Kyoto University (京都大学) / 0048 / 新制・課程博士 / 博士(地球環境学) / 甲第19156号 / 地環博第131号 / 新制||地環||27 / 32107 / 京都大学大学院地球環境学舎地球環境学専攻 / (主査)准教授 森 晶寿, 教授 劉 徳強, 准教授 吉野 章 / 学位規則第4条第1項該当

This research explores how provincial governments in Canada can foster environmental leadership in business firms, and develops a framework to guide provincial policy and regulatory decisions with respect to environmental leadership. The research question is: How can provincial governments in Canada support environmental leadership in businesses? Environmental leadership is defined as voluntary beyond compliance behaviour. In order to answer the research question, what motivates and challenges environmental leadership must also be explored. Three case studies are used in this research: the electronics extended producer responsibility (EPR), marine and agriculture sectors. Data was collected through surveys and interviews with businesses, officials and organizations in each of the case studies. The focus is on British Columbia, although data was also collected from other Canadian provinces. Results demonstrate that the electronics EPR sector is characterized by compliance and coordination issues: businesses focus on meeting rather than exceeding regulations, and they identified a strong need for improved harmonization and coordination between jurisdictions on EPR regulations. The marine sector is characterized by businesses taking matters into their own hands, due to weak regulations accompanied by strong community pressures. The agriculture sector is characterized as one of contestation and capacity: contestation over what is environmental leadership (whether or not it requires beyond compliance steps such as organic certification), and capacity concerns, due to the high need identified for support, education and training for farmers. Five themes cut across the three case studies. First, environmental leadership is an ongoing process rather than a relatively fixed category in which businesses can be placed. Second, although social licence is important in all three cases, the licence comes from different sectors of society: consumers, community or citizens. In the electronics EPR sector, the social licence pressures come primarily from customers; in the marine sector, from communities; and in the agriculture sector, from citizens as a whole, comprised of both customers of agricultural products and communities that live near farms. Third, corporate culture or visionary leadership is important in driving environmental leadership. Fourth, a need exists for greater leadership by government, by strategic planning, taking advantage of new markets, resolving conflicts, greater harmonization and coordination of regulations. Fifth, continuous learning within a firm is important in environmental leadership, be it through formal training, sharing of expertise and knowledge, or through ongoing reflection on business practices. Key policy implications are that provincial governments use a broader mix of regulatory tools: accompanying stringent standards with training and education; support for transition to greener technologies or processes; and public education on the purpose of regulations, how they work, and the role of all sectors of society in achieving social goals. Cross government cooperation and harmonization of regulations could be improved, especially in the electronics EPR sector. The results of this research should assist in identifying ways for government to foster environmental leadership in businesses, through new approaches to governance and selection of policy instruments. / Graduate

Background: A sustainable economy becomes more and more important for most parts of the society. Especially the fashion industry is being criticized for wasting resources and being non-sustainable. Therefore, some textile producers started to implement programs that are aiming on a reuse of garments. Aims of research: The purpose of this research is to discover how customers can be motivated to return unwanted garments, also considering possible hindering factors. To gather this information it is necessary to build a theoretical framework with customer-based theories. The thesis explored how a second hand multi-brand retailer can take active action in encouraging customers to return unwanted textiles. Method: This research was conducted as an inductive qualitative research. The data was gathered through semi-structured interviews with several second hand retailers. The analysis was carried out following the Giogia method. Results: The thesis revealed that the garment disposal behavior is affected by various influences. Influences on the disposal behavior of garment consumers are personal values and believes. The dispose of unwanted garments is often influenced by an ease of handling and the same behavior is followed over the years simply because individuals are used to a certain garment disposal behavior. The largest hindering factors why customers do not return garments to retailers are caused by a lack of information as well as insufficient transparency. This behavior can be affected by second hand retailers by providing improved communication and a motivation to return garments by offering benefits for the customer. The size of the company does not play a major role.

