Revistas
Revista:
JOURNAL OF INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERING AND MANAGEMENT
ISSN:
2013-8423
Año:
2023
Vol.:
16
N°:
2
Págs.:
186 - 204
The circular economy is a key issue for any company, city, or institution. The linear economy model, based on "take, make, use and waste" of products and resources, has discarded potentially valuable resources and caused serious contamination problems. In contrast, the circular economy (CE) model is a strategic paradigm whose purpose is to regenerate and conserve resources through closed material loops and the sustainable use of energy in its processes. Therefore, a growing number of companies are applying different tools and techniques to implement the CE principles to innovate their products, services, and processes, achieving promising results. Thus, the main objective of this study is to suggest an implementation model named ¿Circular clock¿ based on a set of tools and techniques which firms may use for implementing CE.
Revista:
SUSTAINABLE PRODUCTION AND CONSUMPTION
ISSN:
2352-5509
Año:
2023
Vol.:
40
Págs.:
77 - 88
The implementation of activities close to the circular economy (CE), such as environmental management system (EMS) and cleaner production (CP) practices, and their relationships, are expected to have positive effects on the circular and sustainability performance. However, current research has provided results in which the effects are diffuse, contradictory, or even negative in some cases. Given the need for more consensus on the relationship between CE-related practices and sustainability performance, we investigated the effect of EMSs and CP prac-tices, and their interactions on companies' circular and sustainability performance. This longitudinal study used official Colombian government data of 1544 manufacturing companies from 2012 to 2019, considering impact assessment and structural equation modeling. Our results clarify which elements of circular and sustainability performance have and have not been affected by the implementation of these practices and their interactions, highlighting important challenges for theory, practice, and society. In this regard, manufacturing companies that adopt EMSs, CP or both practices obtain benefits related to the sale of certain waste, the reuse of water and the creation of green jobs and improvements in their organizational performance. However, adopting such practices does not necessarily imply waste circularity. Moreover, our findings guide management decision-making on which practices to implement to achieve better performance. We also evidence limited sustainable value creation by industries in social terms. Finally, we recommend the strategic implementation of CE and the development of new business models enabled by systemic eco-innovations and technology for sustainable value creation.
Autores:
Mora-Contreras, R.; Torres-Guevara, L.E.; Mejía-Villa, A.; et al.
Revista:
SUSTAINABLE PRODUCTION AND CONSUMPTION
ISSN:
2352-5509
Año:
2023
Vol.:
35
Págs.:
95 - 115
Revista:
JOURNAL OF INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERING AND MANAGEMENT
ISSN:
2013-8423
Año:
2021
Vol.:
14
N°:
3
Págs.:
425 - 438
Purpose: The circular economy has multiple benefits and opportunities to achieve sustainability and a better future for the next generations. The purpose of this paper is to propose a methodology that guides step-by-step any industrial SMEs in the transition from the linear to a circular model. Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) have a crucial role in the sustainable development transition, considering that they represent most of the world's companies. Design/methodology/approach: To develop this methodology, two research techniques were used: a focus group and storyboarding. Findings: The resulting methodology, called Ecopyme, comprises five steps: 1) Firm identity, 2) Diagnosis, 3) Planning, 4) Get the ball rolling, and 5) Assessment and feedback. In addition, two key criteria that must be included in the whole process were identified: value creation in the firm through a circular economy and organization commitment from the top management to the staff. Research limitations/implications: The Ecopyme methodology has two limitations: It does not propose either implementation tools or involve consumers and actors at the meso (e.g., eco-industrial parks) and macro (e.g., cities, provinces, countries) levels. Practical implications: This study will help policymakers understand the SMEs' perspective and remove barriers that may hinder the paradigm shift. The methodology is also a useful tool for consultants and entrepreneurs to incorporate the circular economy (CE) principles into their business. Originality/value: In the CE literature, little attention has been paid to proposing a structured methodology to implement CE in SMEs. Thus, the study provides a step-by-step methodology that guides any industrial SMEs to transition from linear to circular. Also, it provides additional evidence concerning the importance of human commitment in changing firms' paradigm because people can encourage the adoption of responsible production practices if firms commit CEOs, sustainability managers, and staff.
