Waste is a problem that is more relevant now, in the 21st century, than ever before. Waste management is becoming more crucial with more people moving into cities, which demands a fast lifestyle and leading to massive amounts of waste. Managing all the generated municipal solid waste is putting huge amounts of pressure on the infrastructure.  Zero-waste is a topic that has gained popularity as environmental issues have gained attention. The topic has only been around since the late 1990s and without an official governing body the meaning of the topic is diffuse.  The research objectives of this study are to clarify the topic of zero-waste in a way so that it could be exercised within a specified area, as well as bringing forth a concept on how a recycling station within the area could be designed, aligning with the ideas originating from the topic. To achieve these objectives, this study did a literary study on the topic and qualitative research to gain as much understanding over the state of the topic today.  Results from the research conducted during this study concluded that the topic of zero-waste is divided into three different areas, personal, municipal, and business. All areas having their challenges to overcome to achieve zero-waste according to the accepted definitions of the topic. The results derived from the literary study and the interviews concluded into 3 goals, aligning with the principles of zero- waste, specific for an organization or business that wants to define a set physical area as a zero-waste zone. Clarity of waste management, setting a standard of reuse and recycling and monitoring waste, and work towards prevention.  Also, a concept for a recycling station was developed aligning with ideas brought up on the topic to be placed within an area exercising zero-waste. / Avfall är ett problem som är mer relevant nu, på 2000-talet, än någonsin tidigare. Avfallshantering blir allt viktigare med fler människor som flyttar till städer som kräver en snabb livsstil och leder till enorma mängder avfall. Att hantera allt genererat kommunalt fast avfall sätter enorma belastningar på infrastrukturen.Zero-waste (översatt: Noll-avfall) är ett ämne som har blivit populärt eftersom miljöfrågor har fått uppmärksamhet. Ämnet har bara funnits sedan slutet av 1990-talet och utan ett officiellt styrande organ är innebörden av ämnet diffust.  Forskningsmålen för denna studie är att klargöra ämnet zero-waste på ett sätt så att det kan utövas inom ett specifikt område, samt att ta fram ett koncept om hur en återvinningsstation inom området kan utformas i linje med idéer som kommer från ämnet. För att uppnå dessa mål gjorde denna studie en litterär studie om ämnet och kvalitativ forskning för att få så mycket förståelse för ämnets tillstånd idag.  Resultat från forskningen som genomfördes under denna studie drog slutsatsen att ämnet zero-waste är indelat i tre olika områden, personligt, kommunalt och företagande. Med alla områden som har sina egna utmaningar att övervinna för att uppnå nollavfall enligt de accepterade definitionerna av ämnet. Resultaten från litteraturstudien och intervjuerna avslutades också i tre mål, i linje med principerna om nollavfall, specifikt för en organisation eller ett företag som vill definiera ett visst fysiskt område som en zero-waste zon.  Mål 1: Ha ett tydligt sätt för både användare och servicearbetare på hur avfall hanteras.  Mål 2: Gör återanvändning och återvinning till standarden.  Mål 3: Övervaka aktivt avfallstillströmningen och vidta åtgärder för att minimera det.  Dessutom togs ett koncept fram för en återvinningsstation för att placeras inom ett område som utövar zero-waste utifrån de principer som tagits upp om ämnet.

Diploma thesis deals with the creation of a real business plan that offers zero waste products in the city of Topoľčany, Slovakia. The theoretical part focuses on the main idea of the business plan, including a description of used analytical-research methods that aims at the planning and the structured content of the business plan. The analytical part contains particular outputs of processed analyses and research, based on which the most suitable strategy for a starting company is then selected. The last part of the diploma thesis elaborates on the selected strategy into particular structure parts of the business plan

