Human society is currently designed based on linear patterns, without concern for and interactions with the biosphere. The natural world works in cycles, and in order to interact with these systems in a sustainable way, the redesign of human society according to the paradigm of cyclical thinking is required. This paper explores the synthesis and synergies between the cradle-to-cradle concept and a Framework for Strategic Sustainable Development in the context of sustainable development. The research tests whether Backcasting using Sustainability Principles is supportive to the implementation of the cradle-to-cradle concept and draws on relevant literature as well as interviews with experts. Based upon this research a process tool is designed and tested within a case study. Results indicate that, when backcasting using sustainability principles, principles for design and principles for decision-making provide synergistic characteristics in the process of implementation. Inspiring design principles, such as the ones suggested by the cradle-to-cradle concept, provide powerful engagement for a social learning process that works towards sustainable development. A structured decision-making process based on backcasting using sustainability principles provides the constraints and criteria for robust decision-making along the journey.

Bakgrund: Cirkulär ekonomi är ett ämne som fått allt större uppmärksamhet bland företagoch organisationer i syfte att öka hållbarhet och motverka resursbrist. Den cirkulära ekonominhar ingen definition som är allmänt accepterad trots att det används i stor utsträckning runtomkring världen. Det finns dock något gemensamt mellan de olika definitionerna vilket är attden cirkulära ekonomin flödar som ett omlopp där produkterna och resurserna inte tapparvärde och kasseras lika snabbt. Konceptet kan ses som en förbättrad hanteringen av avfalletoch en affärsmodell som erbjuder en hållbar ekonomi. Tidigare studier visar på många olikadefinitioner av begreppet. På företagsnivå är det därmed också fortfarande oklart vad somanses vara cirkulär ekonomi. Verksamheter som arbetar med cirkulär ekonomi behöveranpassa sin ekonomistyrning enligt tidigare studier. Hur cirkulära företag styr sinaverksamheter är ett ämne som fortfarande inte undersökts. Tidigare studier hävdar att manjobbar med cirkulär ekonomi då det generera ekonomiska fördelar medan andra menar att dethandlar om legitimitet. En del påstår att det är mer kostsamt med cirkulär ekonomi i företag.Det är alltså fortfarande inte helt klart varför företag arbetar med cirkulär ekonomi. Syfte: Syftet med uppsatsen är att få en förståelse om vad cirkulär ekonomi innebär enligtföretag, hur arbetar och styr i cirkulära företag och varför de arbetar med cirkulär ekonomi. Metod: En kvalitativ intervjustudie har genomförts i 14 olika verksamheter som arbetar medcirkulär ekonomi. Slutsatser: Synen på cirkulär ekonomi är alltså varierande i olika företag men man kan ändåse likheter hur företag arbetar med cirkulära ekonomi. Verksamhetens fokusområden ivärdekedjan kan vara olika beroende på bransch, storlek, produkt och materialerbjudande.Cirkulära företag arbetar med en kombination av flera olika strategier för att kunna uprätta ettcirkulärt flöde på sina produkter. Uppsatsen kom även fram till att cirkulära företag har enformell styrning som kan relateras till Malmi och Browns (2008) styrpaket. Man kan dock seatt cirkulära företag styrning baseras på