B. Baldassarre
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37 records found
1
Journal article
(2026)
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Roger Nyffenegger, B. Baldassarre, NMP Bocken, Stefan Groesser
The circular economy is an approach to decouple economic growth from environmental impacts. In Europe, its developmentis driven by policies that guide market dynamics through regulations and by businesses innovating with new circular models.However, top-down policies and bottom-up business efforts are often misaligned, and their interplay remains poorly understood.This study addresses this knowledge gap through a case study in the renewable energy sector. We investigate to what extentcircular economy policies influence the emergence, diffusion, and scaling of circular business models in the solar industry. Weidentify four archetypes of business models, explaining how they function, interact, and whether they align with intended policygoals. As a result, we propose six industrial and policy interventions to improve circularity, thus waste management and resourcesecurity in the sector. Conceptually, we outline three key circular business model patterns: policy-gap-exploiter, policy-follower,and policy-pioneering. These insights contribute to bridging the gap between policymaking and business innovation.
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The circular economy is an approach to decouple economic growth from environmental impacts. In Europe, its developmentis driven by policies that guide market dynamics through regulations and by businesses innovating with new circular models.However, top-down policies and bottom-up business efforts are often misaligned, and their interplay remains poorly understood.This study addresses this knowledge gap through a case study in the renewable energy sector. We investigate to what extentcircular economy policies influence the emergence, diffusion, and scaling of circular business models in the solar industry. Weidentify four archetypes of business models, explaining how they function, interact, and whether they align with intended policygoals. As a result, we propose six industrial and policy interventions to improve circularity, thus waste management and resourcesecurity in the sector. Conceptually, we outline three key circular business model patterns: policy-gap-exploiter, policy-follower,and policy-pioneering. These insights contribute to bridging the gap between policymaking and business innovation.
Uranium circularity for EU strategic autonomy and energy security
Initial analysis, future research, and policy options
Nuclear energy supplies nearly 24% of EU electricity, and 95% of nuclear fuel—uranium—is imported from a handful of countries. Yet uranium is outside the EU Critical Raw Materials framework, and there is no formal circular economy strategy in place to address both resource security and waste management concerns. As the EU expands its nuclear capacity to meet decarbonisation and energy security goals, adopting a circular economy approach across the uranium supply chain becomes imperative. This report provides the first comprehensive analysis on the subject, identifying twelve circularity patterns ranging from recovering mining tailings to spent fuel reprocessing and accelerator-driven waste transmutation. A systematic review of 1,383 scientific articles reveals that circular economy research in this domain is growing rapidly but remains highly fragmented, mainly focused on end-of-life reprocessing, and stuck at medium technology readiness levels, with no study to date adopting a holistic multi-strategy perspective. Circularity is not merely an ambition: reprocessed nuclear fuel already offsets nearly 5% of annual EU natural uranium requirements, and projected secondary source use is set to triple by 2034, making recycling a concrete instrument of energy security. Moving beyond incremental measures, a holistic view of all circular strategies across the supply chain is now essential. Key EU policy actions going forward may include: funding R&I to advance circular nuclear technologies toward industrial scale and their mutual integration; addressing Euratom’s ambitions for a “circular nuclear economy” by embedding circularity as an explicit pillar in nuclear coordination mechanisms; and including uranium in the Critical Raw Materials list to establish binding targets for fuel reprocessing and supply chain resource efficiency.
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Nuclear energy supplies nearly 24% of EU electricity, and 95% of nuclear fuel—uranium—is imported from a handful of countries. Yet uranium is outside the EU Critical Raw Materials framework, and there is no formal circular economy strategy in place to address both resource security and waste management concerns. As the EU expands its nuclear capacity to meet decarbonisation and energy security goals, adopting a circular economy approach across the uranium supply chain becomes imperative. This report provides the first comprehensive analysis on the subject, identifying twelve circularity patterns ranging from recovering mining tailings to spent fuel reprocessing and accelerator-driven waste transmutation. A systematic review of 1,383 scientific articles reveals that circular economy research in this domain is growing rapidly but remains highly fragmented, mainly focused on end-of-life reprocessing, and stuck at medium technology readiness levels, with no study to date adopting a holistic multi-strategy perspective. Circularity is not merely an ambition: reprocessed nuclear fuel already offsets nearly 5% of annual EU natural uranium requirements, and projected secondary source use is set to triple by 2034, making recycling a concrete instrument of energy security. Moving beyond incremental measures, a holistic view of all circular strategies across the supply chain is now essential. Key EU policy actions going forward may include: funding R&I to advance circular nuclear technologies toward industrial scale and their mutual integration; addressing Euratom’s ambitions for a “circular nuclear economy” by embedding circularity as an explicit pillar in nuclear coordination mechanisms; and including uranium in the Critical Raw Materials list to establish binding targets for fuel reprocessing and supply chain resource efficiency.
