A circularity indicator tool for measuring the ecological embeddedness of manufacturing

Date

2021-08-05

Supervisor/s

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

MDPI

Department

Type

Article

ISSN

2071-1050

Format

Free to read from

Citation

Trollman H, Colwill J, Jagtap S. (2021) A circularity indicator tool for measuring the ecological embeddedness of manufacturing. Sustainability, Volume 13, Issue 16, July 2021, Article number 8773

Abstract

Circularity in manufacturing is critical to reducing raw material usage and waste. Ecological embeddedness examines circular relationships intended to benefit both economic actors and the natural environment. By understanding circular relationships in the value chain, manufacturers can formulate strategies that are eco-effective. This work develops and validates an original circularity tool to measure the ecological embeddedness of manufacturers using exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis. The tool is tested on process manufacturers selling products in the United Kingdom. The three main results are that the tool is useful and comprehensive (87% of users), enables simple comparisons with competitors, and identifies weaknesses in strategies related to the five dimensions connecting manufacturers, consumers, and the environment: understanding, realising, utilising, negotiating, and reclaiming. Manufacturers may use the tool to improve their ecological embeddedness, and sector-based circularity levels may be established for policy development. The novelty of the tool is in the use of ecological relationships to support achievement of a circular economy.

Description

Software Description

Software Language

Github

Keywords

sustainable manufacturing, strategy formulation, factor analysis, ecological embeddedness, circular economy

DOI

Rights

Attribution 4.0 International

Relationships

Relationships

Supplements

Funder/s