Studien som är ett forskningsprojekt men också en produktutvecklingsprocess utgår från de två forskningsfrågorna: Hur kan man genom design hantera befintligt spillmaterial? Hur kan man genom design förebygga och minska avfall?  Eftersom våra resurser på planeten börjar bli knappa måste vi bli bättre på att ta hand om de resurser vi har. Den här studien handlar om spillmaterial och utgår från befintligt sådant från möbelföretaget Blå station. Detta ska representera och visualisera problematiken med att bra spillmaterial energiåtervinns eller deponeras istället för att användas som material i nya produkter. Studien börjar med en teorigenomgång inom hållbar utveckling och cirkulär ekonomi samt hållbar och cirkulär design. Expertintervjuer har gjorts med två designers samt några designexperiment som syftat till att ta fram möjliga designförslag för spillmaterialet vilket resulterade i tre olika designförslag samt några generella principer för hur man kan hantera spillmaterial samt minska mängden avfall när man tar fram produkter. / This study is a research project as well as a product development process and is based on the two research questions: How can design handle existing left-over materials? How can design prevent and reduce waste?  As our resources on the planet are becoming scarce, we need to better handle the ones we have. This study is about left-over materials and is based on such from the furniture company Blå station. This will represent and visualize the problems we have with good left-over materials is burned or thrown away instead of being used as material in new products. The study starts with a theory review in sustainable development and circular economy together with sustainable and circular design. Expert interviews with two designers were done and some design experiment with the intention to produce some possible design proposals for the left-over material and it resulted in three different proposals and some general principles for how to handle left over materials and also reduce waste in new products.

This diploma thesis deals with application optimization method in circular economy branch. The introduction is focused on explaining main features of the issue and its benefits for economy and environment. Afterwards are mentioned some obstacles, which are preventing transition from current waste management. Mathematical apparatus, which is used in practical section, is described in the thesis. Core of the thesis is mathematical optimization model, which is implemented in the GAMS software, and generator of input data is made in VBA. The model includes all of significant waste management options with respect to economic and enviromental aspect, including transport. Functionality is then demostrated on a small task. Key thesis result is application of the model on real data concerning Czech Republic. In conclusion an analysis of computation difficulty, given the scale of the task, is accomplished.

SMEs are an integral part of the Kenyan economy, and SMEs working with a circular economy (CE)can play a crucial role in contributing to sustainable growth and the nation’s sustainable development goals, Vision 2030. However, these SMEs face several challenges. This study aims to contribute to the body of research on CE and SMEs in developing countries, an area that is under-researched. Through the study, the researchers explore and bring to the fore the barriers and enablers experienced by SMEs practising CE in emerging economies. This study further examines whether SMEs can apply organisational learning to overcome and harness the barriers and enablers. This research is a qualitative study of an exploratory nature. Primary data was collected from SMEs across different sectors through semi-structured interviews. The main findings indicate that the SMEs face barriers with resources, collaborations, infrastructure, regulations and policies, culture, awareness, and the internal and external environment. However, these categories were also found to act as enablers in addition to adaptive spaces and knowledge management. The research further establishes that the present conditions in the external environment attached to weak policies and regulations are a barrier to progression and learning in CE. This study invites further research of circular economy in developing countries and practical solutions for a way forward.