Increasing plastic circularity in the automotive sector
Supply chain analysis and policy options from the European Union (EU)
Journal article
(2025)
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Brian Baldassarre, Thibaut Maury, Nacef Tazi, Fabrice Mathieux, Serenella Sala
This study investigates plastic circularity in the EU automotive sector. It focuses on the drivers and barriers to recycling, informing the definition of policy options underlying the new End-of-Life Vehicles Regulation proposed by the European Commission in 2023. The analysis combines secondary data from scientific and grey literature, with primary data from industry stakeholders. Results include a supply chain map outlining stakeholders, industrial processes, and material flows, complemented by a list of 15 barriers and 8 drivers for increasing recycled plastic content in new vehicles. This study demonstrates how a supply chain perspective can effectively provide both systemic and granular insight about circular economy dynamics (i.e., big picture, high detail). Integrating these two levels of insight is crucial for advancing circular economy research and enhancing its ability to inform evidence-based policies for the sustainability transition.
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This study investigates plastic circularity in the EU automotive sector. It focuses on the drivers and barriers to recycling, informing the definition of policy options underlying the new End-of-Life Vehicles Regulation proposed by the European Commission in 2023. The analysis combines secondary data from scientific and grey literature, with primary data from industry stakeholders. Results include a supply chain map outlining stakeholders, industrial processes, and material flows, complemented by a list of 15 barriers and 8 drivers for increasing recycled plastic content in new vehicles. This study demonstrates how a supply chain perspective can effectively provide both systemic and granular insight about circular economy dynamics (i.e., big picture, high detail). Integrating these two levels of insight is crucial for advancing circular economy research and enhancing its ability to inform evidence-based policies for the sustainability transition.
Report
(2025)
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Paola Albizzati, Anna Walker, Leonidas Milios, M Besler, Pablo Pinero, Luis Pedauga, Franco Donati, M Christis, B. Baldassarre, Davide Tonini
The implementation of Circular Economy (CE) levers in the EU aluminium sector has the potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 12-14 Mt CO2-eq. annually by 2050, in addition to what would be achieved by decarbonising the energy system only. CE levers also lead to a decrease in the demand for bauxite as well as reductions in energy demand, leading to a EUR 3.6 billion annual increase in the EU trade balance with import reductions from China, Russia, USA and the UK. However, this may come with potential trade-offs, such as reduced employment and Gross Value Added, which needs to be further investigated to obtain a more accurate assessment of the implications of CE levers on the service and research and development sector. The study's findings are policy-relevant, highlighting the need for a holistic approach and policy mix over the lifecycle of materials and products to materialise the CE potential, while informing EU policymakers on feasible strategies to support the aluminium sector's sustainability transition.
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The implementation of Circular Economy (CE) levers in the EU aluminium sector has the potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 12-14 Mt CO2-eq. annually by 2050, in addition to what would be achieved by decarbonising the energy system only. CE levers also lead to a decrease in the demand for bauxite as well as reductions in energy demand, leading to a EUR 3.6 billion annual increase in the EU trade balance with import reductions from China, Russia, USA and the UK. However, this may come with potential trade-offs, such as reduced employment and Gross Value Added, which needs to be further investigated to obtain a more accurate assessment of the implications of CE levers on the service and research and development sector. The study's findings are policy-relevant, highlighting the need for a holistic approach and policy mix over the lifecycle of materials and products to materialise the CE potential, while informing EU policymakers on feasible strategies to support the aluminium sector's sustainability transition.