Revista:
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF LIFE CYCLE ASSESSMENT
ISSN:
0948-3349
Año:
2020
Vol.:
25
N°:
5
Págs.:
856 - 867
Purpose The European Ecolabel (EU Flower) has the mission to encourage cleaner production and influence consumers to promote Europe's transition to a circular economy. Nonetheless, little is known about EU Ecolabel evolution; it is not clear what the drivers that encourage its implementation are. Thus, this study aims to assess the growing acceptance of the EU Ecolabel in the European Union, and Spain more specifically, by examining product and service categories and geographical regions. Methods The methodological approach taken in this study is a mixed methodology based on the triangulation method by consulting the EU Ecolabel scheme database, EU Ecolabel delegates from some autonomous regions, and the academic literature. Also, a geographic analysis was run in the ArcGIS Software with data about the accumulation of licenses assigned in 2016. Results and discussion The analysis shows that most products in Spain that have been awarded the EU Ecolabel belong to the following categories: Do-It-Yourself Products (paint and varnish), Paper Products, Cleaning Up Products, and Electronic Equipment. At the same time, the study showed that this ecolabel faces significant obstacles in its diffusion, such as the competition with environmental labels launched previously in Europe and other regional labels. Conclusions The results of this study indicate the existence of five drivers that may encourage the implementation of EU Flower in a region: (1) public management, (2) communication strategy, (3) sustainable public procurement criteria, (4) local income per capita, and (5) international trade incentives. Finally, this study provides essential recommendations for policymakers to trigger ecolabeling practices such as the need to improve the understanding of the EU ecolabel impact in different levels of activity, which means countries, regions, industrial clusters, firms, and consumers. Also, this investigation identifies areas for further research, and it expresses the need to develop business case studies about ecolabeling with the objective to visualize this phenomenon as an eco-innovation process.
Revista:
CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY AND ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
ISSN:
1535-3958
Año:
2019
Vol.:
26
N°:
6
Págs.:
1473 - 1484
Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are key actors in the implementation of the circular economy (CE) concept as a basis for creating sustainable societies. Thus, the main objective of this study is to identify key strategies and resources that may favor CE implementation in SMEs. These key strategies should encourage SMEs to develop eco-innovations to gain competitive advantage and create and capture value that is coherent with nature. A mixed-method approach that consisted of a literature review and a focus group for gathering qualitative data was used. This focus group was made up of experts such as researchers and practitioners from universities, sustainable SMEs, and consultancy firms in Spain. A set of strategies and internal and external factors were identified to help SMEs to implement the CE. Finally, some useful dynamic capabilities for implementing the CE in business performance were identified.
Revista:
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION
ISSN:
0959-6526
Año:
2018
Vol.:
185
Págs.:
157 - 167
The important role of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in most economies underpins this research, which develops an empirical analysis that allows us to explore the potential for implementation of the Circular Economy in SMEs and the barriers and opportunities they may distinguish from it. To that end, a survey was carried out in Navarra and the Basque Country, Spain. The main results show that companies are focused on complying with the law and, in many cases, they are worried about their company's image. Moreover, they do not tend to be committed to environmental issues because they do not think it would increase their profits and competitiveness. The focus on cost savings became clear from the Factor Analysis applied to the Take-Transform and Recovery phases of the Circular Economy. In this sense, three factors were associated with the companies' perception of the Circular Economy: 1) Material Provision, 2) Resources' Reutilization and 2) Financial Advantage. With regard to the barriers, another Factor Analysis suggested two different categories of barriers: Hard barriers and Human-based barriers, each requiring different strategies for addressing them, must be considered. Finally, the study briefly examines the integration opportunities between SMEs with other companies and industry associations or clusters to develop industrial symbiosis and close their materials loop. (C) 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Revista:
MEMORIA INVESTIGACIONES EN INGENIERIA
ISSN:
2301-1092
Año:
2018
Vol.:
16
Págs.:
99-107
La Economía Circular se ha convertido en un tema de gran interés para los legisladores, académicos y empresarios, ya que se muestra como un nuevo paradigma para lograr la sostenibilidad de nuestra sociedad. Sin embargo, los principales esfuerzos en la Economía Circular no pueden reducirse a actos de profesionales o de expertos. Consideramos que, si pretendemos satisfacer las necesidades actuales sin comprometer la capacidad de las generaciones futuras para satisfacer sus propias necesidades, tenemos que enseñar a las generaciones actuales los principios para lograr la sostenibilidad económica, social y ambiental a corto, medio y largo plazo. Este artículo destaca el uso de actividades participativas en lugar de cursos tradicionales para enseñar e involucrar a estudiantes de ingeniería con las prácticas de economía circular.
