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Circular Use of Resources - Theoretical and Practical Approaches of...
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Circular Use of Resources - Theoretical and Practical Approaches of Sustainable Technologies, Business Models and Organizational Innovations

A special issue of Resources (ISSN 2079-9276).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (1 February 2020) | Viewed by 72502

Printed Edition Available!
A printed edition of this Special Issue is available here.

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Fogarassy Csaba

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Climate Change Economics Research Centre, Faculty of Economics and Social Sciences, Szent Istvan University, 2100 Gödöllő, Hungary
Interests: circular economy; bio-economy; renewable energy systems; business innovation; biological production, climate change economy
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. József H.c. Popp

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute of Sectoral Economics and Methodology, Faculty of Economics and Business, University of Debrecen, 4032 Debrecen, Hungary
Interests: agricultural economics; bioenergy; climate change; food security; circular economy
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. David Christian Finger

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Science and Engineering, Reykjavik University, 101 Reykjavík, Iceland
Interests: environmental science earth and planetary sciences; agricultural and biological sciences; social sciences; sustainable engineering; circular innovations; alternative energy

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Circular solutions are essential to tackle the eminent challenges of depleting resources and emerging environmental problems. The complex nature of material and energy systems and the changing economic and technological conditions are different among the EU member states as a result of the introduction and application of very different practices in developed and rapidly developing countries of the world. A wide variety of theoretical approaches can be used to facilitate a shift from the linear use of resources to circular systems, e.g., circular product planning, zero waste management, service-based repairing, refurbishing, and remanufacturing; to name just a few. The introduction and examination of circular solutions can be based on theoretical models in order to guarantee ensure successful application. Successful application of innovative technology approaches, business solutions, and organizational development can be facilitated through theoretical models and new scientific results that support innovation processes.

This Special Issue focuses on sustainable and innovative methods which help and enable the proper use and recovery of resources. Research papers, reviews, short communications, and case studies that introduce or discuss circular solutions for a sustainable use of resources are welcomed. In particular, we encourage the submission of papers on circular manufacturing, sustainable digitalization, platform sharing, up- and down cycling, reusing, refurbishing, leasing, servicing, loaning, and capacity sharing.

The following papers are examples of the scope of the Special Issue:

Horvath, B.; Mallinguh, E.; Fogarassy, C. Designing Business Solutions for Plastic Waste Management to Enhance Circular Transitions in Kenya. Sustainability 2018, 10, 1664.

Fogarassy, C.; Neubauer, E.; Mansur, H.; Tangl, A.; Oláh, J.; Popp, J. The main transition management issues and the effects of environmental accounting on financial performance – with focus on cement industry. Administratie si Management Public 2018, (31), pp. 52-66.

Horvath, B.; Khazami, N.; Ymeri, P.; Fogarassy, C. Investigating the Current Business Model Innovation Trends in the Biotechnology Industry. JBEM 2019, 20, 63-85.

Prof. Dr. József Popp
Dr. Csaba Fogarassy
Dr. David Christian Finger
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Resources is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • biological loops
  • business model application
  • circular innovation
  • circular manufacturing
  • closed loop energy system
  • environmental engineering
  • industrial circulation
  • renewable energy management
  • resource management
  • service-based economy
  • sharing economy
  • sharing platforms
  • sustainable digitalization
  • technological cycles
  • water management

Published Papers (9 papers)

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Editorial

Jump to: Research, Review, Other

9 pages, 225 KiB  
Editorial
Theoretical and Practical Approaches of Circular Economy for Business Models and Technological Solutions
by Csaba Fogarassy and David Finger
Resources 2020, 9(6), 76; https://doi.org/10.3390/resources9060076 - 22 Jun 2020
Cited by 42 | Viewed by 9428
Abstract
Circular solutions are essential to tackle the imminent challenges of depleting resources and emerging environmental problems. The complex nature of material and energy systems and the changing economic and technological conditions depend on regional settings and accordingly result differently in developed and rapidly [...] Read more.
Circular solutions are essential to tackle the imminent challenges of depleting resources and emerging environmental problems. The complex nature of material and energy systems and the changing economic and technological conditions depend on regional settings and accordingly result differently in developed and rapidly developing countries of the world. A wide variety of theoretical approaches can be used to facilitate a shift from the linear use of resources to circular systems, e.g., circular product planning, zero waste management, service-based repairing, refurbishing, and remanufacturing, to name just a few. The introduction and examination of circular solutions can be based on theoretical models in order to guarantee and ensure a successful application. The successful application of innovative technology approaches, business solutions, and organizational development can be facilitated through theoretical models and new scientific results that support innovation processes. The presented article focuses on sustainable and innovative methods that help and enable the proper use and recovery of resources. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Circular Use of Resources - Theoretical and Practical Approaches of Sustainable Technologies, Business Models and Organizational Innovations)

