Sustainable Production Systems Laboratory (LESP), Postgraduate Program in Production Engineering (PPGEP), Universidade Tecnológica Federal do Paraná (UTFPR), Ponta Grossa, Parana, Brazil; Colegiado Acadêmico de Engenharia de Produção, Universidade Estadual do Paraná (UNESPAR), Paranaguá, Parana, Brazil.
Technical University of Denmark (DTU), Department of Engineering Technology and Didactics, Denmark.
Waste Manag. 2023 Mar 1;158:136-145. doi: 10.1016/j.wasman.2023.01.001. Epub 2023 Jan 27.
Unlike the linear model "take-make-use-dispose", the circular economy model "grow-make-use-restore" intends to potentiate material and energy flows within a system with the premise of increasing environmental gains. Moreover, circular economy practices can be alternatives for closing loops in companies from different sectors, with material-, waste-, and energy-related initiatives towards promoting greater internal value-adding. However, the lack of consistent tools for measuring circularity of processes and companies is a gap yet to be covered. To tackle this gap, this paper's aims are: (i) to build a new tool, called Circular Flow, for generating greater internal value and competitive advantage in organizations and identify potential circular economy-related opportunities for closing loops based on external flows, (ii) to apply the tool in a case study, an organization that presents material and energy (electricity) flows and exchanges with other organizations, and (iii) to discuss the integration and potential opportunities for the tool in organizations. The novel, Circular Flow, tool is based on a set of circular graph visualizations, and quantitative circularity indicators. For the graphical visualization, the software tool R (using the Circlize package) was used. The graphs aid the visualization of several interconnected pieces of information, allowing to show all quantitative flows of inputs and outputs, intuitively showing the paths (origin and destination of each flow) within the boundaries of the system under study. The quantitative indicators, e.g. Circularity of the organization (Circ p) and Circularity of each process (Circ o), show a circularity index ranging from 0% to 100%, which can be assessed at different levels. The criteria to select these indicators are based on quantities of inputs and outputs regarding mass and electricity. The tool has been applied in a case study of a rural property in southern Brazil, which region holds a tradition for milk and pig farming. The use of the tool showed the involvement of the rural property with its neighbors and with an agroindustrial cooperative. Keeping these flows within the system may increase environmental gains by reducing transportation, using renewable sources of energy, reducing costs, and boosting the generation of jobs and income in the region due to new market opportunities and business models.
与线性模型“开采-制造-使用-处置”不同，循环经济模型“生长-制造-使用-恢复”旨在通过增加环境收益来增强系统内的物质和能量流。此外，循环经济实践可以为来自不同行业的公司提供替代方案，以实现材料、废物和能源相关举措，从而促进更大的内部增值。然而，缺乏用于衡量流程和公司循环性的一致工具是一个尚未解决的差距。为了解决这一差距，本文的目的是：（i）构建一个新工具，称为“循环流动”，以在组织中产生更大的内部价值和竞争优势，并根据外部流动确定潜在的循环经济相关机会，以实现闭环；（ii）将该工具应用于案例研究，该案例研究涉及一家组织的物质和能量（电力）流动以及与其他组织的交换；（iii）讨论该工具在组织中的集成和潜在机会。新颖的“循环流动”工具基于一组循环图形可视化和定量循环指标。对于图形可视化，使用了 R 软件工具（使用 Circlize 包）。这些图形有助于直观地显示输入和输出的所有定量流，直观地显示系统边界内的路径（每个流的起点和终点）。定量指标，例如组织的循环性（Circ p）和每个过程的循环性（Circ o），显示出 0%到 100%之间的循环性指数，可以在不同级别进行评估。选择这些指标的标准基于质量和电力方面的投入和产出数量。该工具已应用于巴西南部一个农村财产的案例研究，该地区拥有牛奶和养猪的传统。该工具的使用显示了农村财产与邻居以及农业综合企业合作社的关系。通过将这些流保留在系统内，可以减少运输、使用可再生能源、降低成本，并通过新的市场机会和商业模式在该地区创造更多的就业机会和收入，从而增加环境收益。
