| Title |
Closing Global Material Loops Initial Insights into Firm-Level Challenges |
| ID_Doc |
26768 |
| Authors |
Prosman, EJ; Wæhrens, BV; Liotta, G |
| Title |
Closing Global Material Loops Initial Insights into Firm-Level Challenges |
| Year |
2017 |
| Published |
Journal Of Industrial Ecology, 21, 3 |
| DOI |
10.1111/jiec.12535 |
| Abstract |
Sharing and exchanging waste materials between industrial actors, a practice known as industrial symbiosis (IS), has been identified as a key strategy for closing material loops. This article adopts a critical view on geographical proximity and external coordinators-two key enablers of IS. By "uncovering" a case where both enablers are absent, this study seeks to explore firm-level challenges of IS. We adopt an exploratory case-study approach at a cement manufacturer who engages in cross-border IS without the support of external coordinators. Our research presents insights into two key areas of IS: (1) setting up the initial IS exchange and (2) improving the performance of existing IS exchanges. Moreover, our research provides initial insights into the underlying nature of the related firm-level challenges and explores how internal coordination between manufacturing and purchasing may or may not act as a substitute for geographical proximity and external coordinators. In doing so, our insights into firm-level challenges of long-distance IS exchanges contribute to closing global material loops by increasing the number of potential circular pathways. |
| Author Keywords |
circular economy; firm-level challenges; global exchanges; incentives; industrial ecology; industrial symbiosis |
| Index Keywords |
Index Keywords |
| Document Type |
Other |
| Open Access |
Open Access |
| Source |
Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED); Social Science Citation Index (SSCI) |
| EID |
WOS:000405315600017 |
| WoS Category |
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology; Engineering, Environmental; Environmental Sciences |
| Research Area |
Science & Technology - Other Topics; Engineering; Environmental Sciences & Ecology |
| PDF |
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