Research

Jump to: Editorial, Review, Other

15 pages, 1113 KiB  
Article
Life Cycle Assessment of the Closed-Loop Recycling of Used Disposable Diapers
by Norihiro Itsubo, Mitsuhiro Wada, Shigeo Imai, Akira Myoga, Naoki Makino and Koichi Shobatake
Resources 2020, 9(3), 34; https://doi.org/10.3390/resources9030034 - 17 Mar 2020
Cited by 12 | Viewed by 7191
Abstract
In Japan, approximately 23.5 billion paper diapers are produced annually (total of diapers for infants and adults produced in 2018). The majority of used paper diapers are disposed of through incineration; in certain regions, some paper diapers are recycled, mostly by open-loop recycling [...] Read more.
In Japan, approximately 23.5 billion paper diapers are produced annually (total of diapers for infants and adults produced in 2018). The majority of used paper diapers are disposed of through incineration; in certain regions, some paper diapers are recycled, mostly by open-loop recycling or thermal recycling. To date, several methods of recycling used paper diapers have been proposed and developed, but these methods are considered to have different types and amounts of recycled materials and different environmental performances. In this study, a new technology was developed for the closed-loop recycling of used paper diapers, and the use of the recycled pulp and superabsorbent polymer (SAP) as materials for paper diapers was evaluated via the environmental impact using the life cycle assessment (LCA) method, using data obtained from experimental facilities for recycling. The results between the comparison of the new method with the landfill and incineration processes demonstrate a greenhouse gas reduction of 47% and 39%, respectively. The results also show that such recycling is expected to reduce land-use occupation and water consumption, closely related to the pulp, main raw material of paper diapers. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Circular Use of Resources - Theoretical and Practical Approaches of Sustainable Technologies, Business Models and Organizational Innovations)
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16 pages, 5098 KiB  
Article
Environmental Assessment of Innovative Paper Recycling Technology Using Product Lifecycle Perspectives
by Yuya Ono, Masaaki Hayashi, Koichiro Yokoyama, Takehiko Okamura and Norihiro Itsubo
Resources 2020, 9(3), 23; https://doi.org/10.3390/resources9030023 - 29 Feb 2020
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 9941
Abstract
Paper can be reused to efficiently manage biomass consumption, meaning that it has potential as an environmentally friendly material. On the other hand, because of high energy usage during the recycling process and transportation inefficiencies, there is a call for the development of [...] Read more.
Paper can be reused to efficiently manage biomass consumption, meaning that it has potential as an environmentally friendly material. On the other hand, because of high energy usage during the recycling process and transportation inefficiencies, there is a call for the development of technologies that can mitigate this environmental burden. This study evaluated, from a lifecycle perspective, a new technology that can collect and recycle paper within the office. This technology can reduce by over 90% the amount of water used compared with the conventional recycled paper that is pulped and bleached once by the dry process. It also eliminates transportation from paper collection facilities to recycling factories, reducing greenhouse gas emissions. This new technology is already in use in Japan, and analyses by user data indicate that evaluation results differ greatly depending on the utilization rate of the machine. In the future, environmental information should be shared by both users and manufacturers, so that users could increase their utilization rate, and manufacturers could develop alternative bonding agents in order to further reduce the total environmental burden. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Circular Use of Resources - Theoretical and Practical Approaches of Sustainable Technologies, Business Models and Organizational Innovations)
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27 pages, 1025 KiB  
Article
Dominant Consumer Attitudes in the Sharing Economy—A Representative Study in Hungary
by Gabriella Buda, Barbara Pethes and József Lehota
Resources 2020, 9(1), 1; https://doi.org/10.3390/resources9010001 - 27 Dec 2019
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 7821
Abstract
As a result of the digital revolution, new business models are emerging, and one of the most dynamic is the sharing economy. In many cases, the strategic communication of sharing economy firms is linked to current socio-economic trends, such as digital innovation, consumers’ [...] Read more.
As a result of the digital revolution, new business models are emerging, and one of the most dynamic is the sharing economy. In many cases, the strategic communication of sharing economy firms is linked to current socio-economic trends, such as digital innovation, consumers’ empowerment, experience gaining (instead of stock), environmental awareness, and community building. In our research (a nationwide representative sample of 3520), we aimed to determine how open the Hungarian population is toward sharing economy services. Furthermore, we explored the relationship between openness and consumers’ socio-demographic factors, attitudes related to the current consumer trends and Internet usage habits. As a result, we found that 38.4% of the Hungarian population is open toward sharing economy services. From a socio-demographic point of view, wealthy, metropolitan, family-oriented, educated, and younger people are more open toward sharing activities. In terms of consumer attitudes, people who take risks, like having a social life, are environmentally and health conscious, spend their leisure time actively, enjoy quality things, and have a positive attitude toward digitalization are more open to using the sharing economy services. As a final result of the regression modeling, we found that the examined consumer attitudes and Internet usage habits determine openness, but socio-demographic factors largely lose their significant effect, except for generation and wealth, in the case of the integrated model. Our results show that a well-defined and relatively large segment is open to the sharing economy, and sharing economy companies could target them directly to achieve a more sustainable environment. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Circular Use of Resources - Theoretical and Practical Approaches of Sustainable Technologies, Business Models and Organizational Innovations)
