TY - JOUR
T1 - Perception and awareness of circular economy within water-intensive and bio-based sectors
T2 - Understanding, benefits and barriers
AU - Chrispim, Mariana Cardoso
AU - Mattsson, Marie
AU - Ulvenblad, Pia
PY - 2024/7/20
Y1 - 2024/7/20
N2 - Perception and awareness can affect behaviour and decision-making, for example, how companies implement Circular Economy (CE) practices. However, there is limited empirical research about this topic. Thus, we investigated the perception and awareness of representatives from water-intensive and bio-based sectors regarding the CE concept based on interviews and a survey with 10 companies in Sweden. Our results indicate that CE is understood mainly as zero waste and its key principles are resource efficiency and ecodesign. Missing (or partially addressed) important elements of CE are consumption, social aspects, regenerative role of CE, collaboration, and Industrial Symbiosis. The main benefit from implementing circular strategies is economic, and the main barrier is the lack of financial resources. The bio-based companies have a broader understanding of CE and its benefits than the water-intensive companies, and more clarification and standardisation of the CE concept is necessary to avoid misunderstanding with other concepts such as sustainability.
AB - Perception and awareness can affect behaviour and decision-making, for example, how companies implement Circular Economy (CE) practices. However, there is limited empirical research about this topic. Thus, we investigated the perception and awareness of representatives from water-intensive and bio-based sectors regarding the CE concept based on interviews and a survey with 10 companies in Sweden. Our results indicate that CE is understood mainly as zero waste and its key principles are resource efficiency and ecodesign. Missing (or partially addressed) important elements of CE are consumption, social aspects, regenerative role of CE, collaboration, and Industrial Symbiosis. The main benefit from implementing circular strategies is economic, and the main barrier is the lack of financial resources. The bio-based companies have a broader understanding of CE and its benefits than the water-intensive companies, and more clarification and standardisation of the CE concept is necessary to avoid misunderstanding with other concepts such as sustainability.
U2 - 10.1016/j.jclepro.2024.142725
DO - 10.1016/j.jclepro.2024.142725
M3 - Article
SN - 0959-6526
VL - 464
JO - Journal of Cleaner Production
JF - Journal of Cleaner Production
M1 - 142725
ER -