Att skapa hållbara städer är ett av de viktigaste målen idag för att tackla problem som rör ekologiska, ekonomiska och sociala frågor i vår värld. Syftet med denna uppsats är att visa hur ägare av det fysiska rummet i städer, nämligen fastighetsägare, har möjligheter men också restriktioner för att påverka. Genom att lösa sociala problem i städer, med cirkulärt ekonomiska verksamheter i fastigheterna, kan vi komma närmare att uppnå Jane Jacobs bild av en levande och demokratisk stad där människor själva bidrar till en hållbar stadsutveckling. För att kunna förstå fastighetsägarnas möjligheter och restriktioner, i detta fall Hemsö fastighets AB, har intervjuer genomförts med Vd:n som fastställer riktlinjerna i företaget, men även andra medarbetare, för att få en bild av deras handlingsutrymme. Dessa möjligheter och restriktioner diskuteras sedan utifrån Jacobs teorier för en stadsutveckling som i denna uppsats anses vara ett socialt hållbar sätt och exemplifieras med cirkulärt ekonomiska verksamheter för att visa hur detta även leder till en hållbar stadsutveckling. Resultatet visade att restriktionerna är detaljplaner, hyresavtal, bygglov och företagets lönsamhetskrav. Den visade också på många möjligheter och en vilja att vara hållbara. Problemet som visat sig är bristen på kunskapen om hur det kan ske.

Conforme vem adaptando suas atividades a hábitos mais sustentáveis, a sociedade tem absorvido lições aprendidas com o ecossistema natural. A economia circular, um modelo econômico que segue o modelo de circulação energética da ecologia, é um conceito que emerge e se destaca dentre tantos outros conceitos no espectro das ciências ambientais, da sustentabilidade e do desenvolvimento sustentável. Em oposição ao modelo linear tradicional praticado hoje, a economia circular vem sendo utilizada com o objetivo de enfrentar o desafio da escassez de recursos e eliminação de resíduos em uma abordagem vantajosa para todos, com perspectiva econômica e de valor. Como forma de auxiliar a promover essa mudança de paradigma, o surgimento de novos modelos de negócio representa um dos pilares necessários para essa transição. Ambos os termos economia circular e modelos de negócio são considerados atualmente temas de interesse crescente, tanto para a academia quanto a prática. Nesse contexto, a dissertação tem como objetivo investigar modelos de negócio alinhados aos conceitos de economia circular e sustentabilidade, de forma a entender quais são os principais blocos construtores que compõem esses modelos, os principais desafios enfrentados e benefícios obtidos. A abordagem metodológica utilizada baseia-se no estudo de múltiplos casos, desenvolvido em seis organizações de diferentes setores e tamanhos. Esta dissertação contribui para a literatura na intersecção dos temas economia circular, sustentabilidade e modelos de negócio. Os principais resultados ligados ao modelo de negócio apontam para proximidade no relacionamento com o cliente e estabelecimento de parcerias estratégicas alinhadas. Nota-se um espaço crescente para proposição de valores ligados a aspectos de sustentabilidade e economia circular, principalmente acompanhada de comunicação alinhada. Investimentos nesse sentido são vistos como um investimento a longo prazo, e empresas acreditam que o consumidor e o mercado passarão a perceber mais fortemente esses valores. As principais motivações abrangem redução dos impactos ambientais gerados em comparação a negócios convencionais e criação de impacto social positivo, principalmente através da conscientização de consumidores e usuários. Destaque também para a representatividade do uso de matéria prima reutilizada ou reciclada, e preocupação com fases do ciclo de vida. Diversas formas de contribuição para o desenvolvimento sustentável foram identificadas; e forças externas como questões regulatórias e políticas públicas foram destacadas por parte das empresas. / As adapting its activities to more sustainable habits, society has absorbed lessons learned from the natural ecosystem. Circular Economy (EC), an economic model that follows the energy circulation model from ecology, is a concept that emerges and stands out among many other concepts in the spectrum of environmental sciences, sustainability and sustainable development. In opposition to the traditional linear model in practice, circular economy is being used with the objective of facing the challenge of resource scarcity and waste elimination in a win-win approach, with a economic and value perspective. To promote this paradigm change, the emergence of new business models is one of the necessary pillars for this transition. Both terms, circular economy and business models are topics considered of growing interest, both for academy and practice. In this context, the dissertation has as objective to research business models aligned to the circular economy and sustainability concepts, on a way of understanding which are the main building block that compose these models, the main faced challenges and benefits obtained. The used methodological approach is based on