Circularity measurement of external resource flows in companies: The circular flow tool
Circularity measurement of external resource flows in companies: The circular flow tool
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公司外部资源流动的循环测量：循环流动工具
DOI：
10.1016/j.wasman.2023.01.001
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发表时间：
2023
期刊：
影响因子：
8.1
通讯作者：
Barros M
中科院分区：
文献类型：
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作者：
Barros M
与“获取-制造-利用-处置”的线性模式不同，“生长-制造-利用-恢复”的循环经济模式旨在以增加环境收益为前提，加强系统内的物质和能量流动。此外，循环经济做法可以成为不同部门公司闭环的替代方案，与材料、废物和能源相关的举措可以促进更大的内部增值。然而，缺乏一致的工具来衡量流程和公司的循环性，这是一个有待弥补的差距。为了弥补这一差距，本文的目标是：（i）建立一个称为循环流的新工具，以在各组织中产生更大的内部价值和竞争优势，并确定与循环经济有关的潜在机会，以便在外部流动的基础上闭合循环，（ii）在一个案例研究中应用该工具，一个提供材料和能源的组织（iii）讨论该工具在组织中的整合和潜在机会。新的循环流工具基于一组循环图可视化和定量循环指标。对于图形可视化，使用软件工具R（使用Circlize包）。这些图表有助于几个相互关联的信息的可视化，从而可以显示输入和输出的所有定量流，直观地显示所研究系统边界内的路径（每个流的起点和终点）。定量指标，如组织的循环性（Circp）和每个过程的循环性（Circo），显示了从0%到100%的循环性指数，可以在不同的级别进行评估。选择这些指标的标准是基于质量和电力方面的投入和产出的数量。该工具已被应用在巴西南部的一个农村财产的案例研究，该地区拥有牛奶和养猪的传统。该工具的使用表明，农村财产与其邻居和农工合作社的参与。将这些流动保持在系统内可能会通过减少运输、使用可再生能源、降低成本以及由于新的市场机会和商业模式而促进该地区创造就业机会和收入来增加环境收益。
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.