Circular economy (CE) proposes a transition in production and consumption practices that has a key relevance in wood-based industries, since forests are also connected to climate and biodiversity goals. If the bioeconomy is to sustainably suffice the increasing demand in the Nordics, wood-based manufacturing should become more circular. The wood commodity has embedded some circular principles to its production processes, but generally employs a waste management perspective, and research gaps exist on the relationships between actors. Inter-organisational collaboration (IOC) has been presented as key to enable effective circular solutions. While some studies exist in converging IOC and circularity, previous research demand empirical investigations.  This thesis investigates the current state of IOCs for forming and improving circular value chains in wood-based manufacturing, while empirically validating the CE and supply chain collaboration model by Calicchio Berardi and Peregrino de Brito (2021). To this aim, network and IOC theory form the theoretical underpinning. Ten semi-structured interviews were conducted with Nordic wood-based manufacturing companies.  Findings show that IOCs for the CE can concern material sourcing, side streams, and/or main products, and the nature and extent of these collaborations are explained. Side stream collaborations were strong for companies close to the primary resource, and for those material sourcing IOCs for circularity took the shape of new requirements. Main product collaborations were very diverse and recent, indicating a growing trend in collaborating for circularity. Based on empirical data, a linguistic change from supply chain to value cycles is proposed. The model used is found valid and mostly represented in this study, indicating how these IOCs form and improve. However, a revised version is presented – the CE and value cycles collaboration model – based on empirical findings from this study. The authors then indicate future research streams possibilities and practical implications of the study.

The constant growth of space debris and the associated risks force the space community to find solutions to mitigate them. Today the most advanced solutions to dispose of satellites and rocket stages after the end of mission consists of moving them either into a graveyard orbit or towards an atmospheric re-entry ending in the demise of both spacecraft and its materials. Alternative solutions should be considered, such as providing a sustainable solution by reusing materials in space. However, it is crucial to understand better the ageing process of the materials present in currently active spacecraft and space debris. The space environment causes degradation and damage over time, making the state of those materials uncertain for potential re-use. Degradation effects have been studied as a source mechanism to result in paint flakes, ejecta particles, or delaminated insulation foils released into the space environment and sustaining a positive feedback loop through potential impacts into spacecraft. A better understanding of degradation effects would also help to better characterize the small debris environment and its evolution. The current materials databases used by the space industry could be useful tools to select materials for satellite missions with respect to their reusability, but they often do not include the evolution of material properties in space after the end of mission.This study will investigate the impact of the damage effects of radiation and meteoroid impact on solar panels. During this research, the methodology used to analyse these effects was explained. The results showed that radiation caused the most damage and could cause solar panels to lose more than a third of their performance over a period of 50 years. It was therefore possible to estimate the quantity of solar panels available for re-use. It was concluded that the results were valid, but that to obtain more accurate data, all the different types of deterioration would also have to be considered. / Creaternity

When looking at shopping online there is a large amount of waste and mass consumption associated with it, therefore the topic of sustainability within e-commerce is a rising. There is research within shopping more sustainably for fashion and beauty, however there is a gap in the market when looking at the electronic goods sector. This thesis aims to add to the existing literature by showing shopping platforms how consumers interact with different sustainability indicators and whether they understand the value of sustainability indicators when looking at electronic goods. Thus, the purpose is to understand further the potential for shopping platforms to change the way consumers shop when given the opportunity to see sustainability indicators that are checked externally, in the electronic industry. An online survey took place to ask 160 respondents their opinions on sustainability and electronic e-commerce. The results showed that both social and environmental indicators were important. However, the working conditions of workers ranked higher than issues such as female-owned businesses, whereas environmental indicators were closer in their rankings. Furthermore, the results highlighted that the importance is not as much on whether the indicators are rankings or stand-alone indicators, but more that they are validated and transparent. People want to shop more sustainably and therefore if the information from this thesis is used by shopping platforms to showcase what companies do to be more sustainable, the hope it that brands will start to make those changes too.