[ES] La citricultura española produce unos 7 millones de toneladas de cítricos al año siendo nuestro país uno de los principales productores a nivel mundial, pero sobre todo es reconocido por ser el principal exportador de cítricos de mesa. De hecho, más del 52% del volumen anual producido se exporta para consumo en fresco. El actual marco normativo establece estrictas normas de comercialización al sector por el cual cada año, se generan entre un 10 y 20% de destríos que no pueden comercializarse para consumo en fresco por presencia de defectos como son calibres inapropiados o defectos de color en la piel. En las últimas décadas, ha surgido una industria de transformación, principalmente de zumos, que procesa estos volúmenes de destríos y que, a su vez, debe de dar salida al momento por el carácter perecedero de la fruta. No obstante, de todo el volumen de cítricos que se recepciona en la industria de transformación, más del 50% es biomasa formada por cortezas y membranas que se destinan al sector de piensos sin obtener apenas valor económico. Este volumen de biomasa es rico en compuestos de gran interés tanto para la industria alimentaria por su riqueza en nutrientes como la fibra dietética, así como para el sector farmacéutico por su riqueza en flavonoides. En base a esto, el objetivo general de esta Tesis Doctoral fue investigar la posible valorización de las corrientes de biomasa generadas en los procesos de fabricación de zumos cítricos. Para ello, el primer paso fue la caracterización de los flavonoides cítricos de mayor interés en las distintas corrientes de biomasa que resultan de la industria de fabricación de zumos, y que son, el propio zumo, las cortezas y las membranas del endocarpio. Los flavonoides seleccionados fueron la hesperidina, narirutina, diosmina, nobiletina, tangeretina y sinensetina y se cuantificaron en 6 variedades de naranja y otras 6 de mandarina. De esta caracterización se concluyó que la flavanona hesperidina era la más abundante, representando más del 60% de los flavonoides cuantificados en todas las variedades cítricas estudiadas. Además, más del 70% de esta flavanona se concentra en la corteza del fruto. Asimismo, otro resultado obtenido fue que las flavonas polimetoxiladas sinensetina, nobiletina y tangeretina presentaron una concentración mucho más alta en las variedades de mandarina híbridas Nadorcott, Ortanique y Orri que en el resto de las variedades de naranja y mandarina estudiadas. A continuación, se procedió a ensayar dos procedimientos de recuperación de hesperidina a partir de la corriente de cortezas generadas tras el exprimido industrial de zumos. Ambos se basaban en una extracción sólido-líquido, el primero utilizaba una relación corteza agua 1:2 y el segundo 1:0,25. De los resultados obtenidos se concluyó que, si bien el primer procedimiento se recuperaba mayor cantidad de extracto y de mayor pureza, al calcular el rendimiento del proceso como masa de hesperidina pura recuperada por unidad de masa de corteza, se comprobó que no había diferencias significativas. Asimismo, el estudio de viabilidad económica de ambos procedimientos confirmó que los costes asociados al mayor consumo de agua del primer procedimiento así como los derivados de la depuración de los vertidos generados lo hacían inviable. Finalmente, se realizó un ensayo de aplicación de fibra procedente de la corteza de cítricos a un zumo de naranja hasta aumentar su contenido en fibra dietética de 0,2% a 1,4%. Se realizó un ensayo clínico con voluntarios para comprobar la respuesta metabólica del zumo enriquecido con fibra frente al placebo, a través de un estudio del metabolismo hidrocarbonado y de tests de saciedad. De este ensayo se comprobó una mejor respuesta en las curvas de glucosa e insulina de los voluntarios al inicio en la fase de absorción del zumo enriquecido con la fibra. Asimismo, las pruebas demostraron un efecto significativo en la contribució / [CA] La citricultura espanyola produeix uns 7 milions de tones de cítrics a l'any, situant al nostre país entre els 5 o 6 principals productors del món, però sobre tot és reconeguda per ser el principal exportador de cítrics mundial. De fet més del 52 % del volum produït anualment és exportant en fresc. L'actual marc normatiu estableix unes estrictes normes de comercialització al sector pel qual cada any es generen entre un 10% i 20% de rebuig que no pot ser comercialitzat en fresc a causa de la presència de defectes com poden ser calibres inadequats o defectes de coloració a la pell. A les últimes dècades, ha sorgit una industria de transformació que processa estos volums de fruita de rebuig i que al mateix temps, se'ls ha de donar eixida immediata. No obstant, de tot el volum de cítrics que es rep a la industria, més del 50% és biomassa formada per les corfes i membranes que generalment s'acaben destinant al sector de pinsos obtenint-ne escàs valor econòmic. Este volum de biomassa és ric en compostos de