This research analyzes the zero waste movement in Cologne, Germany, aiming to findout how media and communication influence pro-environmental (consumer) behavior ofan already environmentally aware target audience. A special focus lies on what dominantchannels and mediums are used as well as what role social media influencers play.Therefore, 15 interviews were conducted in two of the three existing zero waste stores inCologne. The material was subsequently analyzed with a qualitative text analysisaccording to Mayring (2014). The findings revealed that pro-environmental contentresearch online and offline through media and communication can indirectly influencepro-environmental (consumer) behavior of the zero waste movement in Cologne in termsof motivation, inspiration, for information research, or a lively exchange. This dominantlyhappened through the offline community and through face-to-face conversations, but alsowith the use of new and social media. To some extent, social media influencers affecteda younger audience, possibly leading to a consolidation of the individuals’ awareness andattitude as well as an encouragement to take action. However, media and communicationare not the only factors influencing the zero waste consumption behavior. Furtherinfluencers are environmental awareness and consciousness, education, and personalityfactors. Latter can also be an interior barrier, along with family, lack of knowledge, time,and experience. Meanwhile, exterior factors are the economic and organizationalinfrastructure, contradicting lifestyles of the community, and economic constraints thatcould possibly hinder the process towards pro-environmental consumption and behavior.Overall, this research aims to contribute to a deeper understanding of the zero waste lifestyleand its drivers as an ideal for pro-environmental behavior, enabling the fight againstclimate change on a local and communal level in Cologne, Germany.

The rapid technological advancement and the increased awareness about the environment have introduced new digital tools to facilitate the design process in the fashion industry in which 3D technology was incorporated. Very few research has addressed the experiences of fashion designers when using 3D tools in their design process. Most of the previous research in this field focused on the technical aspects of using 3D design tools. Hence, this paper aims to investigate the experiences of fashion designers working with 3D design tools by answering the research question "What are the pros and cons of implementing 3D digital technology in the fashion industry on the design process of designers?”. Semi-structured interviews were undertaken through Zoom with eight fashion designers located in different countries, and the data obtained were analyzed through thematic analysis. Most of the 3D designers participating in this study use CLO3D as a main program to design digital garments as it is efficient and holds a high degree of control and advanced settings. The results revealed seven themes, namely: flexibility and realism, improved communication, sustainability, gap between the digital and physical prototype, necessity of proper knowledge and training, limited creativity, and customization, and lastly, lack of social acceptance. The first three are considered pros whereas the latter four are cons. The discussion of results differentiated between two stages which are sketching and prototyping where most advantages are found in the sketching phase. Therefore, further technological advancements are needed to improve the properties of virtual garments in addition to a change of stakeholder mentality in order to embrace and accept digital technology. Hence, this study will benefit later research in the field to improve 3D tools and close the gap between physical and virtual prototypes.

Yes / The traditional linear economy using a take‐make‐dispose model is resource intensive and has adverse environmental impacts. Circular economy (CE) which is regenerative and restorative by design is recommended as the business model for resource efficiency. While there is a need for businesses and organisations to switch from linear to CE, there are several challenges that needs addressing such as business models and the criticism of CE projects often being small scale. Technology can be an enabler toward scaling up CE; however, the prime challenge is to identify technologies that can allow predicting, tracking and proactively monitoring product's residual value to motivate businesses to pursue circularity decisions. In this paper, we propose an IoT‐enabled decision support system (DSS) for CE business model that effectively allows tracking, monitoring, and analysing products in real time with the focus on residual value. The business model is implemented using an ontological model. This model is complemented by a semantic decision support system. The semantic ontological model, first of its kind, is evaluated for technical compliance. We applied DSS and the ontological model in a real‐world use case and demonstrate viability and applicability of our approach.

The current study aims towards a holistic utilization of agro-waste rice straw (RS) to synthesize nanosilica (SiNPs) employing the sol–gel method. The effect of ashing temperature was evaluated for the synthesis process. X-ray diffraction demonstrated a broad spectrum at 21.22° for SiNPs obtained using RSA-600, signifying its amorphous nature, whereas crystalline SiNPs were synthesized using RSA-900. The EDX and FTIR spectra confirmed the significant peaks of Si and O for amorphous SiNPs, confirming their purity over crystalline SiNPs. FE-SEM and TEM micrographs indicated the spheroid morphology of the SiNPs with an average size of 27.47 nm (amorphous SiNPs) and 52.79 nm (crystalline SiNPs). Amorphous SiNPs possessed a high surface area of 226.11 m2/g over crystalline SiNPs (84.45 m2/g). The results obtained attest that the amorphous SiNPs possessed better attributes than crystalline SiNPs, omitting the need to incorporate high temperature. Photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue using SiNPs reflected that 66.26% of the dye was degraded in the first 10 min. The degradation study showed first-order kinetics with a half-life of 6.79 min. The cost-effective and environmentally friendly process offers a sustainable route to meet the increasing demand for SiNPs in industrial sectors. The study proposes a sustainable solution to stubble burning, intending towards zero waste generation, bioeconomy, and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), namely SDG 13(Climate Action), SDG 3(Good health and well-being), SDG 7(use of crop residues in industrial sectors) and SDG 8 (employment generation).