京都大学 / 0048 / 新制・課程博士 / 博士(地球環境学) / 甲第19156号 / 地環博第131号 / 新制||地環||27(附属図書館) / 32107 / 京都大学大学院地球環境学舎地球環境学専攻 / (主査)准教授 森 晶寿, 教授 劉 徳強, 准教授 吉野 章 / 学位規則第4条第1項該当 / Doctor of Global Environmental Studies / Kyoto University / DFAM

Cette thèse étudie l’efficacité de deux instruments relatifs à la gestion des déchets ménagers : la tarification incitative et la responsabilité élargie des producteurs. Dans un premier temps, nous analysons l’efficacité de ces deux instruments à l’aide d’un modèle d’équilibre général. Dans ce modèle, tous les marchés représentés sont concurrentiels mais l’élimination des déchets génère un dommage environnemental qui est la source d’externalités. Dans le cas d’une tarification incitative comme d’une responsabilité élargie des producteurs, une politique optimale implique une tarification au coût marginal social d’élimination des déchets. Pour internaliser le coût du dommage environnemental, une taxe sur le stockage semble l’instrument le plus efficace. Dans un second temps, nous analysons l’efficacité d’une tarification au coût marginal social de gestion des déchets en supposant que le marché du bien n’est pas concurrentiel. Nous représentons ce marché par un duopole avec une différenciation verticale des biens. Chaque producteur produit une qualité différente d’un même bien et les consommateurs ont des préférences différentes pour la qualité. Dans le cas d’une responsabilité élargie des producteurs, une tarification au coût marginal social de gestion des déchets ne décentralise pas l’optimum social. Une politique optimale suppose de moduler le coût supporté par les producteurs en fonction des préférences des consommateurs pour la qualité. / This thesis examines the effectiveness of two instruments for the management of household waste : unit-pricing systems and extended producer responsibility. In a first step, we analyze the effectiveness of these two instruments using a general equilibrium model. In this model, all markets are competitive but waste disposal generates environmental damage which is the source of externalities. In the case of a unit-pricing systems as an extended producer responsibility, optimal pricing policy involves a marginal social cost of waste disposal. To internalize the cost of environmental damage, a landfill tax seems the most effective tool. In a second step, we analyze the effectiveness of social marginal cost pricing of waste management by assuming that the final market is not competitive. We represent this market by a duopoly with vertical product differentiation. Each firm produces a different quality of the same good, and consumers have different preferences for quality. In the case of an extended producer responsibility, the social marginal cost pricing of waste management does not decentralize the social optimum. An optimal policy involves the modulation of the cost that is borne by producers based on consumer preferences for quality.

