In previous research, attention is given to the travel and translation of ideas in order to capture how ideas flow and by whom. External actors, so called carriers, promote certain ideas and discard others, further playing a significant part in the institutionalization of ideas. The multitude of different carriers, their different promotion techniques and interconnectedness call for the need to study them in relation and differentiation to one another. Through a qualitative content analysis of documents, interviews and videos, we present a case study on carriers promoting the current idea of a circular fashion system. The investigated carriers are consultants, media, academia, NGO/NPOs and gurus. Alongside the previously identified sequential and parallel modes of translation, we find carriers promoting the travel of an idea jointly. Among the carriers studied, the findings reveal evidence of (1) linkages through cross-referencing, and (2) collaboration through funding, assignment and co-writing. Coupling the notion of blurred boundaries between carriers with ecologies of translation, the study finds carriers situating in different contexts and constellations, forming hybrids and hierarchies. Providing such evidence of a more complex scenery, we argue that the landscape in which carriers promote an idea is best understood as constituting webs.

As the environmental footprint of humans continue s to grow, and the amount of easily available resources keeps dwindling, many countries and institutions have turned towards the concept of circular economy as a way of diminishing their impact on the environment. Based in the idea of closing the resource loop by reducing the need for new resources, increasing efficiency, and reusing resources that are already extracted, many efforts have gone towards transforming our sys tem towards a circular economy. Unfortunately, recycling, identified as a vital part of the move towards circular economy, has been found to be less than optimal in many countries, despite efforts to improve the system. This study examines methods of improving environmental and recycling behaviour in the context of a university setting, the Blåsenhus campus of Uppsala University. Identifying barriers to remove and incentives to apply through a series of focus groups, this study then runs a trial period wher e measures are implemented. These include ads on the campus’ monitors, as well as posters indicating the benefits of recycling, as well as the impacts of failing to do so, information sheets clearly indicating how to recycle the most commonly misplaced ite ms, and the movement of certain bins to make recycling easier to access in relation to the burnables bins. The findings of this study are that the combined use of barrier removal along with the implementation of incentives, can be beneficial to the rates at which waste is recycled.

abstract: Today, we use resources faster than they can be replaced. Construction consumes more resources than any other industry and has one of the largest waste streams. Resource consumption and waste generation are expected to grow as the global population increases. The circular economy (CE) is based on the concept of a closed-loop cycle (CLC) and proposes a solution that, in theory, can eliminate the environmental impacts caused by construction and demolition (C&D) waste and increase the efficiency of resources’ use. In a CLC, building materials are reused, remanufactured, recycled, and reintegrated into other buildings (or into other sectors) without creating any waste. Designing out waste is the core principle of the CE. Design for disassembly or design for deconstruction (DfD) is the practice of planning the future deconstruction of a building and the reuse of its materials. Concepts like DfD, CE, and product-service systems (PSS) can work together to promote CLC in the built environment. PSS are business models based on stewardship instead of ownership. CE combines DfD, PSS, materials’ durability, and materials’ reuse in multiple life cycles to promote a low-carbon, regenerative economy. CE prioritizes reuse over recycling. Dealing with resource scarcity demands us to think beyond the incremental changes from recycling waste; it demands an urgent, systemic, and radical change in the way we design, build, and procure construction materials. This dissertation aims to answer three research questions: 1) How can researchers estimate the environmental benefits of reusing building components, 2) What variables are susceptible to affect the environmental impact assessment of reuse, and 3) What are the barriers and opportunities for DfD and materials’ reuse in the current design practice in the United States. The first part of this study investigated how different life cycle assessment (LCA) methods (i.e., hybrid LCA and process-based LCA), assumptions (e.g., reuse rates, transportation distances, number of reuses), and LCA timelines can affect the results of a closed-loop LCA. The second part of this study built on interviews with architects in the United States to understand why DfD is not part of the current design practice in the country. / Dissertation/Thesis / Doctoral Dissertation Civil, Environmental and Sustainable Engineering 2018

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.