Fadhilatul Hikmah
Lecturer of Faculty of Law Universitas Gadjah Mada
Keyword
Social stigma, Dual identity, Sustainopreneurship, Triple bottom line, Accidental environmentalists
Objective/Focus
This study aims to advocate for the acknowledgment of the services of invisible hands that do pro-environmental work, despite living in post-conflict trauma themselves. These “accidental sustainopre-neurs” earn a living while helping societies become more sustainable.
Methods
Empirical Research. The data in this article were collected through the participation in the ecopreneurship project undertaken at one of 25 districts, such as in Peshawar in the province of KP in Pakistan, as part of ongoing research project on waste pickers. The procedure for the grounded theory-based analysis consisted of open, axial, and selective coding stages that occurred simulta-neously with the iterative process of data collection.
Findings
The findings of this study suggested that a whopping 99% majority of such workers pretend as if none of their kind exist, possess dual identities, and are stigmatized due to refugee back-grounds. Using the social construction of stigma lens, their identities have been stigmatized amidst their burden of complementing the work of local MSWM authorities. In addition, the findings regarding unpredictable weather patterns, lack of assets, seasonal shocks, uncertain policies, rules of business, and the exploitative subletting of waster picker jurisdictions are reported. This study provides a more thorough understanding of their self-organized work context, an understanding of policies, and the higher survival skills and immunity levels of these workers, even in the absence of safety equipment and measures
Self-organizing, low-tech, informal accidental sustainopreneurs fill the gap in the absence of efficient high-tech municipal solid waste management solutions for cleaner pro-ductions
Arguments
This study has argued that small-scale waste picker sustainopreneurs have an important role in the preservation of the natural envi-ronment.
Keyword
Waste recycling, Collective bricolage, Circular economy, Institutional governance, Taiwan
Objective/Focus
Taking Taiwan’s plastic waste industry as a case study, the goal of this research is to demonstrate how a network-based col-lective bricolage, developed in conjunction with an adaptive in-stitutional governance approach, can address threats to environ-mental sustainability and support a high-performing industrial-level circular economy
Methods
This study adopts a qualitative research approach in acknowledgement that the literature lacks a structured or effective approach for analyzing an economic shift to a circular model, especially in the Asian context. Specifically, the present study is based on action research, a method that has been applied across various social science disciplines. Observation and interviews to collect first-hand data
Findings
Many developing countries in Southeastern Asia, Latin America, and Africa are lacking endogenous innovation capability whereas their common strategy of institutional governance is focused on encouraging foreign investments to accelerate economic growth and industrial upgrading local value chains have come to be largely controlled by MNCs, making it even more difficult for SMEs to compete. Given this inherent resource disadvantage, Taiwan’s experience elaborates significant implications for these countries to develop not only a self-characterized circular economy but also a well-off co-creation society. We described how a network-based collec-tive bricolage can facilitate the value transformation of waste materials and thus give rise to a new socio-economic paradigm; in this case, a circular economy.
Arguments
Network-based col-lective bricolage, developed in conjunction with an adaptive in-stitutional governance approach, can address threats to environ-mental sustainability and support a high-performing industrial-level circular economy.
Conclusion
industrialized manufacturing sectors are foundations upon which developing nations can accumulate en-dogenous social capabilities and can enable the emergence of network-based collective bricolages; for developing nations that are attempting to establish circular economies based on their endogenous small-to-medium enterprises, developing network-based collective bricolages in conjunction with adaptive in-stitutional governance is an essential and effective strategy; and transitioning into green-related sectors can further drive economic development and lead to the creation of new ventures, businesses, and job opportunities while supporting the formation of a circular economy
Keyword
Industrial ecology, Landfill, Life Cycle Assessment, Municipal solid waste, Waste management
Objective/Focus
This review paper provides environmentally-sound and relevant policy support for municipal solid waste management stakeholders through a critical review of the current situation of the waste management sector in LA&C from an environmental perspective.
