The world is facing a significant depletion of resources. By 2030, our demand will require more than double the resources we are consuming at the moment.  Sustainability is a way of safeguarding that our choices will not negatively impact future generation’s lives due to inadequate resource management. The main problem is that the authorities and the business world do not regard sustainability as a strategic-first business function, rather a collection of disparate solutions. The most crucial question in the discussion about sustainability is how designers, architects, engineers, creators of things, empower the new generations to live in a world of abundance (McDonough & Braungart 2008). It is up to every one of us to build a world that we want to inhabit. Although studies on sustainable innovation practices in large organizations have been located (Bro-Browers, 2010), there is limited academic literature on sustainability in start-ups.  The present thesis aims to show how leadership plays a central role in implementing the sustainability agenda and what traits and styles the CEOs of sustainable start-ups have to possess to drive organizations to success. In this case, success has been defined as the rate of investment attracted by the organization, participation in incubator and accelerator programs, prizes, and all the activities that advance the sustainability agenda.  In order to achieve the research purpose of this study, I conducted a critical literature review of the major leadership theories in the field, coupled with a qualitative research study involving semi-structured interviews administered to ten CEOs of start-ups that develop sustainable services or products. The results were conclusive. CEOs of successful sustainable start-ups displayed the following characteristics: visionary, empowering, tech-savvy, open, acting as coaches and mentors for their organizations, enablers of change, and problem-solvers par excellence. Compared to regular start-ups, the CEOs of sustainable start-ups want to positively impact the world by establishing systems that support the eradication of destructive practices. The business world could use this study’s results as a guide for start-ups and companies that activate in the field of sustainable innovation. Furthermore, it enriches the existing speciality literature since there is little written on leadership in sustainable start-ups.

A circular economy is a “closed-loop” system designed so that products flow back into the production cycle after use. With many companies implementing take-back programs as part of their sustainability strategy, a fundamental shift in consumption has occurred, with consumers considering disposal during and even before purchase decision-making. Twelve experiments reveal that consumers indicate a greater willingness to pay for circular program products. An increase in psychological ownership underlies the difference in product valuation. Specifically, the additional disposal control uniquely afforded by circular products increases the capacity of circular take-back program products to evoke psychological ownership. The process explanation is directly tested through mediation. Experimentally manipulating antecedents of psychological ownership (i.e., disposal control and expected ownership) provides further support for the conceptual framework.

The last few decades have seen an explosion in population growth and along with this growth we have also witnessed an increase in demand for products. Although our resources are limited, consumers' needs know no bounds. It is not surprising that we are also increasingly demanding more from our environment. It is therefore imperative that we make better use of our resources and reassess how we construe a product's lifecycle. Instead of a linear perspective, which typically follows a product's lifecycle from mining of raw materials to manufacturing, but then stops when products are trashed, we need to use a circular perspective, where we focus on the entire lifecycle of products, from not just manufacturing to usage, but also from usage to creation of new products through recycling. The focus of this dissertation is on understanding two important processes in the circular economy: that of usage and disposal. I focus on the role that consumers' product valuations play in these processes. In essay 1, I show that consumers value products made from recycled materials more than comparable regular products. I also document why this happens and demonstrate how this affects usage. In essay 2, I investigate the relationship between reuse and product disposal. The circular economy is based on what is now referred to as the 3R approach: reduce, reuse, and recycle. However, I show that consumers are more (vs. less) likely to trash products that they have used extensively (vs. rarely). This then leads to a conundrum: if we encourage consumers to reuse products extensively, it appears that they are more likely to trash them. It is therefore imperative that we understand this relationship better and find interventions to mitigate this negative relationship. / Doctor of Philosophy / The last few decades have seen an explosion in population growth and along with this growth we have also witnessed an increase in demand for products. To create a more sustainable world, it is imperative that we move towards a more circular economy, where we not only minimize waste, but also find ways to extract more use from our resources. One way to do this is to find ways to reuse products after they have reached the end of their lifecycle. The focus of this dissertation is on understanding two important processes in the circular economy: that of usage and disposal (essentially addressing questions about what to do with products that we no longer have a need for). I primarily focus on the role that consumers' product valuations play in influencing these processes. In essay 1, I study how consumers feel about products made from recycled materials. I find that consumers are willing to pay more for products made from recycled materials compared with products made from regular raw materials. The higher willingness to pay emerges because consumers value the process that transforms the recycled materials into brand new products. I also show that this valuation impacts use: consumers use products made from recycled materials more judiciously. In essay 2, I investigate the relationship between product usage and disposal. I find that when consumers use a product more extensively, they are more likely to trash the product compared with other forms of reuse, such as, disposing in the recycling bin, giving it to others, or reselling it. This effect emerges because when consumers use a product more frequently, they believe that the product has less value remaining for others, and a product that confers lower value to others should be trashed.