The current use of natural resources within the industry generally constitutes of linear systems of raw material extraction to waste formation. However, an increased awareness of sustainability issues has resulted in engagements to try to minimise the impacts on the environment that these linear systems impose. Circular Economy is a concept for a strategy that strives towards closing loops of material in society, and therefore reduce the need of raw material extraction and waste formation. Although Cir- cular Economy strives towards increasing the sustainability of a system, recent research has shown that circularity of material does not necessarily have to lower the environmental impact. Therefore there is a need for a method that can assess circularity from a holistic perspective to ensure the contribution of the Circular Economy strategy to a more sustainable society. The aim of the study is to create a framework that accounts for both conventional circular economy indicators and environmental impacts, and that helps set a strategy for companies to transform towards sustainable Circular Economy. The findings of the performed literature study resulted in the gathering of the most used assessment tools for assessment of circular economy in previous studies: Material Flow Analysis, Cumulative En- ergy Demand and Life Cycle Assessment. This set of tools is used to identify hot spots of impact of a product throughout the product lifetime and to set a strategy toward better practices of manufacturing companies. The study gives an example of practical implementation of the framework on a case study of brake caliper remanufacturing at Autoexperten, a chain of franchise concept garages owned by the parent company KGK. A Material Flow Assessment and a Life Cycle Assessment is performed on a scenario modeled to represent the current state of the case of remanufacturing at Autoexperten, and an alternative scenario that do not include the practice of remanufacturing. The results of the performed assessments concluded that the current state scenario is the most preferable alternative regarding energy use, material use and environmental impact. Therefore, the main recommendation in regards to business strategies for Autoexperten and KGK is to continue the practice of remanufacturing. / Dagens användning av naturresurser inom industrin utgörs i allmänhet av linjära system från utvinning av råmaterial till produktionen av avfall. En ökad medvetenhet om hållbarhetsfrågor har dock resulterat i engagemang för att försöka minimera den miljöpåverkan som dessa linjära system skapar. Cirkulär ekonomi är ett koncept för en strategi som strävar efter att cirkulera flöden av material i samhället och därmed minska behovet av råmaterialutvinning och avfallsbildning. Även om den cirkulära ekonomin strävar efter att öka hållbarheten inom ett system har ny forskning visat att cirkularet av material inte nödvändigtvis behöver minska miljöpåverkan inom ett system. Därför har det skapats ett behov av en metod som kan undersöka cirkuläritet från ett holistiskt perspektiv för att säkerställa att den cirkulära ekonomin verkligen bidrar till ett mer hållbart samhälle. Syftet med studien är att skapa ett ramverk som undersöker både konventionella indikatorer av cirkulär ekonomi och miljöpåverkan, och som också skapar en strategi för företag för att uppå hållbar cirkulär ekonomi. Resultatet av en litteraturstudie genererade en uppsättning av de mest använda utvärderingsverktygen för analys av cirkulär ekonomi bland tidigare studier: Materialflödesanalys, kumulativt energibehov och livscykelanalys. Den här uppsättningen av verktyg används i studien för att identifiera processer med speciellt hög påverkan i en produkts livscykel och för att skapa en strategi för bättre prestanda av tillverkande företag. Studien ger ett exempel på en praktisk implementering av ramverket på en fallstudie av renovering av bromsok på Autoexperten, en kedja med franchisekonceptgarage som ägs av moderbolaget KGK. En materialflödesanalys och en livscykelanalys utförs i studien på ett scenario som modelleras för att representera det rådande omständigheterna för renovering av bromsok hos Autoexperten, och ett alternativt scenario som inte inkluderar renovering av bromsok. Slutsatsen som kunde dras av resultaten av materialflödesanalysen och livscykelanalysen var att scenariot med de rådande omständigheterna för renovering av bromsok är det som är mest fördelaktigt vad gäller energianvändning, materialanvändning och miljöpåverkan. Därför är den huvudsakliga rekommendationen för skapandet av en affärsstrategi för Autoexperten och KGK att fortsätta med renoveringen av bromsok.