Methods
Life Cycle Assessment (LCA): an internationally standardized methodology to identify environmental impacts and hotspots in products or services, gains relevance as a decision support tool. Moreover, waste management LCA has become a more specific and specialized research area as the distinct treatment methods to address it may have different benefits and disadvantages depending on the environmental burdens that are being evaluated. The assessment methods are the computational models to calculate the environmental impacts linked to the list of substances that generate impact in a particular environmental compartment.
Findings
The overwhelming use of landfilling in the region as the main solution to the waste prob-lem, which still widely arrives mismanaged to the natural ecosystem, the integration of the informal sector in an integrated waste manage-ment system or the inclusion of alternative waste technologies (e.g., waste to energy technologies) into the system appear as the main challenges that the sector faces in the 2030 horizon. Moreover, the need to synchronize these policies with the concept of circular econ-omy and with the GHG emissions mitigation strategies expected within the frame of the Paris Agreement. The adoption of more sophisticated technologies in landfill sites (e.g. landfill gas flaring), waste-to-energy, as well as higher recycling rates, would en-hance waste management in the region and mitigate environmental impacts to support policy formulations, including climate action, for the adoption of integrated waste management strategies in LA&C (Latin America & Carribean) is imperative.
Arguments
Other treatment methods have better performance as compared to landfills does not mean that they perform equally in different locations or with variable MSW compositions
Conclusion
It is important for stake-holders and policy-makers to avoid replicating policies from developed economies around the world without taking into consideration those local and/or regional scenarios may deserve site-specific modelling. as several studies show, the performance of specific sophisticated technologies (e.g., bioreactors or semi-aerobic technology) depend on local factors, as some may perform better in specific aspects than others and vice-versa. Nevertheless, what remains clear is that something as simple and low cost as flaring the LFG (Landfill gas) will improve the performance of a con-ventional landfill considerably.
Keyword
Plastic packaging waste, EPR, Material flow, Greenhouse gas savings, Circular economy
Objective/Focus
This study examines the current efforts on recycling of the waste by extended producer responsibility (EPR) in South Korea as well as other countries. More specifically, our study examined the generation, recycling rates for resource recovery, and treatment of the waste.
Methods
Empirical Research. The methodology employed in this study included gathering data associated with monitoring results of waste management performed by EPR and national waste generation and disposal status reported by the Korea Ministry of Environment (Korea MOE), site visits to plastic re-cycling facilities, having interviews and conversations with field site workers, and holding expert meetings with government, industry, and academia. We also conducted literature review of published reports and scientific papers, analysis of available statistics and data of the EPR system published by Institute European Environment Policy (IEEP), OECD and EU.
Findings
Material footprint of common single use plastics (i.e., PET water bottles, plastic cups, plastic bags, and plastic containers and cutlery by food delivery) by consumption was estimated to be on average 11.8 kg or 638 disposable plastics per capita a year, resulting in 32.6 billion disposable plastics and 603,000 ton of waste for disposal in South Korea. Approximately, 3 million ton of plastic packaging waste from household waste streams in 2017 in South Korea was generated and treated by energy recovery with solid refuse fuels and heat recovery, incineration without energy recovery, material recycling, and landfilling. Material recycling and recovery rates of plastic packaging waste from households were relatively low at 13.5% and 50.5%, respectively. It was estimated that as much as 3.6 million ton of CO2eq was generated from 2.7 million ton of plastic waste by incineration in 2017.
Arguments
It is important to effectively collect and properly treat plastic packaging waste from households from the view of pollution prevention that otherwise may result in serious human health problems and the environmental impacts by improper management.
Conclusion
Based on the US EPA WARM model, greenhouse gas emission can be reduced to approximately 6.6 million ton of CO2eq when the recycling is implemented for the packaging waste that is currently incinerated.
Cost-effective and advanced recycling technology with innovations is urgently needed for environmentally sound management of plastic packaging waste towards a circular economy to reduce GHG emission as well as potential leakage into the ecosystems.
Keyword
Sustainability, Sustainable circular economy, Smart waste management, Maturity model, Internet of thing (IoT), Sustainable development goals (SDG’s), Industry 4.0
Objective/Focus
to investigate the fundamental issues and opportunities and to develop a sustainable and smart country-wide waste management system using industry 4.0 technologies. The study proposes a new design of smart and sustainable waste management which could achieve satisfactory economic, social, and environmental waste management performances.
