Metrics for optimising the multi-dimensional value of resources recovered from waste in a circular economy: A critical review

Iacovidou, Eleni; Velis, Costas A.; Purnell, Phil; Zwirner, Oliver; Brown, Andrew; Hahladakis, John Ν.; Millward-Hopkins, Joel; Williams, Paul T.

doi:10.1016/j.jclepro.2017.07.100

Cited by 237 publications

(144 citation statements)

References 227 publications

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“…In this sense, current RRfW sustainability assessments lag somewhat behind assessments in other contexts (Iacovidou et al, 2017b). Our framework thus aims to synthesise and build upon valuable work from other contexts.…”

Section: Defining Measuring and Optimising Complex Valuementioning

confidence: 99%

“…physical properties of products, components thereof or materials from which these are made; hence, decisions made at this stage are important and may be affected by many considerations (i.e. engineering, business, environmental, and societal factors) (Iacovidou et al, 2017b;Ziout et al, 2014). Seemingly negligible changes in chemical composition in percentage by mass terms (e.g.…”

Section: Maintaining/transforming the Technical Value Of Resourcesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This requires a different set of technical metrics associated with technologies and processes, i.e. technological advancement, reusability, mass/technical recyclability, remanufacturability, and their relevance and applicability to the recovery of MCPs (Iacovidou et al, 2017b). For example, recycling processes can often be responsible for material quality loss which relates to changes in the technical properties of a waste material (e.g.…”

Section: Maintaining/transforming the Technical Value Of Resourcesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…positive and negative changes in the social, environmental, economic, and technical domains of value e poorly-informed decisions and inappropriate interventions will continue to be made. A more sophisticated method for assessing systems from the extraction to the recovery and management of materials, components and products (MCPs) is required to gain insights on how to best preserve and recover the multi-dimensional 'complex value' of resources, defined herein as measurable benefits (positive value) and impacts (negative value) in the environmental, economic, social and technical domains (Iacovidou et al, 2017b). Such an approach could allow better support of policy and decision-making processes, preventing unintended consequences and problemshifting; benefiting concurrently the society, economy and the environment by delivering global optimal resource recovery scenarios; and catalysing the development of new business opportunities that exploit previously overlooked residual value hiding in waste MCPs.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

A pathway to circular economy: Developing a conceptual framework for complex value assessment of resources recovered from waste

Iacovidou

Millward-Hopkins

Busch

et al. 2017

Journal of Cleaner Production

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212

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a b s t r a c tThe transition to a circular economy, where the value of resources is preserved in the technosphere, must be supported by policies and operational decision-making based on evidence. Existing methods used to provide this evidence (e.g. LCA, LCSA, CBA) are not robust enough to adequately address the creation and dissipation of systemic and multidimensional value that spans the social, environmental, economic and technical domains. This study proposes a novel, conceptual approach that seeks to assess how complex value is created, destroyed and distributed in resource recovery from waste systems. This approach expands beyond conventional methods of estimating value. It combines scientific and engineering methods with a socio-political narrative grounded in the systems of provision (sop) approach, and provides a comprehensive, analytical framework for making the transition to a resource-efficient future. This framework has the potential to connect bottom-up and top-down approaches in assessing resource recovery from waste systems, and address systemic challenges through transparency and flexibility, while accounting for the dynamic and non-linear nature of commodities flow and infrastructure provision in the overall system. This creates the pathway towards circular economy, and lays the foundations for future advances in computational and assessment methodologies in the field of RRfW. Crown

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Section: Defining Measuring and Optimising Complex Valuementioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Maintaining/transforming the Technical Value Of Resourcesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Maintaining/transforming the Technical Value Of Resourcesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

A pathway to circular economy: Developing a conceptual framework for complex value assessment of resources recovered from waste

Iacovidou

Millward-Hopkins

Busch

et al. 2017

Journal of Cleaner Production

Self Cite

212

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…As we describe elsewhere, hundreds of potential metrics exist and an appropriate selection must be tailored to the system under investigation (Iacovidou et al, 2017c). We extend the boundaries of the systems we study upstream to production processes and downstream to disposal.…”

Section: Foundationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fully integrated modelling for sustainability assessment of resource recovery from waste

Millward-Hopkins

Busch

Purnell

et al. 2018

Science of The Total Environment

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• We develop a multidimensional model for assessing resource recovery systems.• Social, environmental, technical and economic domains of value are fully integrated.• We propose a new typology for metrics better suited to integrated modelling.• We apply the model to a case linking electricity and concrete/cement production.• Interdependencies between domains and temporal dynamics can be modelled. G R A P H I C A L A B S T R A C Ta b s t r a c t a r t i c l e i n f o This paper presents an integrated modelling approach for value assessments, focusing on resource recovery from waste. The method tracks and forecasts a range of values across environmental, social, economic and technical domains by attaching these to material-flows, thus building upon and integrating unidimensional models such as material flow analysis (MFA) and lifecycle assessment (LCA). We argue that the usual classification of metrics into these separate domains is useful for interpreting the outputs of multidimensional assessments, but unnecessary for modelling. We thus suggest that multidimensional assessments can be better performed by integrating the calculation methods of unidimensional models rather than their outputs. To achieve this, we propose a new metric typology that forms the foundation of a multidimensional model. This enables dynamic simulations to be performed with material-flows (or values in any domain) driven by changes in value in other domains. We then apply the model in an illustrative case highlighting links between the UK coal-based electricity-production and concrete/cement industries, investigating potential impacts that may follow the increased use of low-carbon fuels (biomass and solid recovered fuels; SRF) in the former. We explore synergies and trade-offs in value across domains and regions, e.g. how changes in carbon emissions in one part of the system may affect mortality elsewhere. This highlights the advantages of recognising complex system dynamics and making high-level inferences of their effects, even when rigorous analysis is not possible. We also indicate how changes in social, environmental and economic 'values' can be understood as being driven by changes in the technical value of resources. Our work thus emphasises the advantages of building fully integrated models to inform conventional sustainability assessments, rather than applying hybrid approaches that integrate outputs from parallel models. The approach we present demonstrates that this is feasible and lays the foundations for such an integrated model. Crown

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Designing Circular Waste Management Strategies: The Case of Organic Waste in Amsterdam

Viva

Ciulli

Kolk

et al. 2020

Advanced Sustainable Systems

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Urban waste management is one of the most complex and urgent challenges that the society faces. In this paper, an innovative research methodology is proposed, introducing a systemic approach to circular waste management strategy‐making. Urban waste management is a complex system that needs to be tackled in a holistic, yet context‐specific manner. To produce truly integrative outcomes, this paper provides insight into the system as a whole, its components and the relationships between them, using specific tools, to form the basis for a circular strategy. A toolbox is presented for transforming the current linear and fragmented waste management processes into integrative and circular strategies. The proposed integrative methodology encompassing outline, multipillar mapping, and synthesis can be applied to different locations and waste streams. The concept is subsequently demonstrated through a case study focusing on the municipality of Amsterdam (the Netherlands) and the management of organic waste streams.

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Metrics for optimising the multi-dimensional value of resources recovered from waste in a circular economy: A critical review

Cited by 237 publications

References 227 publications

A pathway to circular economy: Developing a conceptual framework for complex value assessment of resources recovered from waste

A pathway to circular economy: Developing a conceptual framework for complex value assessment of resources recovered from waste

Fully integrated modelling for sustainability assessment of resource recovery from waste

Designing Circular Waste Management Strategies: The Case of Organic Waste in Amsterdam

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