Fiber-based packaging has emerged as an alternative to plastic packaging, driven by concerns regarding environmental impact and excessive usage of plastic. In response to market trends favouring circular packaging solutions, Stora Enso is preparing to introduce Papira, an innovative fiber-based cushioning packaging material, in Europe. However, assessing the practical acceptability of new materials within existing recycling systems is crucial alongside laboratory tests that analyse recyclability. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to examine waste paper recycling practices implemented in Europe and identify factors that should be considered when introducing a new product into the European market to provide insights that will help evaluate the positioning of Papira and provide recommendations accordingly. To accomplish this aim, after creating a conceptual framework, a combination of interviews and desk research, including analysis of academic and grey literature sources, was employed to gather valuable insights and develop a comprehensive understanding. The scope of the study focuses on paper and board waste generated by households including eight countries: Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Luxembourg, Poland, Sweden, and the Netherlands. One of the key findings of this study is the variation observed in the practices employed within the waste paper recycling system. The implementation of the Extended Producer Responsibility system highlights the prominence of both single and multiple Producer Responsibility Organizations, while the household separate collection system involves the collection of waste through different fractions. Consequently, the fractions collected and the designated mills for separated materials play a crucial role in the mechanical sorting stage, alongside the divergence in manufacturing methods employed by mills during the material recycling phase. This underscores critical considerations that arise during the introduction of new fiber-based products. Notably, the composition and fiber content of a product significantly influence its registration within the system, thereby impacting pricing. Additionally, effective labelling is imperative to provide clear guidance to consumers regarding proper disposal methods. Moreover, the suitability of products for mechanical sorting is contingent upon ensuring that sorting technologies align with the waste composition. Lastly, the study identifies four key aspects that hold significance for recycling processes: printing inks, additives, pulping time, and fiber length. In conclusion, Papira, with its high fiber content and biobased additives, has shown promising environmental qualities. However, at the same time, it requires further recognition by the recycling system and consumers, appropriate classification in accordance with the standards, and testing by sorting facilities and recycling mills to meet industry standards and optimise its integration into the recycling system. This study highlights the importance of encompassing the monitoring of actions under the PPWR proposal, the role of consumer communication, and the imperative of maintaining consistent communication among all stakeholders. / Fiberbaserad förpackning har framträtt som ett alternativ till plastförpackning, drivet av oro överplastens miljöpåverkan och överdriven användning. Som svar på marknadstrender som främjarcirkulära förpackningslösningar förbereder Stora Enso att införa Papira, ett innovativt fiberbaseratdämpningsmaterial för förpackningar, i Europa. Att bedöma den praktiska acceptansen av nya materialinom befintliga återvinningssystem är dock avgörande, tillsammans med laboratorietester somanalyserar återvinningsbarhet. Syftet med denna studie är därför att undersöka återvinningspraxis förpappersåtervinning som tillämpas i Europa och identifiera faktorer som bör beaktas vid introduktionenav en ny produkt på den europeiska marknaden för att ge insikter som hjälper till att utvärderapositioneringen av Papira och ge rekommendationer därefter. För att uppnå detta syfte användes enkombination av intervjuer och skrivbordsforskning, inklusive analys av akademiska och grålitteraturkällor, för att samla värdefull information och utveckla en omfattande förståelse. Studiensomfattning fokuserar på pappers- och kartongavfall som genereras av hushåll i åtta länder: Belgien,Finland, Frankrike, Tyskland, Luxemburg, Polen, Sverige och Nederländerna. En av huvudresultaten av denna studie är den variation som observeras i de metoder som används inomåtervinningssystemet för pappersavfall. Införandet av det utökade producentansvarssystemet belyserbåde enskilda och flera organisationer med producentansvar, medan det separata insamlingssystemetför hushåll innebär insamling av avfall genom olika fraktioner. Följaktligen spelar de insamladefraktionerna och de avsedda fabrikerna för separerade material en avgörande roll i det mekaniskasorteringsskedet, tillsammans med skillnader i tillverkningsmetoder som används av fabrikerna undermaterialets återvinningsfas. Detta betonar viktiga överväganden som uppstår vid introduktionen av nyafiberbaserade produkter. Särskilt sammansättningen och fiberinnehållet i en produkt påverkar avsevärtdess registrering inom systemet, vilket i sin tur påverkar prissättningen. Dessutom är effektiv märkningav avgörande betydelse för att ge tydliga anvisningar till konsumenter om rätt hantering av produkten.Dessutom är lämpligheten hos produkter för mekanisk sortering beroende av att sorteringsteknikernaöverensstämmer med avfallsammansättningen. Slutligen identifierar studien fyra nyckelaspekter somär betydelsefulla för återvinningsprocesser: tryckbläck, tillsatser, pulpingstid och fiberlängd. Avslutningsvis har Papira, med sitt höga fiberinnehåll och biobaserade tillsatser, visat lovandemiljöegenskaper. Samtidigt kräver det ytterligare erkännande av återvinningssystemet ochkonsumenter, lämplig klassificering i enlighet med standarder och tester genom sorteringsanläggningaroch återvinningsverk för att uppfylla branschstandarder och optimera dess integration iåtervinningssystemet. Denna studie belyser vikten av att omfatta övervakningen av åtgärder enligtPPWR-förslaget, rollen för konsumentkommunikation och nödvändigheten av att upprätthålla enkonsekvent kommunikation bland alla intressenter.

No / Sustainability is a triad including techno-economic efficiency, compatibility with the “Planetary Boundaries”, and equity - enabling a decent quality of life for all. Circular Economy models often focus only on closing material flows in order to increase economic activity or market share. This overlooks the equity dimension. Here we focus on the Performance Economy, which extends the Circular Economy in ways that can enhance equity. The Performance Economy model concentrates on making best use of stocks in the economy, including labour which is a renewable resource. Extending product life through re-use, remanufacturing and reprocessing and shifting from non-renewable inputs (including energy) to renewable inputs (including labour) can improve resource efficiency and increase the supply of rewarding employment. The Performance Economy requires changes in business practices more than technological innovation, including a different view of the functions of value chains, and can be promoted by different approaches to taxation.

