Circular Economy has been gaining increasing attention not only in the academic world, but also in countries’ political agendas and business practices. Nonetheless, much confusion still surrounds the concept itself, while the inherent complexity and systematicity of the issue put feasibility at risk on one hand, and make implementation rather hard on the other. The scope of this thesis is there is to further investigate the concept and principles of Circular Economy, and eventually propose a proper modelling framework to evaluate and foster the implementation of this approach. Based on the literature review conducted, a Matrix to evaluate the level of implementation of Circular Economy at industry level was developed based on two main dimensions: the 4R Framework (i.e. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Recover) and the Supply Chain Relationships established by a manufacturing firm to implement such principles. To do so, a single-case study with twenty-three units of analysis embedded was built, to allow a meticulous and in-depth investigation of the Wooden Construction Industry, mainly focused on the Italian landscape and on the reuse and recycling possibilities of post-consumer wood. Interviews, documents reviews and site visits reported a rather dappled landscape, both in terms of firms’ level of implementation and motivations behind the principles adopted. In particular, firms in this industry engage in a variety of exchanges involving different actors along the chain, but these exchanges are mainly devoted to recycling virgin wood or recovering energy from it, while post-consumer wood results very much overlooked, hence several transition tools are identified, and numerous systems observations are formulated to help firms in this sector transition towards more virtuous principles implementation. The analysis brings to a few implications structured on three hinges: sector (specific tools need to be developed ad hoc for the industry considered), process (an iterative refinement of the Matrix’ axes and tools is required to propose a coherent and constructive shift framework) and content (complexity and systematicity of approach are embedded in the circular concept and needs to be translated into the actual framework). The scope of this thesis is there is to further investigate the concept and principles of Circular Economy, and eventually propose a proper modelling framework to evaluate and foster the implementation of this approach. Based on the literature review conducted, a Matrix to evaluate the level of implementation of Circular Economy at industry level was developed based on two main dimensions: the 4R Framework (i.e. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Recover) and the Supply Chain Relationships established by a manufacturing firm to implement such principles. To do so, a single-case study with twenty-three units of analysis embedded was built, to allow a meticulous and in-depth investigation of the Wooden Construction Industry, mainly focused on the Italian landscape and on the reuse and recycling possibilities of post-consumer wood. Interviews, documents reviews and site visits reported a rather dappled landscape, both in terms of firms’ level of implementation and motivations behind the principles adopted. In particular, firms in this industry engage in a variety of exchanges involving different actors along the chain, but these exchanges are mainly devoted to recycling virgin wood or recovering energy from it, while post-consumer wood results very much overlooked, hence several transition tools are identified to help firms in this sector transition towards more virtuous principles implementation. The Matrix evaluation analysis brings to some considerations concerning three macro categories: sector (specific tools need to be developed ad hoc for the industry considered), process (an iterative refinement of the Matrix’ axes and tools is required to propose a coherent and constructive shift framework) and content (complexity and systematicity of approach are embedded in the circular concept and needs to be translated into the actual framework).
L'Economia Circolare sta guadagnando sempre più attenzione non solo nel mondo accademico, ma anche nelle agende politiche e nelle pratiche commerciali dei paesi. Ciononostante, molta confusione circonda ancora il concetto stesso, mentre l'intrinseca complessità e sistematicità del problema mettono a rischio da una parte la fattibilità, e dall’altra la attuazione stessa. Lo scopo di questa tesi è investigare ulteriormente il concetto e i principi dell'Economia Circolare, e proporre un adeguato quadro di modellizzazione per valutare l'attuazione di questo approccio. Sulla base della revisione della letteratura condotta, una matrice per valutare il livello di implementazione dell'Economia Circolare a livello industriale è stata sviluppata sulla base di due dimensioni principali: il Framework 4R (ovvero Ridurre, Riutilizzare, Riciclare, Recuperare) e le relazioni di filiera stabilite dal punto di vista di un’impresa manifatturiera per attuare tali principi. È stato quindi realizzato un case study con ventitré unità di analisi incorporate, per consentire un'indagine meticolosa e approfondita sull'industria delle costruzioni in legno, incentrata principalmente sul paesaggio italiano e sulle possibilità di riutilizzo e riciclo del legno post-consumo. Interviste, recensioni di documenti e visite in loco hanno riportato un panorama piuttosto eterogeneo, sia in termini di livello di implementazione delle imprese, che di motivazioni dietro i principi adottati. In particolare, le imprese in questo settore si impegnano in una serie di scambi che coinvolgono diversi attori lungo la filiera, ma questi scambi sono principalmente dedicati al riciclo di legno vergine o al recupero di energia da esso, mentre il legno post-consumo risulta molto trascurato; da qui, sono stati identificati degli strumenti e sono state formulate delle osservazioni di sistema per aiutare le imprese in una transizione del settore verso l'implementazione di principi più virtuosi. In particolare, l'analisi condotta porta ad alcune considerazioni strutturate su tre cardini: settore (gli strumenti devono essere sviluppati ad hoc per l'industria considerata), processo (è necessario un raffinamento iterativo degli assi della matrice e degli strumenti di transizione per proporre un cambiamento coerente e costruttivo) e contenuto (complessità e sistematicità dell'approccio sono incorporati nel concetto circolare e devono essere tradotti nel quadro attuale). Lo scopo di questa tesi è di investigare ulteriormente il concetto e i principi dell'Economia