Methods
Empirical research. Case study in four urban cities of Indonesia (i.e., Jakarta, Magelang, Semarang, Yogyakarta). Direct observation of both final and temporary disposal centres and landfill areas of the four cities, and the waste management value chain. Direct communication with and semi-structured questionnaires sent to government personnel from municipality and environ-mental departments, collection centre agents, scavengers, recycling industries, and the general community. Intensive discussion with circular economy and ICT practitioners and experts about relevant topics in the waste management value chain.
Findings
The authors presented a new waste management system that is an essential part of our ongoing research objective, to design a industry 4.0 technology based smart waste management system to implement a sustainable circular economy.
By using ICT as the core of the system, this system finds the capability of existing performance in waste management, in which real-time, smart, flexible, and reliable waste management performance and information covering governance, economic, social, and environ-mental dimensions can be achieved
Arguments
The system should provide a multi-dimensional approach, determine the maturity level of the waste management system in a technical method, and pursue the goal of designing a new strategy to minimise waste management problems.
Conclusion
The use of ICT and IoT improves the efficiency and effectiveness of the waste management system, despite having some technical challenges such as limited type of sensors, complexity of system, and limited mechanical technology, all of which are to be overcome before product development.
Keyword
Circular economy, Water, Wastewater, Resources, Sustainability, India
Objective/Focus
The aim of this study is to review the world-wide growth of CE concept in the water sector from an economic, environmental, social, and technical perspective.. In this study, the world-wide status of CE implementation in the water sector is assessed and strategies to encourage and enhance CE implementation are proposed
Methods
Systematic literature review and categorized in economic, environmental, social, and technical criteria including a combination of multiple criteria segregated based on the four criteria i.e. Economic, Environmental, Social, and Technical. The segregation was based on either single or multiple criterion depending on the focused criteria by manual screening of each paper.
Findings
Starting from 1990, the work on CE in water sector has increased steadily till 2015 and spontaneously from 2016 till 2019 which indicates increased interest in the research community to enable CE practices around the world. Countries in the European region and China are highly active to implement CE initiatives as the awareness and policy reforms are efficient. Thus, there is a need to formulate policies and efficient enforcement in other parts of the world to provide an impetus for CE implementation. Although technology advancement in wastewater reclamation, recycle, and recovery is enormous, there is a need to develop strong business models to maintain and sustain the technological solutions in various settings.
Arguments
There is a need to understand urban water balance to monitor, manage, and assess the inflow and outflow of water within the urban area
Conclusion
From the comprehensive review carried out in this work, it is observed that there is a substantial technological and methodological growth of CE throughout the world in water sector. Also, the environ-mental aspect received adequate attention with the major focus on in-dustrial ecology, LCA, and resource management, to achieve sustainability at varying scale. However, the review revealed that social and economic aspects require further attention
Keyword
Green chemistry, Clothings, Circular Economy
Objective/Focus
This study aims to contribute to a new textiles economy by rethinking the existing textiles economy and capturing opportunities missed by its current linear nature.
Methods
Empirical Research. Through hands-on chemical experiments that goes on pretreatment, enzyme hydrolysis, and polyethylene terephthalate recovery.
Findings
The proposed biorefinery strategy is capable to recycle more than 70% of the textiles including 100% cotton, 100% polyester, jeans and cottonepolyester blend textiles. The recovered PET can be directly reused in the textile industry. Mean-while, the purified glucose solution can be easily turned into other value-added chemicals and materials via fermentation and chemical synthesis processes. Overall, the proposed process provides a clean tech-nology to enable a close-loop recycling strategy for the textiles industry by capturing the embodied value of PET fibre, which would lead to the establishment of a circular economy.