Yes / Purpose: Circular economy is presented as an approach to economic growth that is in line with sustainable development. However, the recent literature has highlighted the limits of the concept in terms of environmental sustainability. The study examines the relationship between circular economy and conservation of ecosystems, using a case study on the implications of a circular economy for Slovak forests and forest sector. Design/methodology/approach: This study adopts a qualitative methodology through a focused review of the relevant literature on circular economy and sustainable development and primary data gathered through semi-structured interviews with 15 experts and practitioners in the forest sector, forest conservation and circular economy context, both from within as well as outside of Slovakia. Findings: The study finds that the forestry sector has an important role to play in a shift to a circular economy in Slovakia, with significant opportunities for improved efficiency as well as substitution of wood for non-renewable resources. There is also growing potential for ecosystem stewardship and restoration. However, the increased application of biomass could crowd out other needs, including for biodiversity. Safeguarding these services depends ultimately on good governance. Originality/value: The study highlights that circular economy taken in a narrow focus on resource efficiency is insufficient to ensure environmental sustainability but rather needs to be set within the broader environmental and social context.

Yes / Studies estimate that Africa's urban population is expected to triple over 40 years, from 395 million in 2010 to 1.339 billion in 2050. Challenges associated with increasing urbanisation and the rise of large cities in the African sub-region represent critical challenges to the environment and the rich ecosystem. The growing population, particularly in most cities in Africa, has resulted in increasing demand for non-degradable consumable waste products, changes in lifestyle and consumption patterns, and rising demand for transportation and associated solid waste disposal problems, especially tyre waste. However, few studies have examined circular economy practices such as tyre pyrolysis to attenuate Africa's ever-increasing waste disposal challenges. Moreover, most of these studies failed to account for specific risk-based decision-making attributes in an integrated way, such as technology readiness, risk identification, carbon footprint analysis, supply chain and procurement factors, and financial risk quantification. As a result, to the best of our knowledge and understanding, research-based tyre recycling feasibility practices are limited and scattered. We contribute to the literature by providing systematic literature on tyre pyrolysis in Africa from 2008-2022 inclusive, covering 16 African countries. To address tyre waste in Africa, this chapter provides a 10-point strategy on how pyrolysis can be integrated into production plants and associated businesses to minimise tyre waste in Africa. / The full-text of this article will be released for public view at the end of the publisher embargo on 29 July 2025.

Yes / Reviews and ratings of consumers towards a product impact consumer decision-making and their perceptions. Such information is key in measuring consumer satisfaction and net promoter scores. However, when the reviewed products are refurbished, consumer reviews become more important because information influences consumer behaviour and attitude toward looped products. This research explores the decision-influencing attributes of consumers while purchasing refurbished goods using quantitative and qualitative methods. Online after-sales 1986 laptop customers’ review and rating data in the public domain were analysed to reveal the decision-influencing attributes and their impact on potential consumers. The study envisions assisting the operations of sellers in the refurbished market by strengthening their businesses' value proposition and stimulating reverse logistics entrepreneurs to use the opportunity. Review data containing lifecycle valuation of old laptops induced feature extraction by machine learning applications. It is beneficial to sellers in the refurbished product segment. It provides information to strengthen their value proposition and is informative to entrepreneurs wanting to enter the segment. Based on the text analysis of consumer reviews, the study's results show that price, brand, design, performance, services, and utility influence consumers. The frequency analysis technique was used to extract attributes, followed by content analysis and feature selection using SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) for exploring correlations between features and star ratings. Lastly, multinomial logistic regression was used to validate the generated model. The results show that brand, design, price, and utility are the most prominent attributes influencing consumers' decision-making with positive sentiments. In contrast, performance and services often generate neutral and negative sentiments. / The full-text of this article will be released for public view at the end of the publisher embargo on 27 Dec 2024.