cirkulära ekonomi. Det innebär alltså att cirkulärekonomi inkluderas i den vision, strategi och målsättningar man har i företaget. Styrningeninom cirkulära verksamheter behöver även ta hänsyn till tidsperspektivet. Att styra i cirkuläraföretag kräver att man har ett långsiktigt tänk. I de flesta företagen är stora anledningen tillarbete med cirkulär ekonomi lönsamheten. Man kan dock se att även andra faktorer kan varaviktiga som lagar och miljökrav. Ytterligare anledning för cirkulär ekonomi är påtryckningarfrån olika intressenter och företags personliga intresset för miljö. / Background: Circular economy is a topic that has received increasing attention amongcompanies and organizations in order to increase sustainability and counteract lack ofresources. The circular economy has no definition that is widely accepted even though it iswidely used around the world. However, there is something in common between the differentdefinitions, which is that the circular economy flows like a cycle where the products andresources do not lose value and are discarded just as quickly. The concept can be seen as animproved waste management and a business model that offers a sustainable economy.Previous studies show many different definitions of the term. At company level, it is thus stillunclear what is considered circular economy. Businesses that work with circular economyneed to adapt their financial management according to previous studies. How circularcompanies manage their operations is a topic that has not yet been investigated. Previousstudies claim that you work with circular economy as it generates economic benefits whileothers believe that it is about legitimacy. Some argue that it is more costly with circulareconomy in companies. It is therefore still not entirely clear why companies work withcircular economy.Porpuse: The purpose of the thesis is to gain an understanding of what circular economymeans according to companies, how circular companies manage and why they work withcircular economy. Method: A qualitative interview study has been conducted in 14 different companies thatwork with circular economy. Conclusion: The view of circular economy is thus different in different companies, but youcan still see similarities in how companies work with circular economy. The business's focusareas in the value chain can be different depending on the industry, size, product, and materialoffering. Circular businesses combine different strategies in order to work with circularity.Circular companies have a financial management that can be related to Malmi and Brown's(2008) manage and control package. However circular businesses management is based oncircular economy. All parts of the package such as vision, strategy, and goals have to beadapted to circular economy. The management within circular companies also needs to consider the time perspective. Managing in circular companies requires that you have a long-term mindset. In most companies, the big reason for working with the circular economy is profitability. However, it can be seen that other factors can also be important, such as lawsand environmental requirements. Another reason for circular economy is pressure fromvarious stakeholders and companies' personal interest in the environment. Keywords: Circular economy, Cradle to Cradle, the 3R principle, financial management,control packages, formal financial management, the stakeholder model, legitimacy,contingency theory.