interès tant per a la industria alimentaria per la seua riquesa en nutrients com la fibra dietètica, així como pel sector farmacèutic per la alta riquesa en flavonoides. En base a això l'objectiu general d'esta tesi doctoral va consistir en la valorització dels distints corrents de biomassa generats als processos de fabricació de sucs cítrics. Per a abordar este objectiu, el primer pas va ser la caracterització dels flavonoides cítrics de interès als distints corrents de biomassa que resulten de la industria de transformació, i que són el propi suc, les corfes i les membranes de l'endocarp. Els flavonoides seleccionats van ser la hesperidina, narirutina, diosmina, nobiletina, tangeretina y sinensetina i es quantificaren en 6 varietats de taronja i 6 de mandarina. D'esta caracterització es va arribar a la conclusió que la hesperidina era la més abundant, representant més del 60% dels flavonoides quantificats a les varietats cítriques estudiades. A més, més d'un 70% d'esta flavanona es concentra a la corfa del fruit. Així mateix, un altre resultat destacable dels treballs de caracterització va ser el fet de que les flavones polimetoxiladas sinensetina, nobiletina i tangeretina presentaren una concentració molt més alta a les varietats de mandarines híbrides Nadorcott, Ortanique i Orri que a la resta de varietats de taronja i mandarina estudiades. A continuació es va procedir a assajar dos procediments de recuperació d'hesperidina a partir del corrent de corfes generades amb l'operació d'exprimit de suc industrial. Tots dos es basaven en una extracció del tipus sòlid-líquid, al primer del quals es requeria una relació corfa:aigua del 1:2, mentre que el segon de 1:0,25- Dels assajos realitzats es va concloure que si be el primer procediment donava com a resultat una major quantitat d'extracte recuperat i de major puresa, no obstant això, al calcular el rendiment del procés com a masa d'Hesperidina pura obtinguda per unitat de masa de corfa, es va comprovar que no hi havia diferències significatives. A més a més, l'estudi de viabilitat econòmica d'ambdós procediments va confirmar que els costos associats al major consum d'aigua així com els derivats de la depuració dels abocaments el feien inviable. Finalment, es va realitzar un assaig d'aplicació de fibra procedent de la corfa de cítrics a un suc de taronja fins a augmentar el seu contingut en fibra dietètica des de 0,2% fins a 1,4%. Es va realitzar un assaig clínic amb voluntaris per a comprovar la resposta metabòlica del suc enriquit amb la fibra front al placebo, a través d'un estudi del metabolisme hidrocarbonat i de tests de sensació de sacietat. A este assaig es va comprovar una millor resposta a les corbes de glucosa i insulina dels voluntaris a l'inici de la fase d'absorció del suc enriquit amb fibra. Així mateix, les probes demostraren un efecte significatiu a la contribució de la sensació de sacietat / [EN] The Spanish citrus sector produces about 7 million tons of citrus per year. This figure places our country among the main producers worldwide, but the most important fact is that Spain is recognized as the main exporter of citrus for fresh consumption. In fact, more than 52% of the annual volume produced is exported to third countries. The current legal framework establishes strict marketing standards for the fresh fruit sector. Because of this, between 10 and 20% of the total citrus fruits produced do not meet those market standards and are rejected. This kind of fruits cannot be marketed for fresh consumption due to the presence of defects, such as inappropriate sizes or colour defects on the skin. In recent decades, a transformation industry has emerged, that processes these volumes of rejects. However, more than 50% of the entire volume of fruits that are received in the processing sites, is represented by the biomass formed by endocarp membranes and fruit peels that generally ends up being destined for the animal feed at a very residual economical value. This volume of biomass is rich in chemical compounds of great interest both for the food industry, due to its richness in certain nutrients such as dietary fiber, as well as for the pharmaceutical sector, due to its high richness in flavonoids. Based on this, the general objective of this Doctoral Thesis was to investigate the recovery options of certain substances of the different biomass streams generated during the citrus transformation at the fruit juice industry. To accomplish this objective, the first step was the characterization of the citrus flavonoids of greatest interest, in the different biomass streams that result from the manufacture of juices, and that are, the juice itself, the membranes of the endocarp and the peels. The selected flavonoids were hesperidin, narirutin, diosmin, nobiletin, tangeretin and sinensetin and were quantified in 6 varieties of orange and another 6 of mandarin. From this characterization, it was concluded that hesperidin