The aim of this project is to investigate the influence of AI on CBMs, specifically focusing on the aggregated dimensions of value proposition, value creation and delivery, and value capture. This study employs a qualitative research design inspired by a deductive approach. A systematic literature review was conducted from scientific articles. Interviews with manufacturing companies and AI experts are also utilized to enrich understanding and validate the theoretical model. A thematic analysis was conducted to extract and examine patterns and themes and from that a framework has been developed about how AI influences the circular business values of value proposition, value creation and delivery, and value creation. The key enablers and challenges are outlined, categorized into three main groups: Technological, Organizational, and Environmental factors. The conclusion is that AI enables CBMs in manufacturing by optimizing materials, enhancing predictive maintenance, improving recycling processes, and enabling dynamic pricing models. Key enablers include robust AI infrastructure, organizational support, and regulatory frameworks. Challenges encompass inadequate infrastructure, data issues, and skill shortages. Competitive pressures and regulations drive adoption but also pose hurdles.

Background: The textile industry new regulations require companies to integrate traceability in their value chain and circular initiatives. Recent studies present concern of the lack of traceability in products. Traceability is seen as an enabler for sustainability, since it displays company value chain activities. This research is part of the research project Systemdemonstratorn for a circular value chain. Purpose: The purpose of this research is to provide insights of the requirements in terms of traceability for companies’ adaptation to the digital product passport for the aim of creating an enhanced circular textile system. The research questions are divided in stage 1 to determine the current state and stage 2 to establish the requirement of future stage. Methodology: This research applies a qualitative approach with an explorative stance. The constructed conceptual framework is based on a merge of value stream mapping and The Butterfly Diagram with the addition of a proposed structure for the digital product passport from CIRPASS. The primary data was collected from semi-structured interviews and a conducted interview tool supported by the 5W1H information gathering technique. Findings: To analyse the findings this research conducted a thematic analysis, where themes were conducted individually in stage 1 and stage 2. The finding indicated a need of an integrated technological solution, a demand for a clear strategic communication process and a desire of clarity both within the companies and in the industry, it may still be a concern due to the novelty of the subject. Increased knowledge was further demonstrated as a necessity together with increased responsibility and lower ambiguity. Integrating traceability in circular loops and a unique product identifier was also distinguished as requirements. It was also stated that participants companies had progressed to different extent in the circular loops. Certifications was further distinguished as an established way amongst the participant to verify their traceability. Key findings are still an absence of completely understanding the concept of traceability. Contribution: This research contributes to demonstrating a success in merging value stream mapping and The Butterfly Diagram for mapping current state of information flow. It provides an insight for requirements needed for the future adoption of the digital product passport regarding traceability for an enhanced circular textile system and provides a pathway for textile management. The research further establish direction for enriching the knowledge by providing insights to future research which align with the subject.

This study focuses on the cybernetic complementarity of stability and change in family therapy. Stability and change involve both the client and therapist, and is a selfreferential process where the observer is part of that which is observed. One couple was involved in ten therapy sessions. During the action research cycles of planning, acting and reflecting, the principles of systems theory, cybernetics and second cybernetics were implemented. A team consisting of one lecturer and two students were actively involved throughout all the phases of the research process. During therapy, the therapist focused on stability to facilitate change in the structure of the couple's organizational system. The research served as a good example of how punctuation of two complementarity processes (stability and change) can enable and empower clients to autonomously reflect on their own behaviour, and to make decisions regarding patterns they would like or feel ready to change. / Social Science (Mental Health) / Thesis (M. Soc. Science)--University of South Africa, 2001. / M.A. (Social Science (Mental Health))