Revista:
BUSINESS STRATEGY AND THE ENVIRONMENT
ISSN:
0964-4733
Año:
2018
Vol.:
27
N°:
8
Págs.:
1525 - 1534
The circular economy has become an important issue in recent years because it makes sustainable development feasible by creating value in the economy and by closing the energy and materials loops. However, since most companies continue to operate under a linear model, it is particularly important to start providing companies with tools that facilitate their shift to the circular paradigm. The main objective of this research is to establish the key elements that are necessary for assessing the level of circular economy implementation. To that end, the Delphi method is used to validate and define the key elements of three categories: circular economy fields of action, industrial symbiosis, and environmental certifications. As a result, this study identifies the key elements that assess the degree of circular economy implementation and that allows small and medium-sized enterprises to understand where they are and what they need to do to improve their performance.
Revista:
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION
ISSN:
0959-6526
Año:
2018
Vol.:
179
Págs.:
605 - 615
The growing importance of the concept of the circular economy as a way to attain sustainable development has encouraged scholars to propose different ways to understand it. Given the large number of studies done on the circular economy, their differing approaches and their multiple applications, this paper attempts to propose a consensus view of the basic notions of the circular economy framework and highlight its relationship with eco-innovation. To that end, this study carried out a systematic literature review that resulted in four main outputs: a knowledge map of the circular economy, an analysis of the main notions of the concept, principles, and determinants of a circular economy. Finally, this study brings to light some remarkable examples of eco-innovations developed for implementation in the circular economy. (C) 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Revista:
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION
ISSN:
0959-6526
Año:
2018
Vol.:
181
Págs.:
201 - 208
The growing complexity of environmental issues and its connection with the way in which society is consuming make essential to understand the extent of the consumers' awareness regarding the sustainable aspects. Therefore, the aim of this study is to explore the motivations of sustainable consumers and how those motivations should be considered by consumer organizations for improving their purposes and services to drive environmental sustainability. The research presents a content analysis of the websites of 30 lbero-American organizations that promote sustainable consumption habits, classifying those organizations according to their purposes and services based on the six dimensions of consumer sustainability awareness. Then, a questionnaire was sent to a sample of Spanish-speaking consumers of sustainable products in order to assess their motivations for choosing environmentally friendly products or services. Then, an analysis was performed by comparing both results. As a result, the study offers new knowledge about the perception of sustainability consciousness across Spanish-speaking consumers and of the purpose of consumer organizations. It also provides valuable information for companies and marketers who wish to align their eco-innovation strategies with green consumers' motivations. (C) 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Autores:
Buil, P.; Roger-Loppacher, O.; Selvam, R.; et al.
Revista:
SUSTAINABILITY
ISSN:
2071-1050
The European circular economy action plan, launched in 2015 includes a group of measures aligned with the 3r principles. To meet recycling goals, valuable materials such as aluminium must have packaging that helps to increase their recycling rate above the current 45.6%. This recycling rate could be improved with the help of current consumers and the education of future generations. In this way, the aim of this study is to prove the positive effects of childhood education in the circular economy by teaching sustainable practices in the case of aluminium packaging recycling. The study was conducted in the form of a survey, with data being gathered via questionnaires carried out pre and post workshop in schools of different regions of Spain in students between 8 and 12 years old. This study provides an exciting opportunity to advance our knowledge of the use of workshops to increase children's knowledge, awareness, and intention of recycling.
Revista:
JOURNAL OF INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERING AND MANAGEMENT
ISSN:
2013-0953
Año:
2016
Vol.:
9
N°:
5
Págs.:
1047 - 1058
Purpose: This research analyzes the maturity of environmental management as well as the degree of to which the Circular Economy has been implemented in Basque SMEs. Design/methodology/approach: A total of 17 case studies were carried out in industrial SMEs companies in the Basque Country. Findings: The main results show that companies are limited to complying with the law and in many cases are worried about the image of the company, although they are not committed to environmental issues. There is still a lot to do in SMEs, as they are the companies that face the biggest challenges due to a lack of resources. Originality/value: Circular Economy aims to change a linear economy into promoting sustainability of the economy while also engaging in sustainable environmental protection. This research has focused on small and medium enterprises as they represent a 99% of companies in Europe and they are the ones that have the most difficulty reaching a stage of environmental excellence due to their limited resources.