flavanone was by far, the most abundant representing more than 70% of the total flavone content and, in addition it is concentrated in the rind of the fruit. Likewise, another remarkable result of the characterization work was the fact that the polymethoxylated flavones sinensetin, nobiletina and tangeretin presented a much higher concentration the hybrid mandarin varieties Nadorcott, Ortanique and Orri. Then, two hesperidin recovery processes were tested from the rind stream generated after industrial juicing. Both procedures were based on a solid-liquid extraction, the first one using a 1: 2 peel-to-water ratio and the second 1: 0.25. From the results obtained it was concluded that, although the first procedure lead to a greater quantity of recovered extract with higher purity, when calculating the yield of the process as mass of pure hesperidin recovered per unit mass of processed peel, it was found that there were no significant differences. Likewise, the economic feasibility study of both procedures confirmed that the costs associated with the higher consumption of water in the first procedure as well as those derived from the treatment of the wastewater generated, made it unviable. Finally, an application trial of fiber from citrus peel to an orange juice was carried out until its dietary fiber content increased by 0.2 % to 1.4%. A clinical trial was carried out with volunteers to verify the metabolic response of the fiber-enriched juice compared to placebo, through a study of carbohydrate metabolism and tests fulness feeling. From this test, a better response was found in the glucose and insulin curves of the volunteers at the beginning of the absorption phase of the fiber-enriched juice. Likewise, the tests showed a significant effect on the contribution to the feeling of satiety and fullness after the intake of the fiber-enriched juice. / Marqués Cardete, R. (2020). Valorización de la biomasa resultante del exprimido de la fruta en la industria de zumos cítricos. Recuperación del flavonoide hesperidina y aplicación de la fibra para alimentación humana [Tesis doctoral]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/159934 / TESIS

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Background: Circular economy has received an increasing amount of attention and a move towards a circular economy recently became a top priority within the EU. The food industry contributes to a large amount of the anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions. In spite of this few studies have explored circular economy in regard to grocery store companies. The lack of prior research in the area serves as a motivation to carry out this study.  Purpose: The purpose of this study is to describe and analyze how grocery store companies have developed their communication to influence their customers’ behaviors and influence the relationship they have with them. Research question: How has the communication regarding a circular economy developed within grocery store companies during 2014-2020? Method: A content analysis of Swedish grocery store companies’ annual reports and sustainability reports between the years 2014-2020 has been conducted. Qualitative coding was mainly used, but some quantitative elements occur. The coding emanated from the two themes plastic and food waste. Results and conclusion: This study shows that the grocery store companies’ circular communication have congregated as a result of changes in the social expectations. The companies have concretized the idea of a circular economy and have introduced their own initiatives to reach it. / Bakgrund: Cirkulär ekonomi är ett begrepp som blivit alltmer uppmärksammat. En övergång till cirkulär ekonomi är numera en av EU:s främsta prioriteringar. Matindustrin bidrar till en stor del av de antropogena utsläppen av växthusgaser. Trots detta finns det få studier som kopplar samman ämnena cirkulär ekonomi och dagligvaruhandel. Bristen på tidigare forskning motiverade att denna studie genomfördes. Syfte: Syftet med studien är att beskriva och analysera hur företag inom dagligvaruhandeln har utvecklat sin kommunikation om cirkulär ekonomi för att påverka sina kunders beteende och relationen de har med dem.  Frågeställning: Hur har kommunikationen kring cirkulär ekonomi utformats inom dagligvaruhandeln mellan åren 2014–2020? Metod: I denna undersökning har en innehållsanalys av aktörerna i den svenska dagligvaruhandelns års- och hållbarhetsrapporter mellan åren 2014–2020 genomförts. Främst användes kvalitativ kodning, men vissa kvantitativa inslag förekommer. Kodningen utgick ifrån begreppen plast och matavfall. Resultat och slutsats: Resultatet av denna studie visar att företagen inom dagligvaruhandeln utformat och ökat sin cirkulära kommunikation på liknande sätt som en följd av förändringar i samhällets förväntningar. Företagen har konkretiserat begreppet cirkulär ekonomi och presenterat egna initiativ för att uppnå det.