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16 pages, 2398 KiB  
Article
Example of a German Free-Float Car-Sharing Company Expansion in East-Central Europe
by Árpád Tóth and Cecília Szigeti
Resources 2019, 8(4), 172; https://doi.org/10.3390/resources8040172 - 08 Nov 2019
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 5785
Abstract
This study examines the expansion of a German free-float car-sharing company in Hungary from financial and sustainability perspectives. BMW and Daimler recently created the joint ventures ShareNow, ChargeNow, ReachNow, FreeNow, and ParkNow, which are having a significant global impact, as their services are [...] Read more.
This study examines the expansion of a German free-float car-sharing company in Hungary from financial and sustainability perspectives. BMW and Daimler recently created the joint ventures ShareNow, ChargeNow, ReachNow, FreeNow, and ParkNow, which are having a significant global impact, as their services are now available in 14 different countries. We also expect further market development, since ShareNow started to operate in Hungary in May 2019. The whole EU market is just one step away from being covered by the same professional service, and the future might bring a real globally available free-float car-sharing service provider. Our review used a combination of two methodologies: financial statement-based business analysis and sustainability analysis. On the basis of this study, we concluded that these companies are primarily operated for profit and not on a sustainable operation basis. Additionally, it was also found that the current statistical data collection method does not measure precisely these activities. Financial reporting and sustainability reporting are connected, but they cover different areas. As a subject of further research, we suggest examining whether it is possible to establish a clear connection between these methodologies in the foreseeable future. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Circular Use of Resources - Theoretical and Practical Approaches of Sustainable Technologies, Business Models and Organizational Innovations)
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19 pages, 6275 KiB  
Article
Circular Economy and its Comparison with 14 Other Business Sustainability Movements
by Gergely Tóth
Resources 2019, 8(4), 159; https://doi.org/10.3390/resources8040159 - 25 Sep 2019
Cited by 21 | Viewed by 7251
Abstract
Circular economy is not the first, and probably not the last “movement” in the arena of sustainability macroeconomic and business solutions. In this article we produce a—not full—list of similar movements from the 1990s, publish a comparative table and propose a simple framework [...] Read more.
Circular economy is not the first, and probably not the last “movement” in the arena of sustainability macroeconomic and business solutions. In this article we produce a—not full—list of similar movements from the 1990s, publish a comparative table and propose a simple framework to decide the significant points of the life cycle of such a kind of movement. For significant points and statistics, we use simplified content analysis from normal and scientific research engines. Finally, we use this framework to make a forecast about time for the circular economy approach “to stay on the top” and conclude if these movements are “Much Ado about Nothing” or they help us on our way to a sustainable planetary, social and economic system. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Circular Use of Resources - Theoretical and Practical Approaches of Sustainable Technologies, Business Models and Organizational Innovations)
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15 pages, 1231 KiB  
Article
Differences, Constraints and Key Elements of Providing Local Sharing Economy Services in Different-Sized Cities: A Hungarian Case
by Katalin Czakó, Kinga Szabó, Marcell Tóth and Dávid Fekete
Resources 2019, 8(3), 147; https://doi.org/10.3390/resources8030147 - 17 Aug 2019
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 4091
Abstract
The business models of sharing economy services can differ from each other in different-sized cities. This paper provides a deeper understanding of the implementation of locally operating services for car, bicycle and office sharing in the urban environment. Our goal is to reveal [...] Read more.
The business models of sharing economy services can differ from each other in different-sized cities. This paper provides a deeper understanding of the implementation of locally operating services for car, bicycle and office sharing in the urban environment. Our goal is to reveal the differences between the capital city and an economically well-developed city in order to provide beneficial findings to the development of the presently operating services, or to the possible implementation of future services. Methodology of the paper applies the Business Model Canvas approach (BMC). We introduce a comparative analysis using data from the Hungarian database, which records details of all the publicly visible sharing economy services countrywide. The results show that BMC can reflect the main differences, constraints and key elements in the business models of sharing economy services. We can say that, in the case of a bike sharing service operated in the non-capital city, there is more segmentation than seen in the same service in the capital. There are significant price differences, especially in the case of long-term tickets. The number of inhabitants and private capital remain the biggest constraints in the case of car-sharing services, but there is also a possibility of implementation in the non-capital cities by applying small-scale services with a good value proposition and segmentation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Circular Use of Resources - Theoretical and Practical Approaches of Sustainable Technologies, Business Models and Organizational Innovations)
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Review