Vad är egentligen hållbar stadsutveckling och kommer vi i framtiden att kunna planerastadsmiljöer som har en positiv inverkan, på både natur och människa, i stället för en negativ?En av de grundläggande principerna för designteorin Cradle to Cradle är att vi skaagera hållbart i stället för mindre ohållbart. Dock är teorin ännu relativt outforskad inomfysisk planering.Utöver att undersöka Cradle to Cradle som designteori för hållbar stadsutveckling är syftetmed uppsatsen att dess resultat och slutsatser ska kunna utgöra verktyg för hållbarfysisk planering. Uppsatsen syftar också till att inspirera med innovativa idéer och lösningari den byggda miljön.Uppsatsen inleds med en teoretiskt grundad diskussion kring vad som kan utgöra normativaprinciper för hållbar stadsutveckling. Efter en grundlig objektiv översikt av Cradle toCradle ställs designteorin i relation till de normer som ställts upp.Intentionerna med Cradle to Cradle är goda men designteorin är i dag främst inriktadmot ekologisk och ekonomisk hållbarhet och den viktiga sociala aspekten är inte utvecklad.För ett förverkligande av teorins visioner skulle en övergång till Cradle to Cradle,som står för det vi kallar ekologisk modernisering, behöva ske parallellt med beteendeförändringgenom ett ifrågasättande av de normer, för till exempel produktion och konsumtion,som vi lever efter i dag. Ekologisk modernisering i kombination med normativaprinciper för beteendeförändring kan således vara en väg till hållbar stadsutveckling.Uppsatsens analysresultat överförs sedan från teori till praktik i utvecklingsområdet Kileni Ronneby, Sverige. Den övergripande konceptuella gestaltning som uppsatsen presenterar,ger exempel på hur det är möjligt att fysiskt planera inom Ronneby kommuns olikafokusområden energi, vatten, biologisk mångfald i utemiljön och social mångfald.Samtidigt som det planeras hållbart är det essentiellt att också göra det enkelt och självklartför medborgaren att leva hållbart. Medborgardeltagande i planeringsprocessen är enviktig komponent för att ett område som Kilen ska ge det mervärde som kommunenönskar och spegla de goda intentioner som ligger till grund för utvecklingen. Att planeraett område enligt principerna för Cradle to Cradle kan vid rätt tillvägagångssätt utgöra ettviktigt steg i den hållbara stadsutvecklingen. Inte minst som en manifestation av godaintentioner, en plattform för innovation inom ekologisk modernisering, ett pedagogisktexempel samt en uppmaning till brukaren och betraktaren att också leva hållbart. / What is sustainable urban development and will it in the future be possible to plan urbanenvironments which have a positive impact on both nature and people, instead of negative?One of the basic principles of the design theory Cradle to Cradle is for us to actsustainable, rather than less unsustainable, but the theory is still relatively unexplored inspatial planning.In addition to examining Cradle to Cradle as a design theory for sustainable urban development,the purpose of this paper is that its findings and conclusions should serve astools for sustainable spatial planning. The paper also aims to inspire with innovative ideasand solutions in the built environment. The essay begins with a theoretically baseddiscussion of what may constitute normative principles for sustainable urban development.After an objective review of Cradle to Cradle Design, the theory is set in relationto these standards.The intentions of Cradle to Cradle are good but the main focus of the design theory todayis on ecological and economic sustainability and the important social aspect is notdeveloped. For realization of the visions of the theory, transferring to Cradle to Cradle,which stands for what we call ecological modernization, need to be accompanied by behavioralchange. A comprehensive behavior change requires a questioning of the standards,regarding for example production and consumption, that we live by today. Ecologicalmodernization in combination with normative principles of behavior change can thusbe a path to sustainable urban development.The analytical results of the essay are then transferred from theory to practice in the developmentarea Kilen in Ronneby, Sweden. The overall conceptual design the essay presents,gives examples of how it is possible to physically plan within the municipality ofRonneby's various focus areas - energy, water, biodiversity in the outdoor environmentand social diversity.While planning sustainable, it is also essential to make it easy and natural for people tolive sustainable. Civic participation in the planning process is an important component tomake an area like Kilen provide the added value that the municipality wishes, and to let itreflect the good intentions underlying the development. Designing an area using theprinciples of Cradle to Cradle may, at the right approach, represent an important step inthe sustainable urban development. Not least as a manifestation of good intentions, aplatform for innovation in ecological modernization, a pedagogical example, and a call tothe user and the viewer to also live sustainable.