the study of multiple cases, developed on six organizations of different sectors and sizes. This dissertation contributes with literature at the intersection of the topic\'s circular economy, sustainability and business models. The main results related to the business model point out proximity of the relationship with the customer and establishment of aligned strategic partnerships. It is noticed an increasing area for proposing values related to sustainability and circular economy aspects, mainly combined with aligned communication. On this direction, investments are considered as long-term investments and companies believe that consumers and market will have greater awareness of this values. The main motivations include reducing generated environmental impacts in comparison with conventional business and the creation of a positive social impact, mainly through the awareness of consumers and users. Also outstanding to the representativeness of the use of reused or recycled raw material, and concern with the life cycle phases. There were identified several contribution forms to sustainable development, and external forces were highlighted by the companies, such as regulatory issues and public policies.

Background: The Circular Economy model came as an alternative to the linear “use and dispose” production system. It argues to promote an economic order that can address the waste of aftermarket goods and a more efficient use of resources and raw materials. It further promises economic gains from a more efficient resource management and extended use of products lifecycle, in conjunction with new employment opportunities that arise as a result of new business models and industrial processes. Whilst the Circular Economy is surely a departure from traditional economic systems, there has been not enough debate on the full impacts as well as possible unintended consequences of its implementation.    Purpose: The purpose is to examine the Circular Economy adoption approach in the Jönköping county in Sweden and how this approach contributes to sustainability improvement.  Purpose: The purpose is to examine the Circular Economy adoption approach in the Jönköping county in Sweden and how this approach contributes to sustainability improvement.  Method: This is an exploratory research which is based on a qualitative design with an inductive approach and interpretive paradigm. The research follows a case study of a pilot project to help SMEs in Jönköping county - Sweden, to implement Circular Economy. The primary data is collected through semi-structured interviews with the project coordinators.  Conclusion: The Circular Economy Project in Jönköping takes into consideration all three resource loops on their implementation of CE based on Bocken et al (2016) resource loops. Embedding all three loops in the implementation of CE is a comprehensive and advanced form of circularity. Combined with the project high-level of sustainability awareness and their effort to integrate the social aspect into their Circular Economy, this research has placed the sustainability profile of the Project at the third level of the corporate sustainability stages presented by Landrum (2018), which is systemic sustainability.

The Circular Economy was developed as a response to the prevailing linear model of material use. The goal of the concept is to eliminate waste and mitigate environmental impacts by transforming the economic system into one that pursues a circular flow of materials and resources, in contrast to the current make-use-waste paradigm. While the concept has gained some momentum in the past years, there is still no definition that is agreed upon by scholars and practitioners. While the goal of the Circular Economy is clear, the perspectives on how this can be achieved differ. This study focuses on the Circular Economy at the city level via a case study of Uppsala, Sweden. The aim of this study is to gather the perspectives of actors active in circularity and to determine whether they agree on how the Circular Economy can be achieved. While there are a large number of actors involved in Circular Economy in Uppsala, this study focuses on two actor groups: the municipality and businesses. Semi-structured interviews were conducted and the actors' responses were analysed in regard to the actor's underlying ideology, their role within Circular Economy and their perception on how a transition to a circular system should occur. The study's results reveal that the actors in Uppsala lack an overall consensus on how the Circular Economy should be achieved, even though they tend to agree on some aspects. Furthermore, the interviewed actors do not take into account the systemic perspective of the transition. In response to this finding, the waste hierarchy was updated with the aim to draw attention to this notion. Additionally, it is found that most of the interviewed actors mention co-operation among different organisations as being the key to achieving the Circular Economy, which could help to promote the Circular Economy in the future.

