Bente Merete Flygansvær

Industrial Marketing Management 125 p. 118-130 Doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indmarman.2024.12.010

The circular economy, which entails a fundamental transition from waste management to resource management, involves waste minimization and prolonged resource utility. Resources should arguably be managed in a manner reducing the likelihood that they turn into waste. Correspondingly, waste should be managed in a way increasing the likelihood that it becomes a useful resource. To achieve such ends, this research highlights the bundled nature of resources (including waste). The study is based on an abductive research process and it de-bundles the resource categories portrayed in the 4R model. The de-bundled framework is applied to a longitudinal case study focusing on a recycling company's participation in the circular economy. This application results in distinctions between endogenous and exogenous adaptation strategies. Endogenous adaptations involve an explicit bundle awareness and attention to interaction processes within 4R resource categories, exogenous adaptations include interaction processes between 4R categories. It is proposed that adaptations involving deliberate tradeoffs between endogenous and exogenous strategies may lead to more circular business models and sustainable resource management.

Sustainable Futures 10 p. 1-19 Doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sftr.2025.100914

Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) collection systems can contribute to a sustainable society by transforming waste to valuable resources. However, if not properly designed, the MSW collection systems can become a liability in terms of high cost, high emissions and reduced service. There is still a lack of knowledge on how MSW collection system designs trade off the elements in the triple bottom line. The purpose of this study is to contribute to such understanding. A service-mix framework is proposed, demonstrating trade-offs among the decision areas of bin types, vehicle types, pick-up frequency, delivery distance, co-collection, and sorting in MSW collection systems. The triple bottom line performance is evaluated on cost, service, and emission levels. Two MSW collection systems are analysed and compared, using an Excel-based spreadsheet model. The findings show a potential to improve sustainability in MSW collection systems by trading off service-mix components. Specifically, the findings show that if five households share bins (accept reduced convenience, and the data indicate that they do) the reduction potential is 46 % for cost and 27 % for the CO2 emissions. Similarly, reducing the pick-up frequency service reduces cost and CO2 emissions. Finally, a sensitivity analysis of fill rates shows that using dual chamber trucks gives a high risk of increased cost and CO2 emissions, due to the difficulty of matching waste volumes and chamber sizes. Thus, the paper demonstrates that significant reduction of cost and emission levels are possible without a significant sacrifice of service levels in MSW collection systems.

Journal of Cleaner Production 468 p. 1-11 Doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2024.142948

Many industries have established producer responsibility networks, but the affiliated firms are not required to modify their packaging. This research examines conditions that influence the likelihood that firms will develop packaging with an ecological design. This study uses a resource dependency perspective to illustrate how facets of the perceived corporate environment influence packaging decisions. Data collected from 188 firms in a producer responsibility network indicate that financial resources, recycling resources, regulation, internal integration, and customer demand influence the ecological design of plastic packaging. Competitive intensity moderates the effects of customer demand on ecological packaging design. The study concludes by outlining its implications for sustainable packaging practice and research.

International Journal of Physical Distribution & Logistics Management 53(2) p. 181-183 Doi: https://doi.org/10.1108/IJPDLM-03-2023-547

International Journal of Physical Distribution & Logistics Management 51(9) Doi: https://doi.org/10.1108/IJPDLM-12-2020-0389

Purpose Research shows a recycling behavior gap where end consumers are positive towards recycling but do not act in accordance with their intentions. Such a gap creates challenges for reverse logistics systems. The purpose of this paper is to investigate how adaptations in reverse logistics systems towards end consumers-turned-suppliers can improve recycling behavior. Design/methodology/approach A framework with three propositions is developed and evaluated empirically using a two-group dependent post-test quasi-experimental design. The empirical setting is recycling of household waste. Three interventions are evaluated as: (1) the social norms nudge, (2) the distance nudge and (3) the availability nudge. Findings The results show that nudging improved recycling action behavior for the experimental group. Control group behavior remained constant. Research limitations/implications This paper suggests that the end-consumer’s role as suppliers needs to be included more actively into reverse logistics systems for products to enter the preferred loops of recycling in the circular economy. Originality/value A new field of climate psychology is used to explain challenges in reverse logistics systems and nudging is demonstrated as a tool with which to deal with them. The study also shows how quasi-experiments can be applied in logistics research.