The cradle to cradle (C2C) is a sustainable business strategy that mimics the natural recycling cycle and waste is reused, the question of when and how to apply the C2C concept successfully in business is still controversial. This thesis takes Huawei, the leading enterprise in the mobile communication industry, as an example, and to investigate the challenges for Chinese mobile communication companies in implementing an effective C2C strategy to achieve a sustainable development. This study used the semi-structured interviews in the qualitative data collection method to interview both Huawei and China Telecommunications’ managers. Data analysis shows that for the electronics industry with low recycling rate and high pollution, Huawei still faces many challenges in adopting the C2C strategy，which includes alloy recycling, recycling of electronic products in consumers' hands, disassembly problems, and recycling of electronic products by value, Another challenge is the mismatch between C2C evaluation mechanism and China's mobile communications industry. Only fully considered cradle to cradle, cradle to Grave, and Life cycle, the sustainable mode of the mobile communications industry would be reached.

The natural vegetation of the Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site (COH WHS) was classified using Braun-blanquet methodology. This identified 22 distinct plant communities and 2 variants. Sampling took place over two growing seasons with a total of 91 releves being compiled. A stratified random approach to sampling used Land Types as a means of primary area stratification, with terrain position providing the means for further refinement. The grassland comprised of 12 plant communities and 2 variants and the woodland comprised of 10 plant communities. The classification of the woodland areas included some bush clumps associated with the entrances of caves which were also described independently in which seven distinct plant communities were identified A positive linear correlation exists between the size of the cave entrances and the extent to which the surrounding woody vegetation extends. This suggests the likelihood of cave entrance size influencing the surrounding vegetation. / Environmental Sciences / M. Tech. (Nature Conservation)

As the world becomes increasingly aware of the need to better care for the environment, innovative business models are helping to counter the damage of the fast fashion system - a phenomenon in the fashion industry whereby production processes are expedited in order to get new trends to the market as quickly and cheaply as possible. Designing products with a focus on their renewability can shift the product-consumer relationship. The closed loop concept of a “circular economy” is emerging as a viable and promising solution to the current linear business model. This study explores the possibilities of a more mindful approach to systems of production and consumption through material explorations using plastic from water bottles, paper from old newspaper and magazines, and fabric leftovers from pattern making within a circular economy. It considers the generative and renewable approaches in redefining how fashion engages with the components and raw materials of the industry. The research demonstrates a circular approach to the production of hospitality accessories in an effort to develop new intersections between products, materials, and consumers. The accessories are designed using discarded, reformulated denim–an abundant and underutilized byproduct of the fashion industry­–to reduce waste that currently occurs every time hotel chains and airlines produce disposable giveaway products from new materials.

In recent decades, many multinational corporations have used nature inspired innovation (NII) strategies as a mechanism of sustainability-oriented innovation (SOI). In this context, these activities are typically initiated by sustainability or innovation managers who are seeking to utilise novel tools and approaches but generally do not have specific innovation goals. For some, NII is viewed as a new product development tool and for others, it is a broad perspective that defines a larger sustainability narrative for the organisation. This analysis of six cases describes the diversity of innovation types of NII in multinational corporations aiming to apply these models to sustainability-oriented innovation at multiple levels. Data was collected via semi-structured interviews (n=45) with NII team members from both inside and outside of the organisation. Additional data included internal project documents and web-based content associated with the NII projects. Cases were then compared and contrasted to identify patterns and anomalies of factors that influence the adoption of NII. While perceptions of NII were relatively consistent across cases, several factors were identified related to sustainability perspectives, the role of management, organisational structures, and innovation culture that influenced adoption. This thesis makes an original contribution to knowledge within the NII, sustainability-oriented innovation, and innovation adoption literatures by differentiating NII as an approach to SOI in MNCs, establishing an innovation typology in this context, and identifying three SOI narratives that influence the adoption of NII. Specific factors related to sustainability narratives, innovation culture and infrastructure, and management styles that support and inhibit SOI and NII in MNCs are used to distinguish three unique SOI narratives – Ambiguous, Accountable, and Aspirational. Conclusions suggest a NII readiness assessment may facilitate the adoption of NII by identifying the most effective approaches depending on the narrative of SOI within the company.