Circolare, e proporre un adeguato quadro di modellizzazione per valutare l'attuazione di questo approccio. Sulla base della revisione della letteratura condotta, una matrice per valutare il livello di implementazione dell'economia circolare a livello industriale è stata sviluppata sulla base di due dimensioni principali: il Framework 4R (ovvero Ridurre, Riutilizzare, Riciclare, Recuperare) e le relazioni di filiera stabilite da un’impresa manifatturiera per attuare tali principi. Per fare ciò, è stato realizzato un single case-study con ventitré unità di analisi incorporate, per consentire un'indagine meticolosa e approfondita sull'industria delle costruzioni in legno, incentrata principalmente sul paesaggio italiano e sulle possibilità di riutilizzo e riciclo del legno post-consumo. Interviste, recensioni di documenti e visite in loco hanno riportato un panorama piuttosto eterogeneo, sia in termini di livello di implementazione delle imprese, che di motivazioni dietro i principi adottati. In particolare, le imprese in questo settore si impegnano in una serie di scambi che coinvolgono diversi attori lungo la filiera, ma questi scambi sono principalmente dedicati al riciclo di legno vergine o al recupero di energia da esso, mentre il legno post-consumo risulta molto trascurato; da qui, diversi strumenti sono identificati per aiutare le imprese in una transizione del settore verso l'implementazione di principi più virtuosi. L'analisi di valutazione attraverso la matrice porta ad alcune considerazioni su tre categorie: settore (gli strumenti devono essere sviluppati ad hoc per l'industria considerata), processo (è necessario un raffinamento iterativo degli assi della matrice e degli strumenti di transizione per proporre un cambiamento coerente e costruttivo) e contenuto (complessità e sistematicità dell'approccio sono incorporati nel concetto circolare e devono essere tradotti nel quadro attuale).
Deployment of circular economy to real business : the case of the wooden construction industry
ZANELLA, MARTA
2017/2018
Abstract
Circular Economy has been gaining increasing attention not only in the academic world, but also in countries’ political agendas and business practices. Nonetheless, much confusion still surrounds the concept itself, while the inherent complexity and systematicity of the issue put feasibility at risk on one hand, and make implementation rather hard on the other. The scope of this thesis is there is to further investigate the concept and principles of Circular Economy, and eventually propose a proper modelling framework to evaluate and foster the implementation of this approach. Based on the literature review conducted, a Matrix to evaluate the level of implementation of Circular Economy at industry level was developed based on two main dimensions: the 4R Framework (i.e. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Recover) and the Supply Chain Relationships established by a manufacturing firm to implement such principles. To do so, a single-case study with twenty-three units of analysis embedded was built, to allow a meticulous and in-depth investigation of the Wooden Construction Industry, mainly focused on the Italian landscape and on the reuse and recycling possibilities of post-consumer wood. Interviews, documents reviews and site visits reported a rather dappled landscape, both in terms of firms’ level of implementation and motivations behind the principles adopted. In particular, firms in this industry engage in a variety of exchanges involving different actors along the chain, but these exchanges are mainly devoted to recycling virgin wood or recovering energy from it, while post-consumer wood results very much overlooked, hence several transition tools are identified, and numerous systems observations are formulated to help firms in this sector transition towards more virtuous principles implementation. The analysis brings to a few implications structured on three hinges: sector (specific tools need to be developed ad hoc for the industry considered), process (an iterative refinement of the Matrix’ axes and tools is required to propose a coherent and constructive shift framework) and content (complexity and systematicity of approach are embedded in the circular concept and needs to be translated into the actual framework). The scope of this thesis is there is to further investigate the concept and principles of Circular Economy, and eventually propose a proper modelling framework to evaluate and foster the implementation of this approach. Based on the literature review conducted, a Matrix to evaluate the level of implementation of Circular Economy at industry level was developed based on two main dimensions: the 4R Framework (i.e. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Recover) and the Supply Chain Relationships established by a manufacturing firm to implement such principles. To do so, a single-case study with twenty-three units of analysis embedded was built, to allow a meticulous and in-depth investigation of the Wooden Construction Industry, mainly focused on the Italian landscape and on the reuse and recycling possibilities of post-consumer wood. Interviews, documents reviews and site visits reported a rather dappled landscape, both in terms of firms’ level of implementation and motivations behind the principles adopted. In particular, firms in this industry engage in a variety of exchanges involving different actors along the chain, but these exchanges are mainly devoted to recycling virgin wood or recovering energy from it, while post-consumer wood results very much overlooked, hence several transition tools are identified to help firms in this sector transition towards more virtuous principles implementation. The Matrix evaluation analysis brings to some considerations concerning three macro categories: sector (specific tools need to be developed ad hoc for the industry considered), process (an iterative refinement of the Matrix’ axes and tools is required to propose a coherent and constructive shift framework) and content (complexity and systematicity of approach are embedded in the circular concept and needs to be translated into the actual framework).| File | Dimensione | Formato | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Deployment of Circular Economy to Real Business - The Case of the Wooden Construction Industry .pdf
non accessibile
Descrizione: Deployment of Circular Economy to Real Business - The Case of the Wooden Construction Industry
Dimensione
10.98 MB
Formato
Adobe PDF
|
10.98 MB | Adobe PDF | Visualizza/Apri |
I documenti in POLITesi sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
https://hdl.handle.net/10589/144543