In light of the negative social and environmental impacts of the textile industry, a paradigm shift towards a more circular economy is inevitable. Automated textile sorting embodies a crucial but missing link to connect forward and reverse supply chains for circular economy, however scalability challenges exist. Therefore, the study explores how dynamic capabilities can overcome scalability challenges specific to automated textile sorting pilots in Northwestern Europe to create commercially viable solutions. A single case study using an abductive approach guided by the dynamic capabilities view explores automated textile sorting pilots’ approaches to dynamic capability microfoundations. Primary data include semi-structured interviews, which is complemented by secondary data documents, and both were analysed qualitatively via thematic analysis. The data reveal that known scalability challenges remain and new scalability challenges related to market disruptions exist, such as COVID-19. Scalability challenges are overcome through novel approaches to the microfoundations undergirding dynamic capabilities. These are found to take place in a continuous, overlapping process, and collaboration is found across all dynamic capabilities. As collaboration plays a prominent role, it should be integrated in approaches to dynamic capabilities. This study also adds to the literature on circular economy in the textile industry by confirming that known scalability challenges for automated textile sorting pilots remain, and new scalability challenges are developing in terms of market disruptions. Actors in the automated textile sorting supply chain may use these findings to support efforts to scale up automated textile sorting. For textile industry brands and recyclers, the findings can assess their readiness to participate in the automated textile sorting supply chain and support the achievement of their 2030 goals to use greater volumes of sorted textile waste fractions as feedstocks for their production processes and to be a collaborative member of the used textiles supply chain.

The value consumers attach to their clothing creates a high demand and frequent consumption of fast fashion. This results in the increase of post-consumer textile waste that ends up on landfills, which has a negative impact on the environment. This raises the critical issue of disposal methods and necessary education to create awareness and equip users to contribute to a circular economy that aims to extend the lifecycle of each garment. This study aims to design for the facilitation of a circular economy driven by post-consumer textile waste that encourages sustainable consumption. The short lifecycles of commercial interior due to the influence of societal taste results in the frequent alteration of these interiors, increasing building waste which has a negative environmental impact. This study explores how the lifecycle of an interior environment can be extended through the design principles derived from the design informants identified through the investigation of the theoretical framework, site, precedents, users and programme, and proposed brand. The result is the design of sustainable interior environments that encourages sustainable consumption. The design for multi-use programme allows for users to learn and contribute on various platforms to empower the local community and close the loop for fast fashion to generate a new fashion culture at 012 Central. Through the alteration of the identified interior environments the design intervention aims to reinvigorate the underutilised buildings at 012 Central to support a circular economy driven by post-consumer textile waste. The design intervention aims to provide an informative spatial experience that encourages interaction with space and object, empowering users to contribute to a circular economy driven by post-consumer textile waste. The technical resolution of the proposed design intervention is concerned with the design of sustainable interior environments and components that considers their environmental impact through a closed-loop design approach. / Mini Dissertation (MInt (Prof))--University of Pretoria, 2020. / Architecture / MInt (Prof) / Unrestricted

Content: A novel class of bio-based polymers have been developed within the LIFE BIOPOL European project aiming to replace traditional re-tanning and fat-liquoring products reducing environmental impacts and increasing the safety of leather. The purpose of the project is to enhance the recovery and reuse of different bio-derived by-products from leather and agro-industrial sector to produce eco-friendly and renewable bio-polymers with high re-tanning and fat-liquoring characteristics. The LIFE BIOPOL project aims to make bio-based polymers in order to reduce the following parameters in re-tanning phase: - 20-30% COD, - 50-60% of inorganic salts (Sulphates and Chlorides), - 90% of Cr (III) salts, - 20% of water used in the leather process. Other important goals of the project are: - reduction 70-90% of hazardous and environmental polluting substances normally found in conventional chemicals, - reactivity enhancement of 30-40% of the new biopolymers compared to the current leather - application technology, - reduction of 70-80% of the Product Environmental Footprint of the new biopolymers related to the state of the art. The vegetal biomasses and the tanned hides by-products were pretreated in order to obtain suitable building blocks for the production of bio-based polymers. Several protocols involving polymerization were used in order to achieve the synthesis of the biopolymers, which have been carried out at lab scale. Macromolecular characterization of the biopolymers was performed in order to rationalize the synthetic strategy and practical application of the products giving important parameters such as molecular weight and chemical composition of the new biopolymers. Performances of new bio-based polymers have been inspected and compared with traditional chemicals through application on different types of leather. The benefits of the new products within leather making process were evaluated through chemical analyses of re-tanning and fat-liquoring effluents. The upgrade of the developed chemistry will be performed within a new devised prototype plant specifically designed and built-up for producing the bio-based polymers at industrial scale Take-Away: Production of leather making biopolymers from biomasses and industrial by-products through Life Cycle Designed Processes

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The goal of this diploma thesis is to highlight the properties of cellulose fibers obtained from waste water and the importance of recycling of raw materials. The main objective is then to further explore the possibilities of using cellulose fibers as a valuable product on the market. The practical part of the thesis is focused on specific research of cellulose properties and design of equipment for sewage treatment plant according to its size.