Conclusion
The concept of circular economy is an opportunity to scale-up via both biobased economy and green chemistry approaches. The utilization of biological waste resources from industry to provide its own feedstock maximises creative value and minimises environmental impact
Keyword
Indicators, Metrics,Circular business model, Sustainability, Circular economy
Objective/Focus
This paper aims to develop a set of indicators linking Circular Economy principles, Circular Business Model and the pillars of Sustainability.
Methods
Exploratory studies. It aims to explore a problem and collect information about the subject to build the hypothesis. In addition, an explanatory study identify and explain the roots of a problem; explaining the reality. Usually, exploratory studies offer a more detailed view of the subject. Thus, our research is exploratory because we formulated the indicators requirements based on literature and we tested our theory through empirical sections. The set of indicators was developed based in the hypothetic-deductive approach, following a number of iterations (cycles) and testing the theory in the empirical world. A mix of research methods (e.g. expert consulting, user’s feedback, and case studies) was applied.
Findings
This paper succeeded investigates how companies could measure their performance in CE and proposed a multi-dimensional set of in-dicators to demonstrate benefits to measure at the micro level. These indicators were developed based on a hypothetic-deductive approach and were applied in a multiple case study. The main point is to create simple and clear indicators to be applied in diverse sectors and contribute with this area of research. Hence companies may follow CE aims to seek sustainability and ultimately help to achieve SDGs: Clean water and sanitation (Goal 6), Affordable and clean energy (Goal 7), Decent work and economic growth (Goal 8), Industry, innovation, and infrastructure (Goal 9), Responsible con-sumption and production (Goal 12) and Climate action (Goal 13).
Arguments
The main contribution of this paper is the development of a group of indicators, focused in the three dimensions of Sustainability (environmental (from material perspective), economic and social), applied in Circular Business Models to capture the innovations brought by Circular Economy that conventional indicators do not measure
Conclusion
This study is concluded with the formulation of group of indicators which are presented in a table.
Keyword
Textile, Fashion industry, Circular economy, Sustainability
Objective/Focus
This research aims to study the significance of circular fashion and textile, various approaches for reuse, recycle and repurposing of the textiles waste as well as disruptive scientific breakthroughs, innovations and strategies towards a circular textile economy
Methods
The author mentioned that the data used in this research is obtained through a systematic literature review.
Findings
The usage of new raw materials in fashion industry that have less environ-mental impact, Substitution of replacement of chemical dyes with natural dyes,
Arguments
Use of Internet of things (IOT) technology for different stages of farm-ing(smart farming), fabrication of textile and recycling of clothes development of wastewater treatment on site, processes by safe biochemical processes,
Conclusion
The use of circular plastic approach for maximizing the use of Plastic waste such as PLA and PET in fashion industry can help in achieving circular economy goals.
Keyword
Textile waste, Reverse logistics, Clothing industry, Cluster
Objective/Focus
The objective of this article is to identify opportunities for improvement in the use of reverse logistics (RL) in clothing industries, as well as to list the existing strengths in the valuation of textile waste (TW) and minimize environmental impacts.
Methods
Empirical research using questionnaire. The questionnaire was constructed, based on the existing literature. The content of the questionnaire included closed-structure sentences designed to identify the management of textile waste (TW), mapping the possible RL processes and the benefits provided by these actions, with a view to those aspects of the process involving the reduction of impacts on the environment and costs, and compli-ance with legislation that is aimed at waste recovery.
Findings
It was found that textile waste must be seen as a coproduct (raw material) to be used in a new cycle, therefore reaching the strategic objective of RL. The main opportunity to increase the clothing cluster advance is given by readjusting the disposition of textile waste by means of reuse and commercialization of the waste generated by the companies in the clothing cluster.
Arguments
The authors believe the use of RL processes (control, segregation, storing and collection of materials) enables recovery of waste by means of marketing and reuse.
Conclusion
Despite the existence of strengths in the use of the RL for the TW valuing in the clothing industry, it is still required a readjustment of the destination of TW as a by-product to be used in a new cycle
Keyword
African Industrialization, Technology in Africa Circular Economy
Objective/Focus
This article aims to articulate how Africa and any other under-developed country/continent can achieve sustainable development.