Yes / The increase in pharmaceutical waste medicines is a global phenomenon and financial burden. The Circular Economy, as a philosophy within the pharmaceutical supply chain, aims to promote waste reduction, maximise medicines value, and enable sustainability within this supply chain (increasing circularity). Circularity strategies for pharmaceuticals are not currently implemented in many countries, due to quality and safety barriers. The aim of this study was to determine whether the application of circular economy principles can minimise pharmaceutical waste and support sustainability in the pharmaceutical supply chain; Methods: a detailed narrative literature review was conducted in order to examine pharmaceutical waste creation, management, disposal, and the application of circular economy principles; Results: the literature scrutinised revealed that pharmaceutical waste is created by multiple routes, each of which need to be addressed by pharmacists and healthcare bodies through the Circular Economy 9R principles. These principles act as a binding mechanism for disparate waste management initiatives. Medicines, or elements of a pharmaceutical product, can be better managed to reduce waste, cost, and reduce negative environmental impacts through unsafe disposal. the study findings outline a Circular Pharmaceutical Supply Chain and suggests that it should be considered and tested as a sustainable supply chain proposition.

This thesis investigates the role of industrial design in promoting sustainability and circular economy principles, particularly through collaboration with PaperShell AB, a company specializing in sustainable composites. The study focuses on developing a circular bio-economy system that integrates local mycelium cultures for material decomposition and soil regeneration. The central research question is: How can industrial design practices evolve to foster ecological regeneration while maintaining economic viability? Key findings emphasize the importance of closing material loops and reimagining industrial processes to harmonize with ecological systems. The Catifa Carta project, a collaboration with the Italian furniture brand Arper, serves as a case study demonstrating the practical application and success of these principles. Future research directions include exploring the scalability of these practices and additional ecological partnerships.

This thesis investigates the implementation of circular economy principles in plastic waste management, focusing on challenges and strategies within the European context. The study highlights the significance of CE in transforming the plastic industry by promoting resource efficiency, waste reduction, and systemic collaboration among stakeholders. It explores the theoretical foundations of CE, the 9R framework, and waste hierarchy, alongside European regulations such as the Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive, the Waste Framework Directive, and the Circular Economy Action Plan. Through a comparative analysis of two companies, one in Germany and one in Sweden, the research examines the diverse approaches to plastic waste management, emphasizing the role of regulatory compliance, partnerships, and consumer engagement. The findings reveal that while both companies are committed to circularity, their strategies differ based on market position, operational context, and customer dynamics. The study identifies key obstacles, such as inefficiencies in recycling systems, consumer behavior, and regulatory challenges, that hinder the full realization of CE principles. The thesis underscores the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration, innovative solutions, and robust policy frameworks in advancing CE transitions. It is concluded that, although CE provides a promising framework for addressing plastic waste, achieving its full potential requires focused efforts across multiple sectors. Recommendations for future research include expanding case studies, exploring specific supply chain stages, and examining the long-term effectiveness of CE initiatives.

Background - The textile and fashion industry is paving the way towards the circular economy to achieve economic and environmental value. Today the industry is mainly dependent on the linear production model of the take-make-dispose system. This linear model excels in making waste out of virgin raw materials that can utilize several lifetimes. In light of generating a wave for the future with the circular economy, the textile and fashion industry is implementing circular economy, business models. The organizations’ cascade use ability of recurrent and abundance resources leads to the circular economy future. Although the circular economy is rich in concept, academia and practitioners sense a lack of implementation of business models. Therefore, the organizations require to develop a unique set of capabilities to harness the benefits from circular economy business models. Purpose - To achieve successful circular economy business models, the organizations should develop capabilities that reinforce them to innovate their business models. Therefore, this study investigates the dynamic capabilities to gain competitive advantage while utilizing resources by cascade use to achieving economic and environmental values. This study provides the practitioners and academic guide to be a part of the wave of the circular economy. Methodology - This research conducts multiple case studies with an abductive reasoning approach to extend the theory of dynamic capabilities for cascade use in circular economy business models within the textile and fashion industry. Semi-structured interviews were conducted to gather primary data with three companies that practice cascade use in their businesses while strengthening the data gathered by reviewing company documents. The data were analyzed using thematic analysis. Findings - Results revealed dynamic capabilities facilitate cascade use in the circular economy business models. These dynamic capabilities undergirded by unique microfoundations. Sensing capability undergirded learning and knowledge creation on resources, information search on competencies, and market sensing to achieve the circular economy. Seizing undergirded microfoundations of business model innovation, collaborations, investments in innovations, and take-back systems. Transformation capability undergirded stakeholder engagement, revitalizing internal organization and transparency. The organizations gain maximum resources utility by these dynamic capabilities. Practical implications and research limitations - This thesis creates new insights on cascade use in circular economy business models facilitated by dynamic capabilities. The study assists the practitioners to understand and manage organizational activities to leverage cascade use in the circular economy business models to gain competitive advantage. The study limits by the selected interviewed companies with cascade use strategies implemented in their businesses, representing retailers in Sweden.