The circular economy is promoted by the EU, governments, and businesses all over the world as a concept to reach a sustainable future. The concept is embedded into the UN Sustainable Development Goals for 2030 and aims to decouple economic growth and environmental pressure. Many studies have been conducted on the circular economy in recent years but the research on the actual environmental performance of the concept is limited. To move forward with the concept of the circular economy and reach a sustainable future, the environmental performance must be investigated. In this thesis, the environmental impact of circularity in products is investigated by comparing the environmental impact from one circular and one linear product case. To achieve this, the environmental impact and the degree of circularity is calculated with two different methods. The circularity is calculated with a circularity indicator called the Linear Flow Ratio and the environmental impact is assessed with the environmental evaluation technique Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). In the LCAs, the cases are compared for different environmental impact categories (e.g. global warming). The product that is investigated is an LED lighting fixture from the company 2P1. The circular case is based on a leasing business model and includes remanufacturing, reuse and recycling. The linear case includes production, sales, use, and disposal. The LCA results show that the environmental impact from the circular case is lower for all environmental impact categories. The environmental impact is almost exclusively from the manufacturing phase (including extraction and production of raw materials) and the use phase. The circularity results from the Linear Flow Ratio show contradicting results, presenting that the degree of circularity is higher for the linear case. By comparing the results to calculations from another circularity indicator (Material Circularity Indicator), it is concluded that a unified framework for circularity measurements is required. / Cirkulär ekonomi är introducerat av EU, länder och företag över hela världen som ett koncept för att nå en hållbar framtid. Den cirkulära ekonomin är en del av arbetet mot agenda 2030 för hållbar utveckling och strävar efter att frånkoppla ekonomisk tillväxt från miljöpåverkan. Det har forskats mycket på cirkulär ekonomi under de senaste åren men studier som undersöker det miljömässiga utförandet av konceptet saknas. För att fortsätta att utveckla konceptet och för att nå en hållbar framtid så måste den miljömässiga påverkan från cirkularitet undersökas. I denna studie undersöks miljöpåverkan från cirkularitet hos produkter genom att jämföra miljöpåverkan från ett cirkulärt och ett linjärt fall. Miljöpåverkan och cirkularitetsgraden beräknas med två olika metoder. Cirkulariteten beräknas med cirkularitetsindikatorn Linear Flow Ratio och miljöpåverkan analyseras men livscykelanalys. I livscykelanalyserna värderas miljöpåverkan för de två fallen för olika påverkanskategorier (t.ex. global uppvärmning). Produkten som undersökt är en LED-armatur från företaget 2P1. Det cirkulära fallet basers på uthyrning av armaturerna och innehåller renovering, återanvändning och återvinning. Det linjära fallet innehåller produktion, försäljning, användning och bortskaffande av produkten. Resultaten från livscykelanalyserna visar att det cirkulära fallet medför mindre miljöpåverkan för alla kategorier. Miljöpåverkan kommer nästan enbart från produktion (inklusive material) samt användning. Cirkularitetsresultaten från Linear Flow Ratio visar motsägelsefulla resultat då det linjära fallet har en högre cirkularitetsgrad än det cirkulära fallet. Genom att jämföra resultaten med beräkningar från en annan cirkularitetsindikator (Material Circularity Indicator) kan det fastställas att ett enhetligt ramverk för beräkning av cirkularitet är nödvändigt framöver.