Policy innovation at the local, national and supranational level
a preliminary analysis
Governments are increasingly confronted with complex, non-routine societal challenges that policymaking struggles to address. As a result, innovative policymaking approaches are becoming ever more vital. This study focuses on policy innovation and explores the institutionalisation of such approaches across micro (local), meso (national), and macro (supranational) levels of government. Drawing on exploratory interviews and a structured survey, it investigates the roles, emergence, actors, methods, barriers, funding mechanisms, and impact evaluation associated with policy innovation. The findings suggest that, although policy innovation is widely regarded as important by public officers and academics, it is largely used to support policymaking rather than as a strategic driver. New approaches often arise through diffusion, internal sponsorship, and bottom-up initiatives. Academia and civil society are often involved, while SMEs and NGOs to a lesser extent. The approaches leverage digital technologies (e.g., AI and data-driven tools), as well as participatory methods, foresight, and system thinking. Funding is mixed, with local governments more reliant on external sources. Institutional risk aversion and insufficient impact evaluation persist across all levels of government. These initial findings may point to a shift from a lab-based model of policy innovation toward a more distributed and enabling environment. Future research could examine how this transition influences broader policy innovation factors such as governance structures, institutional processes, and administrative practices.
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Governments are increasingly confronted with complex, non-routine societal challenges that policymaking struggles to address. As a result, innovative policymaking approaches are becoming ever more vital. This study focuses on policy innovation and explores the institutionalisation of such approaches across micro (local), meso (national), and macro (supranational) levels of government. Drawing on exploratory interviews and a structured survey, it investigates the roles, emergence, actors, methods, barriers, funding mechanisms, and impact evaluation associated with policy innovation. The findings suggest that, although policy innovation is widely regarded as important by public officers and academics, it is largely used to support policymaking rather than as a strategic driver. New approaches often arise through diffusion, internal sponsorship, and bottom-up initiatives. Academia and civil society are often involved, while SMEs and NGOs to a lesser extent. The approaches leverage digital technologies (e.g., AI and data-driven tools), as well as participatory methods, foresight, and system thinking. Funding is mixed, with local governments more reliant on external sources. Institutional risk aversion and insufficient impact evaluation persist across all levels of government. These initial findings may point to a shift from a lab-based model of policy innovation toward a more distributed and enabling environment. Future research could examine how this transition influences broader policy innovation factors such as governance structures, institutional processes, and administrative practices.
Journal article
(2025)
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B. Baldassarre
The European Union (EU) relies on imported raw materials to manufacture renewable energy, digital, mobility, aerospace, and defence technologies. A circular economy can mitigate this critical dependency, for example by recycling materials or remanufacturing products locally. These resource efficiency strategies, however, require new supply chain configurations supported by research and innovation. While this is taking place in few selected supply chains, notably lithium-ion battery technology, little is known about circularity for most critical raw materials and their applications. Information is scattered across industry players and disciplinary competences, or not publicly available due to confidentiality concerns. This article presents a case study on titanium metal circularity in the aviation and defence sectors. The results inform three industrial policy recommendations to mitigate the risk of supply disruption in the EU, aggravated by Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Based on the case study, a methodological framework is proposed to guide future research on circularity for resource security. This subject requires urgent attention to achieve EU strategic autonomy objectives, against the background of climate change, resource depletion and waste management challenges in a complex geopolitical landscape.
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The European Union (EU) relies on imported raw materials to manufacture renewable energy, digital, mobility, aerospace, and defence technologies. A circular economy can mitigate this critical dependency, for example by recycling materials or remanufacturing products locally. These resource efficiency strategies, however, require new supply chain configurations supported by research and innovation. While this is taking place in few selected supply chains, notably lithium-ion battery technology, little is known about circularity for most critical raw materials and their applications. Information is scattered across industry players and disciplinary competences, or not publicly available due to confidentiality concerns. This article presents a case study on titanium metal circularity in the aviation and defence sectors. The results inform three industrial policy recommendations to mitigate the risk of supply disruption in the EU, aggravated by Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Based on the case study, a methodological framework is proposed to guide future research on circularity for resource security. This subject requires urgent attention to achieve EU strategic autonomy objectives, against the background of climate change, resource depletion and waste management challenges in a complex geopolitical landscape.