Moving towards a more circular economic model is necessary in order to secure the sufficiency of vital raw materials and to achieve a balance between both economic and environmental prosperity. However, the discussion regarding circular economy from a business perspective is still rather limited, and the practical applications of circular economy are mostly related to waste management and industrial applications. Needless to say, circular economy is much more than just large-scale recycling. Circular economy, as a system which aims to ensure a more circular flow of resources, materials and energy, can embody a variety of expressions from closing resource loops to redesigning products, services and the nature of ownership towards favoring renting, sharing, reusing and other alternative ways of maximize the resource efficiency and extend product life. Hence, the principles of circularity can be applied across all industries, instead of just those operating in the industrial sector. Standing on the way of the development of a global circular economy is the perceived mismatched objectives of profit seeking businesses and sustainability advocators. Businesses want high sales levels and profit margins, whereas at the core of environmental sustainability is often to promote conscious consumption and cut down on activities resulting in pollution and waste. And because circular economy is often strongly associated with sustainability matters, businesses tend to stray away from it as it is considered to work against a company’s purpose of making profit. Yet here is the catch – instead of seeing circular economy just as a sustainability tool, it can also be considered as a viable business opportunity which when effectively exploited, can be a source of competitive advantage and a source of economic value

The surges in the deterioration on all fronts of sustainability have led to the conceptualization of the Circular Economy (CE). The compliance of production and consumption tightly knitted with the linear model has created a much-needed debate as well as a barrier to the transition towards the CE. In order to drive the transition from linear to CE, various typologies of CE business models have been derived. The Product-Service System (PSS), a business model for creating a circular flow of materials, necessitates the transformation of consumers from being owners into mere users. The textile industry, where the use of virgin materials is deemed to be a primary component for its production and consumption, requires the ingestion of CE-based business models. However, such a transition requires a constant and conscious effort from various actors as well as consumers.   The study takes a holistic perspective targeting both the PSS provider as well as the consumers in providing an understanding of frictions that occur between a PSS Business model and the existing consumption practices. As different actors form a network to drive a PSS business model, this study, firstly aims to develop an understanding of the interactions that take place between two different actors who aim to develop a PSS business model within the domain of textiles. Secondly, as there tend to be consumers who oppose business models that change their existing habits and routines, one such as PSS, this study focuses on analyzing the existing practices related to the consumption of textiles. By contemplating between the consumption side and the PSS provider side, the thesis concludes with a model on how a PSS business model can be made to stabilize the differences with respect to consumption practices by taking into account the factors that influence the consumption of a product.

Abstract The management and handling of organic waste in primarily low-income developing cities, due to high urbanization has become a global problem. The main form of waste handling in these cities are landfilling, due to it being the cheapest and easiest option. Not only are nutrients wasted, but landfills of mixed waste create strong emission of greenhouse gasses and a leachate that affects groundwater quality. This major problem in addition to a higher demand for food due to the increase of the world population leaves us two problems to solve; to handle waste and produce food. The Black Soldier Fly (Hermetia illucens) and its larvae can solve both of these problems in one. The organic waste is fed to the fly larvae and the larvae produce biomass (larval weight) and a residue similar to un-mature compost. The larvae can then be fed live to animals or made into pellets to feed animals such as fish, and the residue can be used as fertilizer. However, in order for the larvae to be able to be extruded into pellets or fed live to ex. hens, an optimal protein and fat content of the larvae is needed. A higher protein and lower fat content of the larvae is optimal for both pellet production and to feed to animals. It has previously been found that an inclusion of mussels can lower the fat content and increase the protein content of the larvae. In this article, different amounts of mussels are included in the larvae diet apart from bread and cabbage to see if it has an effect on the compost process efficiency. The experiment is done by larvae being added to different ratios of bread: cabbage: mussels. The larvae are then harvested and process efficiency parameters; BCE (biomass conversion efficiency), survival percentage, material reduction and respiration are calculated. It was found that mussel inclusion was equivalent to a higher feeding load per larva. The BCE of the treatment with a higher feeding load and the treatment with the highest mussel inclusion were the same, meaning that mussel inclusion is equivalent to a diet with high amounts of carbohydrates. Mussel inclusion in the larva diet seems to be beneficial from a BCE standpoint and suits as a substrate as pH and survival was not negatively affected by the mussels.

The Reusist project has explored, evaluated, and designed a system through a co-creation process around the unsustainable disposal of valuable surplus furniture found at Återbruket (SSAM) and on-campus at Linnaeus University. The main aim of this project is implementing positive circular economy behaviours and attitudes through a designerly perspective, in light of consumerism and the constant need for and disposal of furniture. Design ethnography methods, workshops, and other techniques were used to drive co-creation; deriving values from stakeholders to shape the design outcome. Sustainability is explored holistically through environmental, social, economical, and cultural factors, with a main focus on the practice of re-framing value and circulating household furniture for as long as possible as a step towards a circular economy. The system proposed targets students as well as the general public, and so can be considered as a public service. Its main components consist of an umbrella concept of ‘Share’ founded upon ‘Furniture Packages’, enabled through ‘Repair’ and ‘Redesign’, and whose accessibility is amplified through a ‘Digital Presence’ which also enables ‘Crowdsourcing’. This project ended by presenting the proposal to the two direct collaborators, Återbruket (SSAM) and Svenska Kyrkan. However, this project isn’t finalised, as there are possible future steps to expand with an even more embedded collaboration alongside stakeholders and organisations.