[pt] A crescente percepção da importância da proteção ambiental e dos impactos associados aos bens de consumo tem aumentado o interesse no desenvolvimento de métodos para melhor compreender e lidar com estes impactos. Neste contexto, a metodologia berço-ao-berço (C2C) descreve uma maneira de projetar produtos com ciclos de vida (biológicos ou técnicos) fechados, para evitar a perda de nutrientes do solo e de matéria-prima não renovável. Na indústria de mobiliário, a madeira tem sido cada vez mais substituída por painéis industrializados (MDF e MDP), que oferecem maior produtividade, matéria prima renovável e um posicionamento sustentável de mercado. A maneira como são descartados hoje, no entanto, não está alinhada com esse discurso. A partir de revisão bibliográfica, visitas e entrevistas, o ciclo de vida do móvel de MDF e MDP foi descrito para que, posteriormente pudessem ser avaliadas as possibilidades de adequação à metodologia C2C. Ao final do trabalho, concluiu-se que por ser um material que pode ser adequado ao ciclo biológico ou ao ciclo técnico, seu potencial para o fechamento do ciclo é grande, no entanto devem ser superadas barreiras como a utilização de componentes nocivos à saúde em sua composição e o descarte fragmentado dos móveis. / [en] The perception that human activities might have significant impact in the environment led, in the last decades, to the development of policies and methodologies to better understand and handle the subject. The United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), also known as the Rio Summit or ECO-92, was a major event in that direction. More than one hundred heads of state gathered with other representatives from the society, industries and environmentalists to discuss about sustainable development and global warming (MCDONOUGH and BRAUNGART, 2002). One of the negotiation s result was the definition of the eco-eficiency strategy, that guided the industry approach to the issue in the two past decades. Reducing direct and indirect environmental impact in every possible opportunity became one of the main strategies to reach such eco-eficiency. To identify these possibilities, the product s life cycle became focus of studies from researchers, companies and governments. The Law no. 12.305/2010, for example, defines life cycle as the series of stages related to de development of the product, the acquisition of raw material, the production process, consumption and final disposal. In a similar way, the International Standards Organization (ISO) defines life cycle as consecutive and interlinked stages of a product system, from raw material acquisition or generation from natural resources to final disposal. 14000 series os norms, from ISO, is one of the main tools to provide inputs to this debate. More specific, 14020 and 14040 regulate environmental labels and life cycle assessment (LCA). While labels are essential to communicate to the market the characteristics of a product, LCA is one of the most complete tool to help decisions related to the development of products or services. It can be applied to the whole life cycle, from raw material extraction to disposal, or in specific stages, and allows for a comparison between two different solutions based in the same functional unit, or objective, making it easier to identify the least negative impact. Cradle-to-cradle methodology (C2C) developed by MCDONOUGH and BRAUNGART (2002) takes a step further in the approach of the environmental impact reduction, suggesting that instead of reducing the negative impact, products and services should have a positive impact in the environment.

The natural vegetation of the Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site (COH WHS) was classified using Braun-blanquet methodology. This identified 22 distinct plant communities and 2 variants. Sampling took place over two growing seasons with a total of 91 releves being compiled. A stratified random approach to sampling used Land Types as a means of primary area stratification, with terrain position providing the means for further refinement. The grassland comprised of 12 plant communities and 2 variants and the woodland comprised of 10 plant communities. The classification of the woodland areas included some bush clumps associated with the entrances of caves which were also described independently in which seven distinct plant communities were identified A positive linear correlation exists between the size of the cave entrances and the extent to which the surrounding woody vegetation extends. This suggests the likelihood of cave entrance size influencing the surrounding vegetation. / Environmental Sciences / M. Tech. (Nature Conservation)

M.Sc. (Geology) / The Cradle of Humankind is a 47 000 hectare demarcated area with over three dozen fossil-bearing cave sites well known for the preservation of fossil evidence of early hominin taxa such as Australopithecus Africanus, Australopithecus Sediba, Paranthropus Robustus and Early Homo. As a result, a database of precise and accurate chronological data for fossil-bearing cave deposits of the Cradle of Humankind (similar to that for East African fossil sites) is very important, but developing one has proven extremely challenging. The main challenge is that the fossil-bearing deposits at the cradle are mainly complex breccias with a chaotic, localized stratigraphy and no association to any volcanic ash beds, unlike the East African deposits which are lacustrine and fluviatile deposits interbedded with volcanic ash layers. However, substantial success has been obtained recently through the combination of U-Pb dating of CaCO₃ speleothems and palaeomagnetic dating (magnetostratigraphy) after many attempts and unconvincing results from techniques such as biostratigraphic correlations, electron spin resonance on teeth and cosmogenic burial dating of the sediments. The problem with U-Pb dating of CaCO₃ speleothems is that this requires samples that are extremely clean (i.e. detrital-free) and have an appreciable U content (close to 1 ppm), and such material is at many sites not available...