The fashion system is contributing to the environmental and social crises on an ever increasing scale. The industry must transform in order to situate itself within the environmental and social limits proposed by economist Kate Raworth, and the 17 sustainable development goals set out by the United Nations. This research explored methods of eliminating textile waste through utilising zero waste pattern cutting to expand the outcomes possible within industrial contexts and speculates as to the implications for the wider industry and society. Employing an experimental and phenomenological approach, this thesis outlines the testing of known strategies in the context of industry and responds with new emergent strategies to the challenges that arose. A series of interviews were conducted with designers who have applied zero-waste fashion design in an industry context – both large and small scale – to unpack the strategies used and contextualise the difficulties faced. The findings that emerged from the iterative design practice and the experience of working within the field tests inform the surrounding discussions and reflections. This reflection brings into sharp relief the inherent conflicts that exist within the fashion system and has led to the development of a series of theoretical models.The implications for design and industry are broad. Firstly that while this thesis outlines garment design strategies, and broader – company-wide – approaches that can work to reduce waste in a given context, this research finds that a holistic transformation of the internal design and management processes of the industry is required for them to be successful. In response, theoretical models have been developed which seek to articulate the constraints, roles and actions of design within broader company practices, while contextualising these within the economic system it operates. It is clear that reducing waste will only have a minor positive effect on the environmental outcomes unless we also reduce consumption of raw materials through reducing yield or reducing consumption – ideally both. These findings and models point towards a necessary recalibration of the industry as a whole – small changes are not enough as the existing methods, processes and ethos are deeply embedded, and its agents are resistant to change. The results concur with previous research and conclude that a fundamental shift in thinking is required – one that prioritises a different set of constraints to those the industry and society currently focus on – in order to make the rapid and meaningful change necessary.

Fatores como a volatilidade de preço de commodities, escassez de recursos, e sinais cada vez maiores de desigualdades sociais abrem espaço para diversas esferas da sociedade explorarem formas mais efetivas e sistêmicas de se fazer negócio. A economia circular tem como objetivo propor valores que possam ser gerados através de atividades agregadoras de valor; prolongados por mais tempo por meio de utilização de formas de desacelerar e fechar ciclos; capturados e distribuídos para uma diversidade de stakeholders através dos benefícios advindos do modelo circular. Entretanto, a literatura carece de referências que auxilie a identificar os valores que o modelo circular possibilita capturar e para quais stakeholders esses valores serão distribuídos. Assim, esta pesquisa tem como objetivo propor um guia para a identificação de oportunidades de valor no contexto da economia circular. A metodologia utilizada para o desenvolvimento desta pesquisa foi a Design Research Methodology (DRM) que elenca quatro etapas principais: clarificação da pesquisa (visão da realidade atual da área de pesquisa por meio de conhecimento e entendimento inicial do tema de pesquisa); estudo descritivo I (revisão bibliográfica sistemática e exploratória sobre os temas economia circular, valor, cadeia de valor e stakeholders); estudo prescritivo (desenvolvimento da proposta para resolver o problema); e estudo descritivo II (realização de estudos empíricos para avaliar a proposta). Seguindo os conceitos de gamestorming o guia foi sistematizado resultando em sua primeira versão. Sendo composto pelas etapas: entender, explorar, alinhar, mapear e analisar. Em seguida, esta primeira versão do guia foi avaliada através da realização de um estudo de caso exploratório em uma empresa que adota práticas de economia circular, com o intuito de identificar a rede valor das organizações e as oportunidades de valor circular. Por fim, o guia foi revisado e melhorado, resultando na versão final. Esta pesquisa contribuiu para a teoria e para a prática relacionada ao tema economia circular, ao propor um guia, com base cientifica, ao passo que apresenta uma nova forma para identificar oportunidades de valor que suporte a melhoria do sistema circular. / Factors such as commodity price volatility, scarcity of resources, and increasing signs of social inequalities open space for diverse spheres of society to explore more effective and systemic ways of doing business. The circular economy aims to propose values that can be generated throught value-adding activities; for longer periods by using ways to decelerate and close cycles; captured and distributed to a wide diversity of stakeholders through the benefits derived from the circular model. However, the literature lacks references that help identify the values that the circular model allows to capture and to which stakeholders these values will