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21 pages, 1086 KiB  
Review
Examination of Short Supply Chains Based on Circular Economy and Sustainability Aspects
by Konrád Kiss, Csaba Ruszkai and Katalin Takács-György
Resources 2019, 8(4), 161; https://doi.org/10.3390/resources8040161 - 26 Sep 2019
Cited by 76 | Viewed by 13431
Abstract
The sustainability of global food chains and intense agricultural production has become questionable. At the same time, the consumers’ interest in short supply chains (SSCs) and direct sales from producers has increased. SSCs are connected to sustainability by researchers. Their (supposed) positive sustainability [...] Read more.
The sustainability of global food chains and intense agricultural production has become questionable. At the same time, the consumers’ interest in short supply chains (SSCs) and direct sales from producers has increased. SSCs are connected to sustainability by researchers. Their (supposed) positive sustainability attributes are based mostly on extensive production methods and short transport distances. However, from other points of view, the economic and environmental sustainability of the short chains is questionable. Our research aims to cast light on the SSCs’ role in circular economy and sustainability. By deep literature review and content analysis, we determine the sustainability aspects of short (local) chains and their effects related to economy and environment. Short supply chains are connected most widely to circularity and sustainability by the subjects of environmental burden (transport, production method, emission), health, food quality, consumers’ behavior, producer-consumer relationships, and local economy. According to our experience, these factors cannot be generalised across all kinds of short chains. Their circular economic and sustainability features are dependent on their spatial location, type, and individual attitudes of the involved consumers and producers. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Circular Use of Resources - Theoretical and Practical Approaches of Sustainable Technologies, Business Models and Organizational Innovations)
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Other

14 pages, 4147 KiB  
Project Report
Improving the Efficiency of Pyrolysis and Increasing the Quality of Gas Production through Optimization of Prototype Systems
by Csaba Fogarassy, Laszlo Toth, Marton Czikkely and David Christian Finger
Resources 2019, 8(4), 182; https://doi.org/10.3390/resources8040182 - 15 Dec 2019
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 6307
Abstract
Pyrolysis is a thermochemical process that consists of the degradation of organic polymers and biomass minerals in lignocellulose materials. At low pyrolysis temperature (300–400 °C), primarily carbon is produced during the reaction time. Rapid pyrolysis takes place at temperatures between 500 and 650 [...] Read more.
Pyrolysis is a thermochemical process that consists of the degradation of organic polymers and biomass minerals in lignocellulose materials. At low pyrolysis temperature (300–400 °C), primarily carbon is produced during the reaction time. Rapid pyrolysis takes place at temperatures between 500 and 650 °C. If the temperature is higher than 700 °C, the final product is methane, also known as biogas. The pyrolysis generator can be combined with a small power plant (CHP), which is a promising technology because the unit can be installed directly near the biomass production, and electricity can be fed de-centrally to the public utility network, while there are several possibilities for using waste heat in local systems. Carbonaceous ash can be utilized well in the agricultural field, because, in areas with intensive farming, the soil suffers from carbon and mineral deficiencies, and the phenomenon of material defect can be reduced by a proper level of implementation. This study describes the technical content of the biochar pilot project, and then, through a detailed presentation of the experimental results, we interpret the new scientific results. Our aim is to improve the quality of the produced gas by increasing the efficiency of the pyrolysis generator. In order for the pyrolysis unit to operate continuously, with proper efficiency and good gas quality, it is necessary to optimize the operation process. Our review reveals that the use of vibration may be advantageous during pyrolysis, which affects the mass of the pyrolysis carbon in a plane. Accordingly, the application of vibration to the input section of the funnel might enhance the quality of the gas, as well. The study concludes that more accurate dimensioning of the main parts of the gas reactor and a more convenient design of the oxidation and reduction zones enhance the good-quality gas output. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Circular Use of Resources - Theoretical and Practical Approaches of Sustainable Technologies, Business Models and Organizational Innovations)
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