Den höga textilkonsumtionen i Sverige har resulterat i stora mängder textilavfall, vilket har en negativ påverkan på miljön. Denna kandidatuppsats, författad på° svenska, behandlar hur svenska textilföretag anpassar sig vid ett införande av utökat producentansvar (EPR) för textilier som miljöreglering. Genom att ge producenter ansvar för att hantera sina egna produkter genom hela livscykeln, syftar lagförslaget att främja hållbarhet och cirkulär ekonomi i den textila värdekedjan. Detta är avsett att minska miljöpåverkan och öka återanvändningen av material. Denna studie identifierar de möjligheter och utmaningar som svenska textilföretag möter vid ett införande av EPR för textilier samt undersöker på vilket sätt textilföretagen anpassar sig efter dessa. Studien ämnar att skapa fördjupad förståelse för hur textilsektorn kan navigera genom dessa förändringar för en effektiv implementering av lagen. Studien har samlat empiri genom semistrukturerade intervjuer samt data genom en litteraturstudie. Den kvalitativa metodologin återspeglar ett bekvämlighetsurval på fem respondenter som besitter arbetsroller inom hållbarhet. Insikter från intervjuer, kombinerat med en tematisk analys, identifierar återkommande mönster som presenteras i resultat. Dessa mönster kopplas sedan till litteraturen i analysen och presenteras i diskussionen. Bland möjligheterna som identifierades framhålls ökade incitament för cirkularitet och främjande av samarbetsstrukturer. Vidare möjligheter tyder på åtgärder som främjar cirkulära processer, såsom design för återvinning och användning av återvunnet material. Utmaningarna identifieras ekonomiskt olönsamma strategier, upplevd osäkerhet där otydliga krav presenteras samt bristfällig innovation, där mycket teknologisk utveckling saknas. Utöver dessa möjligheter och utmaningar pekar studien på att företag upplever en viss osäkerhet kring EPR för textilier och därför anpassar sig olika. Bristen på detaljerade tillvägagångssätt hindrar företagen från att förbereda sig fullt ut. Därav väljer vissa att jobba proaktivt och förbereda sig inför vad som komma skall medan andra väntar genom att jobba mer reaktivt för att se hur andra företag agerar. / The high consumption of textiles in Sweden has resulted in large amounts of textile waste, which has a negative impact on the environment. This bachelor's thesis, written in Swedish, addresses how Swedish textile companies adapt to the introduction of extended producer responsibility (EPR) for textiles as an environmental regulation. By assigning producers responsibility for managing their own products throughout their entire lifecycle, the proposed legislation aims to promote sustainability and a circular economy in the textile value chain. This is intended to reduce environmental impact and increase the reuse of materials. This study identifies the opportunities and challenges faced by Swedish textile companies with the introduction of EPR for textiles and examines how these companies adapt to these changes. The study aims to create an in-depth understanding of how the textile sector can navigate these changes for effective implementation of the law. The study collected empirical data through semi-structured interviews and additional data through a literature review. The qualitative methodology reflects a convenience sample of five respondents who hold roles in sustainability. Insights from the interviews, combined with a thematic analysis, identify recurring patterns that are presented in the results. These patterns are then connected to the literature in the analysis and discussed in the discussion section. Among the identified opportunities are increased incentives for circularity and the promotion of collaborative structures. Further opportunities include measures that promote circular processes, such as design for recycling and the use of recycled materials. The challenges identified include economically unfeasible strategies, perceived uncertainty due to unclear requirements, and inadequate innovation, where much technological development is lacking. In addition to these opportunities and challenges, the study indicates that companies experience some uncertainty regarding EPR for textiles and therefore adapt differently. The lack of detailed procedures prevents companies from fully preparing. As a result, some choose to work proactively and prepare for what is to come, while others adopt a more reactive approach, waiting to see how other companies act.

The North House is a proof-of-concept prefabricated solar powered home designed for northern climates, and intended for the research and promotion of high-performance sustainable architecture. Led by faculty at the University of Waterloo, the development and design of the project involved a broad collaboration between faculty and students at the University of Waterloo, with Ryerson University and Simon Fraser University. The North House prototype competed in the U.S. Department of Energy’s Solar Decathlon in October of 2009. This thesis identifies the North House as a component-based building. It illustrates in detail the components of which the house is composed, the sequence by which they are assembled, and the details that allow for the building’s rapid assembly and disassembly. Finally, the thesis explores the possibilities afforded by componentbased architecture including adaptability, off-site fabrication and demountability. Drawing on this, the thesis projects future ways of designing buildings sustainable to both manufacture and operate.

The North House is a proof-of-concept prefabricated solar powered home designed for northern climates, and intended for the research and promotion of high-performance sustainable architecture. Led by faculty at the University of Waterloo, the development and design of the project involved a broad collaboration between faculty and students at the University of Waterloo, with Ryerson University and Simon Fraser University. The North House prototype competed in the U.S. Department of Energy’s Solar Decathlon in October of 2009. This thesis identifies the North House as a component-based building. It illustrates in detail the components of which the house is composed, the sequence by which they are assembled, and the details that allow for the building’s rapid assembly and disassembly. Finally, the thesis explores the possibilities afforded by componentbased architecture including adaptability, off-site fabrication and demountability. Drawing on this, the thesis projects future ways of designing buildings sustainable to both manufacture and operate.