distributed. Despite this, the works that approach this subject are almost null. Thus, this research aims to propose a guide for the identification of opportunities of value in the context of circular economy. The methodology utilized to the development of this research was the Design Research Methodology (DRM), which covers four main stages: clarification of the research (current reality view of the research area through knowledge and initial understanding of the research topic); descriptive study I (exploratory and systematic bibliographic review about the themes circular economy, value, value chain and stakeholders); prescriptive study (development of the proposal to solve the problems); and descriptive study II (realization of empirical studies to evaluate the proposal). Following the concepts of gamestorming the guide has been systematized resulting in its first version, which is composed of four steps: understand, explore, aling, map, and analyse. Then the guide was evaluated by conducting an exploratory case study in a company that adopts circular economy practices, with the aim of identifying the value network of organizations and the opportunities of circular value. Finally, the guide was revised and improved, resulting in the final version. This research contributed to the theory and practice related to the subject circular economy, by proposing a guide, based on scientific, while presenting a new way to identify the opportunities of value that supports the improvement of the circular system.

A transição entre o modelo econômico linear para o circular constitui-se como um processo complexo que exige o envolvimento de diversos atores: empresas, cidadãos, organizações, agências de inovação e autoridades públicas os quais devem atuar de maneira articulada e conectada. Dessa forma, políticas públicas são elementos habilitadores essenciais para a economia circular (EC) e diversos governos não apenas nacionais, mas regionais e locais, vem elaborando estratégias direcionadas ao fomento de princípios da EC, por meio de instrumentos de políticas públicas. Assim, objetivo geral do trabalho é analisar as políticas públicas, em nível internacional e nacional, as quais se relacionam e possam colaborar com a transição do modelo econômico linear para o circular. A partir de um levantamento bibliográfico e documental, foram identificados e analisados 15 documentos, frutos da iniciativa do setor público, e seus instrumentos classificados e comparados. Tratando do cenário nacional, a Política Nacional de Resíduos Sólidos (PNRS), instituída pela Lei nº 12.305 de 02 de agosto de 2010, foi selecionada como a política nacional mais representativa, no contexto atual, capaz de trazer avanços a caminho da circularidade no país. A PNRS determina como um dos princípios a responsabilidade compartilhada, e estabelece os Sistemas de Logística Reversa como instrumentos, os quais atuam sobre o ciclo de vida de produtos e serviços, capazes de prolongar e fechar ciclos, reduzindo a quantidade de resíduos gerados. Dessa forma, a partir das publicações analisadas, foi possível observar os principais instrumentos sendo empregados atualmente. Assim como o caráter majoritário de publicações acadêmicas originadas da China, pioneira na elaboração de uma lei exclusiva à EC, e como estratégias no continente europeu surgiram intensamente a partir de 2015 principalmente, em decorrência do Plano de Ação para Economia Circular da União Europeia. Consolidando o papel fundamental de políticas nas tomadas de medidas que privilegiem a circularidade. / The transition from the linear to the circular economic model is a complex process that requires the involvement of several actors as companies, citizens, organizations, innovation agencies and public authorities which must act in an articulated and connected way. Therefore public policies are essential enablers for the circular economy (CE), and several governments, not only national but regional and local, have been developing strategies to promote the principles of the CE, through public policy instruments. Thus, the general objective of the research is to analyze public policies at the international and national levels, which are related and can contribute to the transition from the linear to the circular economic model. From a bibliographical and documentary research, 15 documents were identified and analyzed, as a result of the initiative of the public sector, and their instruments were classified and compared. Regarding the national scenario, the National Solid Waste Policy, instituted by Law No. 12,305 of August 2, 2010, was chosen as the most representative national policy in the current context, capable of bringing advances towards circularity in the country, determining the principle of shared responsibility, and establishing the Reverse Logistics System as instruments, which act on the life cycle of products and services, capable of extending and closing cycles, reducing the amount of waste generated. Thus, from the analyzed publications, it was possible to observe the main instruments currently being used. Just as the majority of academic publications originating in China, pioneering the drafting of an exclusive law to the circular economy, and how strategies on the European continent have emerged intensely since 2015 mainly as a result of the European Union\'s Circular Economy Action Plan. Consolidating the fundamental role of policies in developing measures that enable circularity.