Methods
Scientific-technological methods to meet the above objectives has been well advanced with ‘Wieland and Gutzler’ developing environmental impact assessment tool based on dynamic fuzzy simulation.
Findings
This research uncovers ways to achieve sustainable development. That includes minimizingHazardous waste from chemical industries using technological tools.
Heat from industries and incinerators can be utilized in the gen-eration of heating/cooling/electricity generation systems.
Valuable metals from electronic wastes must be extracted before waste incineration incineration of solid wastes.
The emission of CO2 into the atmosphere can be mitigated by methods such as injection of CO2 into deep permeable geologic reservoirs, and biological treatment of wastewater.
Arguments
The use of comprehensive strategic environmental assessment tools for proposed policies plans and programs and environmental impact assessment for projects can see Africa achieve sustainable development.
Conclusion
The use of life circle assessment tools to guide in technological transfer from developed countries to Africa is highly recommended. However, each transfer must be well analyzed and regional/cultural differences incorporated in the transfer process. Furthermore, the need to incorporate substance flow analysis at all stages should be an important guiding factor for technological transfer.
Keyword
Informal recycling, Waste pickers, Sustainable livelihoods and vulnerabilities, Occupational health, Mongolia
Objective/Focus
The focus of our paper is to assess the current situation of informal waste pickers in the peri-urban informal settlements in Ulaanbaatar City, to learn about the overall socio-economic aspects of informal recycling, as well as the specific livelihood conditions of these workers in Ulaanbaatar and which can apply also to other places in Mongolia.
Methods
Empirical study with mixed methods approach. Including interviews, questionnaires, and observations to collect primary data.
Questionnaire was used to get quantitative baseline information on diverse livelihood facets of the informal recyclers, including on their income and health status. Additionally, some qualitative tools were used to complement the data set, including focus group discussions, key informant interviews and participant observation.
Findings
Widespread and serious problems are related to the level of poverty that affects this population. Waste picking allows them to buy a drink and the bare minimum food supplies to survive. Alcohol eases the experience of being poor and excluded, but also maintains the ‘limbo circumstance’. The focus group with waste pickers confirmed their high dependency on alcohol. Extreme cold weather, social exclusion, isola-tion and discrimination, imprisonment and the lack of other jobs cat-alyze the regular alcohol consumption. “
Arguments
The creation of recycling co-operatives or other forms of collective organizations can help address livelihood situations of the waste pickers.
Conclusion
Insights from the livelihood assessment suggest the need for policy formulation, recommending future development programs that target this vulnerable population. Access to micro credit would help stimulate grassroots social innovations, for example micro-entrepreneurial recycling, as mentioned by some waste pickers.
Keyword
Sustainability, Agenda 2030, Climate change, Waste management, Waste pickers
Objective/Focus
The aim of this article is to discuss the role of the LM for the fulfillment of several SDGs.
Methods
Data were collected from scientific publications and reports from private sector.The analysis of the data was carried out in the following manner: firstly, the percentage frequency distribution of the objectives worldwide and for every region was conducted Secondly, according to the research objective the objectives’ categories that were more relevant were selected. Finally, the benefits of each of these categories were correlated with the SDGs (and its specific targets), evaluating their impact on compliance with this interna-tional agreement..
Findings
The analysis reveals that LM as a strategic tool can be established in public policies to fulfill at least 11 of the 17 SDGs. To demonstrate, the article discussed three objectives categories (environmental protection, recovery of excavated waste and urbanization) and its repercussion in the fulfillment of the SDGs. To comply with specific SDGs, the economic, social and environ-mental situation of the territory must be studied before imple-menting this technology. Its proper use will ensure significant contributions towards the achievement of SD and mitigation of climate change
Arguments
Landfill Mining (LM) is presented as a strategic tool that, if established properly within waste management public policies, it can contribute to SD and mitigation of climate change
Conclusion
The authors also consider the use of LM successful in regions whose main technology is a sanitary landfill for the final disposal of waste, considering the increasingly rigorous criteria imposed by regulations and the effects on the environment of these sites, even after several years of disuse.