No description available.

Considering the increasing competition between brands and products, packaging has become an important framing tool to influence customers' purchasing decisions. However, given the growing environmental concerns, zero packaging has emerged as a new practice to face the challenges of preventing and encouraging the use of packaging. With the introduction of zero packaging, marketers have been forced to reframe the practice of packaging, as artifacts used to create identification and familiarity to form a state of resonance have been removed. To extend the research of resonance within the marketing communication science, the study employed a qualitative approach to explore how food retailers are utilizing the framing concept of resonance as a means to revamp the traditional packaging into zero packaging. To reframe the practice of packaging, the study embraces the concept of cognitive and emotional resonance. The findings impose that food retailers need to create personal alignments with product artifacts, environmental values and containers. By reviewing the contextual marketing communication field, zero packaging, a third resonance was utilized to understand how the food retailers adequately attract, change and retain customers. Subsequently, affirmation was discovered as the key mechanism to achieve motivational resonance, by interfering with customers’ intrinsic and personalized values/desires.

The traditional linear economy, using a take-make-dispose model is resourceintense and comes with adverse environmental impacts. Circular economy (CE) is regenerative and restorative by design and intention and is recommended as the business model for efficient use of resources. Despite the push for businesses and organisations to switch from linear to CE, there are several barriers/challenges that need solving such as business models and the criticism of CE projects often being small scale. Technology can be an enabler toward scaling up CE; however, the prime challenge is to identify technologies that can allow predicting, tracking and proactive monitoring of product's residual value, that can potentially motivate businesses to pursue circularity decisions. In this thesis, an Internet of Things (IoT)-enabled decision support system (DSS) for CE business model is proposed. The aim is to effectively enable tracking, monitoring, and analysis of products in real time with focus on residual value. The business model is implemented using an ontological model. This model is complemented by a semantic DSS. The semantic ontological model, first of its kind, is evaluated for technical compliance, quality of modelling and domain coverage, for final reengineering and re-evaluations. The DSS and the ontological model is applied in a real-world use case and demonstrate viability and applicability of the approach to businesses and sustainability via Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) lens. The results of the comparison of this novel model to the linear economy is promising with the novel model proving more profitable and resource efficient. / Petroleum Development Technology Fund (PTDF) Nigeria

Deposition of nanoscale thickness films is ubiquitous in micro- and nano-scale device manufacturing. Current techniques such as spin-coating and chemical vapor deposition are designed to create only uniform thin films, and can be wasteful in material consumption. They lack the ability to adaptively prescribe desired film thickness profiles. This dissertation presents a novel inkjet-based zero-waste polymer deposition process referred to as Jet and Coat of Adaptive Sustainable Thin Films or J-CAST. The core of this process is built on an experimentally validated multi-scale fluid evolution model, based on extensions of lubrication theory. This model involves a nano-scale fluid film sandwiched between two flat plates: a compliant superstrate and a rigid substrate, with spatial topography on both surfaces. Accounting for the flexural elasticity of the compliant superstrate, and describing the temporal evolution of the fluid film in the presence of different boundary conditions reveals that instead of seeking process equilibrium, non-equilibrium transients should be exploited to guide film deposition. This forms the first core concept behind the process. This concept also enables robust full-wafer processes for creation of uniform films as well as nanoscale films with prescribed variation of thickness at mm-scale spatial wavelengths. The use of inkjets enables zero-waste adaptive material deposition with the preferred drop volumes and locations obtained from an inverse optimization formulation. This forms the second core concept behind the process. The optimization is based on the prescribed film thickness profile and typically involves >100,000 integer parameters. Using simplifying approximations for the same, three specific applications have been discussed - gradient surfaces in combinatorial materials science and research, elliptical profiles with ~10km radius of curvature for X-ray nanoscopy applications and polishing of starting wafer surfaces for mitigation of existing nanotopography. In addition, the potential of extending the demonstrated process to high throughput roll-roll systems has also been mentioned by modifying the model to incorporate the compliance of the substrate along with that of the superstrate. / text