A transição entre o modelo econômico linear para o circular constitui-se como um processo complexo que exige o envolvimento de diversos atores: empresas, cidadãos, organizações, agências de inovação e autoridades públicas os quais devem atuar de maneira articulada e conectada. Dessa forma, políticas públicas são elementos habilitadores essenciais para a economia circular (EC) e diversos governos não apenas nacionais, mas regionais e locais, vem elaborando estratégias direcionadas ao fomento de princípios da EC, por meio de instrumentos de políticas públicas. Assim, objetivo geral do trabalho é analisar as políticas públicas, em nível internacional e nacional, as quais se relacionam e possam colaborar com a transição do modelo econômico linear para o circular. A partir de um levantamento bibliográfico e documental, foram identificados e analisados 15 documentos, frutos da iniciativa do setor público, e seus instrumentos classificados e comparados. Tratando do cenário nacional, a Política Nacional de Resíduos Sólidos (PNRS), instituída pela Lei nº 12.305 de 02 de agosto de 2010, foi selecionada como a política nacional mais representativa, no contexto atual, capaz de trazer avanços a caminho da circularidade no país. A PNRS determina como um dos princípios a responsabilidade compartilhada, e estabelece os Sistemas de Logística Reversa como instrumentos, os quais atuam sobre o ciclo de vida de produtos e serviços, capazes de prolongar e fechar ciclos, reduzindo a quantidade de resíduos gerados. Dessa forma, a partir das publicações analisadas, foi possível observar os principais instrumentos sendo empregados atualmente. Assim como o caráter majoritário de publicações acadêmicas originadas da China, pioneira na elaboração de uma lei exclusiva à EC, e como estratégias no continente europeu surgiram intensamente a partir de 2015 principalmente, em decorrência do Plano de Ação para Economia Circular da União Europeia. Consolidando o papel fundamental de políticas nas tomadas de medidas que privilegiem a circularidade. / The transition from the linear to the circular economic model is a complex process that requires the involvement of several actors as companies, citizens, organizations, innovation agencies and public authorities which must act in an articulated and connected way. Therefore public policies are essential enablers for the circular economy (CE), and several governments, not only national but regional and local, have been developing strategies to promote the principles of the CE, through public policy instruments. Thus, the general objective of the research is to analyze public policies at the international and national levels, which are related and can contribute to the transition from the linear to the circular economic model. From a bibliographical and documentary research, 15 documents were identified and analyzed, as a result of the initiative of the public sector, and their instruments were classified and compared. Regarding the national scenario, the National Solid Waste Policy, instituted by Law No. 12,305 of August 2, 2010, was chosen as the most representative national policy in the current context, capable of bringing advances towards circularity in the country, determining the principle of shared responsibility, and establishing the Reverse Logistics System as instruments, which act on the life cycle of products and services, capable of extending and closing cycles, reducing the amount of waste generated. Thus, from the analyzed publications, it was possible to observe the main instruments currently being used. Just as the majority of academic publications originating in China, pioneering the drafting of an exclusive law to the circular economy, and how strategies on the European continent have emerged intensely since 2015 mainly as a result of the European Union\'s Circular Economy Action Plan. Consolidating the fundamental role of policies in developing measures that enable circularity.