Short survey
(2025)
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B. Baldassarre, Samuel Carrara
Journal article
(2025)
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Marie Axt, B. Baldassarre, Julian Kirchherr
The global transition to a carbon-neutral economy presents significant challenges, particularly in the deployment of renewable energy and storage technologies. A key aspect of this transition is the production and use of green hydrogen. This depends on the deployment of electrolysers and fuel cells, requiring critical raw materials in their manufacturing processes. In the European Union (EU), these materials are imported and classified as ‘critical’ due to a lack of viable substitutes, supply risks, and geopolitical factors. This article explores the potential of circular economy strategies to enhance resource security and resilience in the hydrogen technology value chain. Using a qualitative case-study approach that includes a literature review, document analysis, and 29 expert interviews, we map the current circularity patterns and outline regulatory, cultural, economic, and technical drivers and barriers. We identify eighteen drivers and fourteen barriers, highlight the interdependencies among them, and propose targeted policy interventions, namely restrictions on waste exports containing platinum group metals, individual recycling targets for iridium, and eco-design standards for dismantling and repairing electrolysers. Our findings contribute to scholarly discussions on the circular economy as a resource resilience strategy and offer actionable insights for policymakers in the EU and beyond.
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The global transition to a carbon-neutral economy presents significant challenges, particularly in the deployment of renewable energy and storage technologies. A key aspect of this transition is the production and use of green hydrogen. This depends on the deployment of electrolysers and fuel cells, requiring critical raw materials in their manufacturing processes. In the European Union (EU), these materials are imported and classified as ‘critical’ due to a lack of viable substitutes, supply risks, and geopolitical factors. This article explores the potential of circular economy strategies to enhance resource security and resilience in the hydrogen technology value chain. Using a qualitative case-study approach that includes a literature review, document analysis, and 29 expert interviews, we map the current circularity patterns and outline regulatory, cultural, economic, and technical drivers and barriers. We identify eighteen drivers and fourteen barriers, highlight the interdependencies among them, and propose targeted policy interventions, namely restrictions on waste exports containing platinum group metals, individual recycling targets for iridium, and eco-design standards for dismantling and repairing electrolysers. Our findings contribute to scholarly discussions on the circular economy as a resource resilience strategy and offer actionable insights for policymakers in the EU and beyond.
Report
(2025)
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Alejandro Buesa, Kostantinos Georgitzikis, Jakimow Malgorzata, Pablo Pinero, Thibaut Maury, Cynthia Latunussa, Luis Pedauga, Vsevolod Samokhalov, B. Baldassarre, More Authors
This report examines the strategic importance of titanium metal for the European Union (EU) economy and explores the potential for increased circularity in its value chain. Recognised as both a critical and strategic raw material under the EU Critical Raw Materials Act, titanium is essential for key sectors such as civil aviation, defence, space, and advanced manufacturing. The supply chain faces significant challenges due to geopolitical tensions, resource dependency, and sustainability demands, with a notable gap between global supply and projected demand. Chapter 2 analyses the titanium supply chain, highlighting the EU's reliance on imports and the need for diversification and enhanced domestic capabilities. Chapter 3 focuses on the demand side, detailing the EU's strategic industries that depend on titanium. Chapter 4 delves into the geopolitical dynamics, assessing the EU's position relative to major global players and the impact of Russia’s unprovoked full-scale invasion of Ukraine on the supply chain. Chapter 5 addresses the opportunities and challenges in terms of increasing circularity in the titanium supply chain by identifying drivers and barriers, measuring research and innovation intensity through academic publications and patents, and evaluating enhanced circularity scenarios using macroeconomic modelling. The report concludes, in Chapter 6, with potential policy interventions aimed at strengthening the EU's titanium supply chain, reducing external dependencies, and promoting a transition to a circular economy.
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This report examines the strategic importance of titanium metal for the European Union (EU) economy and explores the potential for increased circularity in its value chain. Recognised as both a critical and strategic raw material under the EU Critical Raw Materials Act, titanium is essential for key sectors such as civil aviation, defence, space, and advanced manufacturing. The supply chain faces significant challenges due to geopolitical tensions, resource dependency, and sustainability demands, with a notable gap between global supply and projected demand. Chapter 2 analyses the titanium supply chain, highlighting the EU's reliance on imports and the need for diversification and enhanced domestic capabilities. Chapter 3 focuses on the demand side, detailing the EU's strategic industries that depend on titanium. Chapter 4 delves into the geopolitical dynamics, assessing the EU's position relative to major global players and the impact of Russia’s unprovoked full-scale invasion of Ukraine on the supply chain. Chapter 5 addresses the opportunities and challenges in terms of increasing circularity in the titanium supply chain by identifying drivers and barriers, measuring research and innovation intensity through academic publications and patents, and evaluating enhanced circularity scenarios using macroeconomic modelling. The report concludes, in Chapter 6, with potential policy interventions aimed at strengthening the EU's titanium supply chain, reducing external dependencies, and promoting a transition to a circular economy.
