“How to monitor the progress towards a circular food economy : a Delphi study”. Van Schoubroeck S, Vermeyen V, Alaerts L, Van Acker K, Van Passel S, Sustainable Production and Consumption 32, 457 (2022). http://doi.org/10.1016/J.SPC.2022.05.006
Abstract: Within the food sector, the implementation of a circular economy (CE) can reduce resource consumption and emissions to the environment by moving away from a linear and unsustainable system. This necessitates a clear vision on what circularity for food means, which will provide a much-needed foundation to develop a mon-itoring tool that reveals insights into the progress being made towards a CE, and to expose the bottlenecks and opportunities. This research study contributes to the development of a shared vision for circularity within the food system, and defines and prioritizes a set of indicator themes to monitor a circular food economy (CFE). A two-round Delphi study was performed, including a brainstorming session with experts and the construction of a consensus ranking of indicator themes, considering the production and processing and the consumption stage. The Delphi results provide a shared vision on a CFE, and a blueprint for researchers and policy-makers on its monitoring, which will stimulate the progression from a linear to a circular system.(c) 2022 Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of Institution of Chemical Engineers.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Engineering Management (ENM)
Impact Factor: 12.1
DOI: 10.1016/J.SPC.2022.05.006
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“Towards a more direct policy feedback in circular economy monitoring via a societal needs perspective”. Alaerts L, Van Acker K, Rousseau S, De Jaeger S, Moraga G, Dewulf J, De Meester S, Van Passel S, Compernolle T, Bachus K, Vrancken K, Eyckmans J, Resources, conservation and recycling 149, 363 (2019). http://doi.org/10.1016/J.RESCONREC.2019.06.004
Abstract: The increasing focus on circular economy at the level of governments and policy requires the development of appropriate indicators to effectively monitor the progress towards the circular economy. Currently two very different types of indicator areas are under development: (i) monitoring frameworks based on macro indicators that summarize the progress at (supra)national level, and (ii) micro indicators tailored towards assessing circularity at the level of products. It is not possible to obtain sufficiently direct feedback about the impact of policy interventions by either macro or micro indicators alone. In this paper, a conceptual approach is developed that aims to bridge the gap between the micro and macro level with meso level indicators, and thus ultimately deliver more direct feedback for policymakers, via the insertion of an extra level of meso indicators in between the macro and the micro level. These indicators have been extracted from a dedicated workshop that involved policy, sector and societal stakeholders. The aim of these indicators is to report on progress towards circular economy objectives based on the fulfillment of societal needs. In this way the consumption perspective is given a central position, and the role of circular business models is acknowledged. Following the development of the concept, the next steps towards tailored, flexible and agile monitoring frameworks for circular economy at (supra)national and regional level are outlined. The paper concludes with an illustrative example of the framework applied to the mobility system.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Economics; Engineering Management (ENM); Sustainable Energy, Air and Water Technology (DuEL)
Impact Factor: 3.313
Times cited: 1
DOI: 10.1016/J.RESCONREC.2019.06.004
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“Retrospective and prospective material flow analysis of the post-consumer plastic packaging waste management system in Flanders”. Thomassen G, Van Passel S, Alaerts L, Dewulf J, Waste Management 147, 10 (2022). http://doi.org/10.1016/J.WASMAN.2022.05.004
Abstract: The post-consumer plastic packaging waste management in Flanders was analyzed by performing a retrospective material flow analysis, covering an extensive period from 1985 to 2019. In addition, a prospective material flow analysis of 32 improvement scenarios was performed, based on expected changes in the waste management system. Mass recovery rates were calculated based on different interpretations of the calculation rules. Moreover, various cascading levels were identified to differentiate between the quality level of the secondary applications. The mass recovery rate including only recycling evolved from a value of 0% in 1985 to 31% in 2019 and could be increased to 36-62% depending on the improvement scenario selected. However, the different interpretations of the calculation rules led to a variation of up to 20 and 41% on this mass recovery rates for the retrospective and prospective analysis, respectively. The introduction of monostream recycling for additional post-consumer plastic packaging flows, such as low-density polyethylene, did not lead to increasing mass recovery rates, if no differentiation for the cascading levels was made. The Belgian recycling target of 65% for 2023 will be challenging if the strictest calculation method needs to be followed or if the improvements in the Flemish postconsumer plastic packaging waste system do not follow the best-case collection scenarios under the given assumptions. To harmonize the calculation and monitoring of these targets, clear calculation rules need to be accompanied with a harmonized monitoring system over the entire waste management system.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Engineering Management (ENM)
Impact Factor: 8.1
DOI: 10.1016/J.WASMAN.2022.05.004
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