Finally, the authors propose the use of Landfill Mining as a tool for social inclusion for compliance with SDGs related to social development. In this last approach, according to the characteristics of Latin America and other countries in the Southern Hemisphere, this tool can bring social benefits to the social inclusion of waste pickers (WPs).
Keyword
Second-hand clothing, India, SEZs, Ethicality, Informal markets, Corruption
Objective/Focus
This paper will question the limits of ethicality in the international second-hand clothing (SHC) trade, beginning with its ethical framing in the global north, and then outlines related research into developing SHC markets in the global south.
Methods
Empirical Research. The data in this article were collected through interviews conducted with relevant stakeholders and literature review to obtain qualitiative data.
Findings
This overview of the SHC trade in India supports Chaterjee’s politics of the dispossessed and recent ethnographies of politics, power and corruption, suggesting that having a significant network of resources in informal, non-corporate and illicit economies enables people to function effectively in the modern Indian econ-omy, and that operators need to be able to move between these spheres to achieve success
Arguments
To enable traders at the end of the chain to earn a living, those concerned to make an ethical interven-tion in secondary markets will have to politically engage with local structures of power, and accept that these markets may be messy and unpredictable.
Conclusion
Ultimately the global SHC trade is predicated upon the unsustainable production and consumption of fast fashion that feeds it. As low-paid producers in the global south consume cast-offs from the global north, which they may have made but cannot afford to buy new, the whole cycle is characterised by increasing social and economic inequalities both within and between trading states.
Keyword
E-waste, China, Informal worker, Environmental impacts, Air pollution, Soil contamination
Objective/Focus
The overarching aim of this research is to provide insight from within the e-waste recycling system in Beijing by conducting ethnographic interviews with informal e-waste collectors and re-cyclers to give them a voice.
Methods
Research for this project was a combination of primary research and secondary research on current literature on e-waste flows and recycling in China and other developing countries. Secondary sources included academic, media, NGO reports, international e-waste legislation, and all relevant Chinese legislation
Findings
The informal economy of e-waste recycling is firmly established and cannot be phased out, especially with the rapid growth of the global e-waste stream. Legislation needs to recognise the efficiency of the informal recy-cling market to strengthen safer modes of recycling
In the upstream, companies need to move away from end-of-pipe tech-nologies and move towards Design for Environment (DfE) and clean production processes so that EE products will be safer to handle and recycle.
Arguments
China is faced with an environmental problem of complex spatiality, created by social and political processes and shaped by transnational networks
Conclusion
China should realise the potential of the informal work force and legitimising their work and place in society by creating legislation that integrates the existing system by improving existing methods and not necessarily replacing them
Keyword
Circular economy, Product-service system, Cleaner production, Micro-level
Objective/Focus
This paper aims to explore the cleaner production principles and practices adopted by a manufacturing company located in an emerging economy in order to understand how these were valuable in foster circular economy implementation.
Methods
Data were obtained from semi-structured and spontaneous in-terviews with managers, on-site observations, and longitudinal investigation regarding the business model implementation, in order to achieve methodological fit with the data collection. As a general strategy of analysis, this study firstly relied on a case description. In addition, data analysis involved working on the data from the ground up
Findings
This research discovers that cleaner production (CP) practices for product optimization are valuable to circular economy (CE) implementation regarding circular product design strategies and to increase the value durability of products. The second proposition states that the CP principle of input substitution is valuable in reducing input and the use of natural resources, as well as in increasing the share of renewable and recyclable resources. The third proposition asserts that an increase in the efficiency of material and energy use in processes and internal recycling may allow the reduction of valuable materials losses. The fourth proposition is that technological optimization can contribute to reduce emissions level. Finally, the last proposition states that CP practices in the production area enable the implementation of CE practices at the micro-level and are connected to other CE areas (i.e. waste management, consumption, and support processes).
Arguments
the adoption of cleaner production practices as part of company culture may act as a facilitator for circular economy implementation at the micro-level.
Conclusion
Connections between CP practices and principles and CE implementation at the micro-level exist, and CP practices foster the implementation of CE principles in the larger picture.