Report
(2025)
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Paola Albizzati, Anna Walker, Leonidas Milios, M Besler, Pablo Pinero, Luis Pedauga, Franco Donati, M Christis, B. Baldassarre, Davide Tonini
Climate Change Mitigation: By 2050, Circular Economy strategies can save 1214 Mt CO2-eq. emissions annually in the aluminium sector, compared to relying solely on decarbonisation strategies - Reduced Resource Dependency: They can reduce the direct input of bauxite for the EU aluminium industry by 27% - Lower Energy Demand: These strategies can also decrease the EU aluminium industry’s demand for fossil energy carriers by 9% and electricity by 22% - Higher Economic Security: The EU’s trade balance can be improved by EUR 3.6 billion through reduced imports.
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Climate Change Mitigation: By 2050, Circular Economy strategies can save 1214 Mt CO2-eq. emissions annually in the aluminium sector, compared to relying solely on decarbonisation strategies - Reduced Resource Dependency: They can reduce the direct input of bauxite for the EU aluminium industry by 27% - Lower Energy Demand: These strategies can also decrease the EU aluminium industry’s demand for fossil energy carriers by 9% and electricity by 22% - Higher Economic Security: The EU’s trade balance can be improved by EUR 3.6 billion through reduced imports.
Report
(2025)
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Samuel Carrara, B. Baldassarre, Jakimow Malgorzata, Teodor Kuzov, Lucie Govern, Lucy Nohl, Marcos Ierides, Michalis Christou
The transition to clean energy is both a climate imperative and a materials challenge. This report provides a comprehensive analysis of the supply chain for wind turbines, a cornerstone of the EU’s energy transition strategy. Significant dependencies are found for rare earth elements including neodymium, dysprosium, praseodymium, and terbium, critical for high-performance wind turbine magnets, and balsa wood for turbine blades, with the People’s Republic of China and Ecuador dominating these respective supply chains. Supply chain vulnerabilities are identified, including geopolitical risks and environmental concerns, alongside opportunities for enhancing circularity and advancing the use of substitute materials. In line with EU measures such as the Critical Raw Materials Act and the Net-Zero Industry Act, this study underscores the urgency of diversifying supply sources, scaling recycling efforts, and fostering innovation to bolster the resilience of the EU’s wind energy sector.
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The transition to clean energy is both a climate imperative and a materials challenge. This report provides a comprehensive analysis of the supply chain for wind turbines, a cornerstone of the EU’s energy transition strategy. Significant dependencies are found for rare earth elements including neodymium, dysprosium, praseodymium, and terbium, critical for high-performance wind turbine magnets, and balsa wood for turbine blades, with the People’s Republic of China and Ecuador dominating these respective supply chains. Supply chain vulnerabilities are identified, including geopolitical risks and environmental concerns, alongside opportunities for enhancing circularity and advancing the use of substitute materials. In line with EU measures such as the Critical Raw Materials Act and the Net-Zero Industry Act, this study underscores the urgency of diversifying supply sources, scaling recycling efforts, and fostering innovation to bolster the resilience of the EU’s wind energy sector.
Journal article
(2025)
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Alejandro Buesa, Pablo Pinero, Luis Pedauga, Jose Manuel Rueda-Cantuche, B. Baldassarre
Strategic autonomy can benefit from circular economy initiatives, such as reducing primary inputs and recycling critical raw materials in key technologies. Using titanium metal in the EU as a showcase, we start by combining information from heterogeneous sources: non-systematic data, macroeconomic statistics and micro-level information from Customs agencies. This procedure allows us to disaggregate secondary (i.e., titanium scrap) flows depending on their production stage, sector of origin and quality. Building upon this novel dataset, we design two enhanced circularity scenarios with marked strategic autonomy implications: a reduction of scrap buyback agreements in the EU with the US, and an increase in scrap collection from end-of-life aircraft. Finally, these scenarios are fed into an inter-country input–output model to compute their economic and employment impact. The results of our simulations show that the EU would benefit from retaining and valorizing secondary titanium flows domestically instead of routing it to third countries, most notably if domestic processing capacity is also increased, by up to 40 million euros in value added and around 620 jobs.