[pt] A dissertação relaciona as considerações sobre seguir regras com as críticas ao tratamento extensional do infinito como uma totalidade atual no segundo Wittgenstein. No primeiro capítulo, são apresentadas as críticas de Wittgenstein ao padrão mentalista de solução para determinação do significado, elucidando- se a seguir o que considera-se o cerne do Argumento da Linguagem Privada. A partir disso, argumenta-se que a solução comunitarista, formulada em termos da confirmação de um padrão independente, não pode ser coerentemente atribuída a Wittgenstein. No segundo capítulo, a antinomia histórica entre o infinito pensado como potencial ou como atual é introduzida. São apresentados alguns elementos dos tratamentos propostos por Cantor e Dedekind e, a seguir, as críticas que Wittgenstein faz aos mesmos. No terceiro capítulo, a associação das críticas de Wittgenstein ao tratamento do infinito como uma atualidade extensional com a questão da generalidade lingüística é explorada, e o caráter normativo que Wittgenstein atribui às proposições matemáticas é ressaltado. Mostra-se que, para Wittgenstein, a diferença conceitual entre finito e infinito expressaria a diferença entre contextos empíricos e gramaticais. O infinito, enquanto expressão da generalidade, não poderia ser tratado como passível de descrição extensional sem acarretar confusões, mas só poderia ser pensado no âmbito normativo, enquanto regra. Retorna-se então à questão da determinação de uma regra no contexto da discussão sobre as provas matemáticas e analisa-se a noção de surveyability. No quarto capítulo, considera-se a noção de semelhança de família. Ressalta-se então os pontos centrais da estratégia de Wittgenstein para o problema da determinação de uma regra: o abandono da extensionalidade e da univocidade do significado. Ao invés de classes ou elementos primariamente determinando a relação entre as instâncias de uma regra, teríamos antes a própria relação constituindo tais instâncias, e esta relação interna seria estabelecida na própria prática de emprego linguístico. Finalmente, na conclusão, elabora- se uma reconsideração do que foi desenvolvido a partir das relações entre generalidade e circularidade. / [en] The dissertation relates second Wittgenstein s considerations on following rules with his criticism about the extensional treatment of the infinite as actual totality. In the first chapter, a presentation of Wittgenstein s criticism of the mentalist solution pattern for the determination of the meaning is followed by an account of what is taken to be the heart of the Private Language Argument. On that basis, it is argued that the communitarianist solution, formulated in terms of the confirmation of an independent pattern, cannot be consistently attributed to Wittgenstein. In the second chapter, the historical antinomy between the infinite as potential and the infinite as actual is introduced. Some aspects of Cantor s and Dedekind s approaches, as well as Wittgenstein s criticism of those, are also presented. In the third chapter, the connection between Wittgenstein s criticism of the treatment of the infinite as extensional actuality and the question of linguistic generality is explored, and the normative character attributed by Wittgenstein to mathematical propositions is highlighted. It is shown that, according to Wittgenstein, the conceptual difference between finite and infinite expresses the difference between empirical and grammatical contexts. The infinite as expression of generality could not be treated as susceptible to extensional description without bringing about confusion, and it should, therefore, be thought of solely in a normative context, as a rule. The problem of the determination of a rule is thus retaken in the context of the discussion on mathematical proof, and the notion of surveyability is analysed. In the fourth chapter, the notion of family resemblances is considered. The central aspects of Wittgenstein s approach to the problem of the determination of a rule - the abandonment of extensionality and the univocality of meaning - are emphasised. Instead of classes or elements primarily determining the relationship among the instances of a rule, the relationship itself would constitute such instances, and such internal relationship would be established by linguistic usage itself. Finally, in the conclusion, a general reconsideration of what was discussed is carried out, starting from the relationships between circularity and generality.

O circo-teatro, presente na paisagem urbana de São Paulo em todo o século XX, constituiu-se em espetáculo popular baseado na hibridização cultural, com elementos da cultura erudita e da cultura de massa. Por sua vez, essas duas se apropriaram do discurso circense, num processo evidente de circu-laridade cultural. / The circus-theater, that could be seen at São Paulos urban landscape throughout twentieth century, constituted itself in a form of popular per-formance based in the cultural hybridization, with elements from learned culture and mass culture. In turn, both of these cultures assimilated the cir-cus discourse, in an unequivocal process of cultural circularity.