Fatores como a volatilidade de preço de commodities, escassez de recursos, e sinais cada vez maiores de desigualdades sociais abrem espaço para diversas esferas da sociedade explorarem formas mais efetivas e sistêmicas de se fazer negócio. A economia circular tem como objetivo propor valores que possam ser gerados através de atividades agregadoras de valor; prolongados por mais tempo por meio de utilização de formas de desacelerar e fechar ciclos; capturados e distribuídos para uma diversidade de stakeholders através dos benefícios advindos do modelo circular. Entretanto, a literatura carece de referências que auxilie a identificar os valores que o modelo circular possibilita capturar e para quais stakeholders esses valores serão distribuídos. Assim, esta pesquisa tem como objetivo propor um guia para a identificação de oportunidades de valor no contexto da economia circular. A metodologia utilizada para o desenvolvimento desta pesquisa foi a Design Research Methodology (DRM) que elenca quatro etapas principais: clarificação da pesquisa (visão da realidade atual da área de pesquisa por meio de conhecimento e entendimento inicial do tema de pesquisa); estudo descritivo I (revisão bibliográfica sistemática e exploratória sobre os temas economia circular, valor, cadeia de valor e stakeholders); estudo prescritivo (desenvolvimento da proposta para resolver o problema); e estudo descritivo II (realização de estudos empíricos para avaliar a proposta). Seguindo os conceitos de gamestorming o guia foi sistematizado resultando em sua primeira versão. Sendo composto pelas etapas: entender, explorar, alinhar, mapear e analisar. Em seguida, esta primeira versão do guia foi avaliada através da realização de um estudo de caso exploratório em uma empresa que adota práticas de economia circular, com o intuito de identificar a rede valor das organizações e as oportunidades de valor circular. Por fim, o guia foi revisado e melhorado, resultando na versão final. Esta pesquisa contribuiu para a teoria e para a prática relacionada ao tema economia circular, ao propor um guia, com base cientifica, ao passo que apresenta uma nova forma para identificar oportunidades de valor que suporte a melhoria do sistema circular. / Factors such as commodity price volatility, scarcity of resources, and increasing signs of social inequalities open space for diverse spheres of society to explore more effective and systemic ways of doing business. The circular economy aims to propose values that can be generated throught value-adding activities; for longer periods by using ways to decelerate and close cycles; captured and distributed to a wide diversity of stakeholders through the benefits derived from the circular model. However, the literature lacks references that help identify the values that the circular model allows to capture and to which stakeholders these values will distributed. Despite this, the works that approach this subject are almost null. Thus, this research aims to propose a guide for the identification of opportunities of value in the context of circular economy. The methodology utilized to the development of this research was the Design Research Methodology (DRM), which covers four main stages: clarification of the research (current reality view of the research area through knowledge and initial understanding of the research topic); descriptive study I (exploratory and systematic bibliographic review about the themes circular economy, value, value chain and stakeholders); prescriptive study (development of the proposal to solve the problems); and descriptive study II (realization of empirical studies to evaluate the proposal). Following the concepts of gamestorming the guide has been systematized resulting in its first version, which is composed of four steps: understand, explore, aling, map, and analyse. Then the guide was evaluated by conducting an exploratory case study in a company that adopts circular economy practices, with the aim of identifying the value network of organizations and the opportunities of circular value. Finally, the guide was revised and improved, resulting in the final version. This research contributed to the theory and practice related to the subject circular economy, by proposing a guide, based on scientific, while presenting a new way to identify the opportunities of value that supports the improvement of the circular system.

abstract: The built environment is responsible for a significant portion of global waste generation. Construction and demolition (C&D) waste requires significant landfill areas and costs billions of dollars. New business models that reduce this waste may prove to be financially beneficial and generally more sustainable. One such model is referred to as the “Circular Economy” (CE), which promotes the efficient use of materials to minimize waste generation and raw material consumption. CE is achieved by maximizing the life of materials and components and by reclaiming the typically wasted value at the end of their life. This thesis identifies the potential opportunities for using CE in the built environment. It first calculates the magnitude of C&D waste and its main streams, highlights the top C&D materials based on weight and value using data from various regions, identifies the top C&D materials’ current recycling and reuse rates, and finally estimates a potential financial benefit of $3.7 billion from redirecting C&D waste using the CE concept in the United States. / Dissertation/Thesis / Masters Thesis Civil, Environmental and Sustainable Engineering 2019