...
Strategic autonomy can benefit from circular economy initiatives, such as reducing primary inputs and recycling critical raw materials in key technologies. Using titanium metal in the EU as a showcase, we start by combining information from heterogeneous sources: non-systematic data, macroeconomic statistics and micro-level information from Customs agencies. This procedure allows us to disaggregate secondary (i.e., titanium scrap) flows depending on their production stage, sector of origin and quality. Building upon this novel dataset, we design two enhanced circularity scenarios with marked strategic autonomy implications: a reduction of scrap buyback agreements in the EU with the US, and an increase in scrap collection from end-of-life aircraft. Finally, these scenarios are fed into an inter-country input–output model to compute their economic and employment impact. The results of our simulations show that the EU would benefit from retaining and valorizing secondary titanium flows domestically instead of routing it to third countries, most notably if domestic processing capacity is also increased, by up to 40 million euros in value added and around 620 jobs.
Circular economy as crisis response
A primer
The early 2020s have been characterized by multiple convergent crises, including the Covid-19 pandemic and economic fallout of mitigation measures, Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and the ongoing sustainability and climate change crisis. This article discusses how the concept of the circular economy can inform responses to such crises by addressing four elements of a socio-economic system: technological innovation, supply chains and markets, public policy, and consumer behaviour. Synthesizing emerging insights from the scholarly and policymaking arenas, the article identifies the following ways that the circular economy concept can be effectively framed as crisis response: focusing on circularity in a more holistic way, adopting global value chains as the primary unit of analysis, pinpointing specific circularity aspects like drivers and barriers in value chains and business models, and extending the prevailing focus on technical aspects and material flows to often overlooked trade and geopolitical considerations. This discussion aims to articulate lessons for industry, policymakers, and scholars in leveraging a circularity approach to address the world's most pressing issues.
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The early 2020s have been characterized by multiple convergent crises, including the Covid-19 pandemic and economic fallout of mitigation measures, Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and the ongoing sustainability and climate change crisis. This article discusses how the concept of the circular economy can inform responses to such crises by addressing four elements of a socio-economic system: technological innovation, supply chains and markets, public policy, and consumer behaviour. Synthesizing emerging insights from the scholarly and policymaking arenas, the article identifies the following ways that the circular economy concept can be effectively framed as crisis response: focusing on circularity in a more holistic way, adopting global value chains as the primary unit of analysis, pinpointing specific circularity aspects like drivers and barriers in value chains and business models, and extending the prevailing focus on technical aspects and material flows to often overlooked trade and geopolitical considerations. This discussion aims to articulate lessons for industry, policymakers, and scholars in leveraging a circularity approach to address the world's most pressing issues.
To achieve a transformation toward the circular economy, organizations need to take an ecosystem perspective and consider multiple complementary actors that are needed to deliver circularity as a collective outcome. However, practitioners and scholars lack an understanding of the initial phases of ecosystem creation, in terms of how to get started, and what to consider. We therefore investigate how organizations can initiate an ecosystem for a circular economy. The method consists of a concise review of the ecosystem literature and three instrumental cases, to identify important activities that are needed when initiating an ecosystem for circularity. The cases include: (1) an alliance for circular safety footwear, (2) a startup that turns old coffee ground and orange peel waste from another company into new products, and (3) a multi-stakeholder project aimed at recovering resources from wastewater. We propose a framework for a Minimum Viable Ecosystem for Circularity (MVEC) that includes a set of key activities to perform when building ecosystems for a circular economy. These activities provide a useful roadmap for scholars and practitioners for establishing and assessing ecosystems for circularity. We call for further research and practical applications to test and demonstrate the utility of this framework in different contexts.
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To achieve a transformation toward the circular economy, organizations need to take an ecosystem perspective and consider multiple complementary actors that are needed to deliver circularity as a collective outcome. However, practitioners and scholars lack an understanding of the initial phases of ecosystem creation, in terms of how to get started, and what to consider. We therefore investigate how organizations can initiate an ecosystem for a circular economy. The method consists of a concise review of the ecosystem literature and three instrumental cases, to identify important activities that are needed when initiating an ecosystem for circularity. The cases include: (1) an alliance for circular safety footwear, (2) a startup that turns old coffee ground and orange peel waste from another company into new products, and (3) a multi-stakeholder project aimed at recovering resources from wastewater. We propose a framework for a Minimum Viable Ecosystem for Circularity (MVEC) that includes a set of key activities to perform when building ecosystems for a circular economy. These activities provide a useful roadmap for scholars and practitioners for establishing and assessing ecosystems for circularity. We call for further research and practical applications to test and demonstrate the utility of this framework in different contexts.
