded with the notion that organisations do indeed have large possibilities to drive a shift in the ICT sector but have a number of barriers to overcome first. Fortunately, the majority of the barriers are internal and can be directly addressed by managerial actions. / Inom en cirkulär ekonomi där produkter, material och naturresurser cirkulerar i ett slutet system istället för att förkastas som avfall, finns det i teorin en möjlighet att frånkoppla ekonomisk tillväxt från miljöförstöring. Inom sektorn för informations- och kommunikationsteknik (ICT), där produkterna innehåller en stor variation av råmaterial och har sin största miljöpåverkan under tillverkningsfasen, är ett skifte från den nuvarande linjära konsumtionen av yttersta vikt. Även om en sådan övergång kräver att aktörer på samtliga systemnivåer agerar tillsammans, så har användarna en unik position att driva marknaden mot en förändring genom att ändra sitt beteende. Denna rapport har som syfte att utöka kunskapen kring hur användarorganisationer kan möjliggöra en övergång till en cirkulär ICT-sektor. I en casestudie undersöktes och analyserades den interna hanteringen av laptops och smartphones hos en stor leverantör av ICT-tjänster och -produkter i Sverige. Utifrån datainsamlingen kunde 15 barriärer identifieras som vi menar på utgör ett hinder för organisationens möjligheter till att ha ett cirkulärt användande av sina laptops och smartphones. Efter en kategorisering av barriärerna framgick det att majoriteten av dem låg på en organisatorisk nivå. Enligt oss är den största av dessa en tvetydighet i vem som bär ansvaret för återtaget av produkter efter användning. Avslutningsvis dras slutsatsen att även om vi kan bekräfta användarnas stora potential att driva en förändring i ICT-sektorn så finns det i nuläget barriärer. Lyckligtvis är dessa barriärer mestadels interna och kan adresseras genom styrande medel från ledningsnivå.

Circular economy (CE) is seen as a strategy to achieve sustainable development, requiring commitment and support from multiple actors on all system levels; from companies and products to governments and nations. Circular business models (CBMs) are regarded as an important leverage to implement circularity at an organizational level, and business support is considered an important enabler of these. Communication between practitioners and policy-makers, as well as understanding the barriers of CE in the local context, can facilitate the development of efficient business support. This thesis has from a company perspective explored barriers to circular business model innovation (CBMI) and the impact of firm-specific business support activities on this innovation process. This was done through a multiple-case study of ten Swedish SMEs who had received direct business support for circularity, and thus had initiated a circular project. The study has identified seventeen different barriers across five categories, spanning over the entire innovation process from idea to full implementation. Overall, economic viability appears to be an important factor which relates to and depends on several other barriers, and the novelty of CE contributes to the occurrence of many identified challenges. While some barriers are more common across all ten cases, often challenges related to market demand, financing and knowledge, others are more specific for each case and circular strategy. Furthermore, this study has found that coaching, training, and funding are firm-specific activities that can help SMEs overcome mainly internal barriers in the early stages of the CBMI process, addressing several of the most common barriers identified in this study. This research has also included a company perspective on the costs and benefits of the activities, and pointed at important factors to consider in the development of future business support. / Cirkulär ekonomi ses som en strategi för att uppnå hållbar utveckling, och kräver engagemang och stöd från flertalet aktörer på samtliga systemnivåer; från företag och produkter till regeringar och nationer. Cirkulära affärsmodeller betraktas som en viktig hävstång för att implementera cirkularitet på en organisatorisk nivå, och företagsstöd anses vara en viktig möjliggörare av dessa. Kommunikation mellan utövare och beslutsfattare, samt förståelse för barriärer till cirkulär ekonomi i det lokala sammanhanget, kan underlätta utvecklandet av effektiva företagsstöd. Denna uppsats har ur ett företagsperspektiv utforskat barriärer till cirkulär affärsmodellsinnovation och den inverkan som företagsstöd har på denna innovationsprocess. Detta utfördes genom en fallstudie av tio svenska små och medelstora företag som mottagit stöd för cirkularitet, och som således initierat ett cirkulärt projekt. Studien har identifierat sjutton barriärer inom fem kategorier, vilka sträcker sig över hela innovationsprocessen från idé till full implementation. Generellt framträder ekonomisk livskraft som en viktig faktor, relaterad till samt beroende av flertalet andra barriärer, och nymodigheten i cirkulär ekonomi bidrar till förekommande av flera identifierade barriärer. Medan vissa barriärer är mer vanligt förekommande bland de tio fallen, ofta utmaningar relaterade till marknadens efterfrågan, finansiering och kunskap, är andra mer specifika för varje fall och cirkulär strategi. Vidare finner denna studie att rådgivning, träning och finansiering är företagsspecifika aktiviteter som kan hjälpa små och medelstora företag att överkomma huvudsakligen interna barriärer i de tidiga faserna av cirkulär affärsmodellsinnovation, och som bemöter flertalet av de vanligaste barriärerna som har identifierats i denna studie. Denna studie har även inkluderat ett företagsperspektiv på aktiviteternas nytta och kostnader, samt belyst viktiga faktorer att ta hänsyn till i utvecklingen av framtida företagsstöd.