Climate change is connected to several negative effects on local environments around the globe such as, longer, and more intense droughts, less freshwater supplies, ocean warming, sea level rise, polar ice melting, more intense storms, and rainfall (NASA, 2021).  These problems are mainly due to the increasing amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere as well as other greenhouse gases (GHG) which cause a similar or stronger climate change effect (WWF, 2021). Practically all climate researchers agree that climate change is caused by human activities (WWF, 2021), as such human activities will have to change to reduce their climate impact. One possible approach to achieve sustainable products is the concept of a circular economy (CE). The proponents of a circular economy describe it as an economic or industrial system which is restorative by its design (EMF, 2010). Currently there is a substantial body of knowledge on how LCA can be used to guide product design in a sustainable direction.  However, as of yet there are limited academic research focused on how environmental assessment can impact the design of Vertical Access Equipment (VAE) and of similar products. This thesis aims to support the VAE sector’s transition towards a CE. The objective of this study was to understand and provide improvement suggestions for the environmental performance and energy use of VAE. This Involved a case study where a LCA was conducted to establish a baseline of four VAE products, a construction hoist, a service lift, an industrial elevator, and a BMU. The results of the initial LCA varied greatly depending on the different products and their use case. Guided by the LCA results, semi-structured workshops were held to find feasible improvement suggestions whose impacts were investigated using LCA once more. Feasible and substantial improvements focusing on the products high impact areas were found for all products. For the construction hoist improvements regarding eliminating waste in the lifting work was most impactful, whilst the service lift required optimizing of maintenance and use of sensors to reduce the maintenance time. For the industrial elevator and the BMU, measures which focused on reducing virgin material extraction showed most promise, such as lifespan extension, remanufacturing, and use of recycled materials. / Mistra REES

Research questions:  How do social media influencers affect fashion purchase intent? How is slow fashion behavior affected by social media influencers?                                 Purpose:                  The purpose of this paper is to investigate the possible effects that social media influencers have on slow fashion behavior, in addition to explore the effects of social media influencers on fashion purchase intent. Method:                   This research was conducted through a quantitative study and the data was collected using an online survey. The survey was constructed and distributed in collaboration with a research group at Mälardalen University.  Conclusion:             This study confirms that influencers have the possibility to influence consumers’ behavior and provides initial insight into how their communities can affect consumers. The study concludes that influencers can persuade consumers to purchase fashion products online. However, there is ambiguity into how much influencers affect consumers. The study showed that the relationship between influencers and their communities is not clear, and especially how the two concepts interact in the way they influence consumers to behave more sustainably. Despite the complex relationship, both have the capability to positively and negatively affect consumers’ slow fashion behavior. While consumers may not employ all behaviors favorable in the slow fashion movement, any positive behavior will make a difference.

The overarching purpose of this study is to explore what perceived barriers that prevent Swedish fashion companies from implementing rental services to their current business model. A qualitative approach was adopted, where a single case study on the phenomenon of rental services, in the context of collaborative fashion consumption, CFC, was executed. CFC referrers to an alternative way of consumption where consumers have access to already existing garments. The focus of this study, rental services, is the action of providing and consuming products without any transfer of ownership. Multiple sources of data collection were used, consisting of semi-structured interviews with eight company executives representing Swedish fashion companies in three product segments; everyday fashion, performance wear and outdoor wear. The findings showed that six significant barriers were perceived as preventing implementation of rental services; economic, social, lack of information and technological know-how, supply chain, organizational and environmental impact. Moreover, the findings showed interrelated relationships between barriers. For instance, the perception of the social barrier affected the perception of the economic barrier, and the organizational barrier impacted companies’ perception of the informational and technological barrier. By exploring what perceived implementation barriers prevent Swedish fashion companies from adding rental services to their business model, this paper contributes with relevant knowledge to academia as well as to the fashion industry.

Název diplomové práce v anglickém jazyce, abstrakt v anglickém jazyce a 3 klíčová slova v anglickém jazyce NÁZEV V ANGLICKÉM JAZYCE Legal aspects of prevention of generation and recovery of packaging waste KLÍČOVÁ SLOVA V ANGLICKÉM JAZYCE packaging, prevention of generation of packaging waste, circular economy ABSTRAKT V ANGLICKÉM JAZYCE This diploma thesis addresses the legal aspects of packaging and packaging waste with the focus on the prevention of generation of packaging waste. The thesis is devoted to the legislation of packaging, packaging management and packaging waste management. The subject of research is the european legislation (mainly directive 94/62/EC on packaging and packaging waste and directive 2008/98/EC on waste) and Czech legislation based on the european directives (mainly Act No. 477/2001 Coll., on packaging and Act No. 185/2001 Coll., on waste). This legal problematics is undergoing a significant evolution. Higher targets regarding minimisation of packaging waste and more ecologically acceptable ways of managing packaging waste required by european directive amendments and other new conceptual documents (most importantly A new Circular Economy Action Plan) are going to be reflected in the Czech legislation by a new act on packaging, which is being a subject of a legislation process....

The choice of policy design has crucial implications for a policy’s efficiency. Plastic as a material is an important issue because of its fossil origin and because it often ends up as litter and spreads microplastics. Consequently, policies regarding plastic are vital to examine to understand how we can reduce the environmental consequences of plastic. This study has examined the design of the plastic carrier bag policy and especially focused on the choice of policy instrument, the actors involved, and if the desired change in behaviour occurred. By utilising Schneider and Ingram’s policy design theory, and Howlett and Vedung’s works on policy design and policy instruments, the study built an analytical framework to examine the plastic carrier bag policy. The result showed that the design of a policy was largely dependent on who governed, reflecting the government’s political culture, aims, and goals. The outcome of the policy showed that tax as an economic instrument was efficient in changing the public’s behaviour in the use of plastic carrier bags.