Design thinking is an innovation approach for organisations aiming to solve complex and open-ended problems, including those arising in the transition from a linear to a circular economic system. Although the importance has been recognised in business and academia, to date, insight is lacking on how design thinking can be applied within circular innovation specifically. We investigate the following research question: How can design thinking tools catalyse sustainable circular innovation? Based on the literature, we first create a framework that characterises design thinking principles, criteria and phases that could support circular innovation. The design thinking phases are ideate and design, implement and test, and evaluate and improve. The criteria include desirability, feasibility, viability and sustainability, and circularity. Finally, we identify the following principles that make design thinking suitable to tackle complex circular innovation challenges: human-centred, future-oriented, holistic, co-creative, and experimental. Consequently, against this framework, we map 11 tools that are suitable to catalyse circular innovation theory into practice through design thinking. Finally, we reflect on the future of research and practice around this subject.
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Design thinking is an innovation approach for organisations aiming to solve complex and open-ended problems, including those arising in the transition from a linear to a circular economic system. Although the importance has been recognised in business and academia, to date, insight is lacking on how design thinking can be applied within circular innovation specifically. We investigate the following research question: How can design thinking tools catalyse sustainable circular innovation? Based on the literature, we first create a framework that characterises design thinking principles, criteria and phases that could support circular innovation. The design thinking phases are ideate and design, implement and test, and evaluate and improve. The criteria include desirability, feasibility, viability and sustainability, and circularity. Finally, we identify the following principles that make design thinking suitable to tackle complex circular innovation challenges: human-centred, future-oriented, holistic, co-creative, and experimental. Consequently, against this framework, we map 11 tools that are suitable to catalyse circular innovation theory into practice through design thinking. Finally, we reflect on the future of research and practice around this subject.
Working paper
(2024)
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Alejandro Buesa, Pablo Pinero, Luis Pedauga, Jose Manuel Rueda-Cantuche, B. Baldassarre
Strategic autonomy can be bolstered by applying circularity strategies such as reducing primary inputs and recycling critical raw materials in key technologies. However, effective actions require high definition at the material or technology level, leading to a non-systematic and often tedious data collection process. This paper extracts information from heterogeneous data sources attaining sufficient detail to conceive circularity scenarios and gauge their potential impact on global supply chains. Using titanium metal in the EU as a showcase, we start by merging qualitative, macroeconomic and micro-level trade information to disaggregate secondary (i.e., titanium scrap) flows depending on their production stage, sector of origin and quality. Subsequently, we design two enhanced circularity scenarios with marked strategic autonomy implications: a reduction of scrap buyback agreements in the EU with the US, and an increase in scrap collection from end-of-life aircraft. Finally, these scenarios are fed into an inter-country input-output model to compute their economic and employment impact. The results of our simulations show that the EU would benefit from valorising secondary titanium flows domestically, most notably if domestic processing capacity is also increased, by up to 20 million euros in value added and around 380 jobs.
...
Strategic autonomy can be bolstered by applying circularity strategies such as reducing primary inputs and recycling critical raw materials in key technologies. However, effective actions require high definition at the material or technology level, leading to a non-systematic and often tedious data collection process. This paper extracts information from heterogeneous data sources attaining sufficient detail to conceive circularity scenarios and gauge their potential impact on global supply chains. Using titanium metal in the EU as a showcase, we start by merging qualitative, macroeconomic and micro-level trade information to disaggregate secondary (i.e., titanium scrap) flows depending on their production stage, sector of origin and quality. Subsequently, we design two enhanced circularity scenarios with marked strategic autonomy implications: a reduction of scrap buyback agreements in the EU with the US, and an increase in scrap collection from end-of-life aircraft. Finally, these scenarios are fed into an inter-country input-output model to compute their economic and employment impact. The results of our simulations show that the EU would benefit from valorising secondary titanium flows domestically, most notably if domestic processing capacity is also increased, by up to 20 million euros in value added and around 380 jobs.
Journal article
(2024)
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Jakimow Malgorzata, Vsevolod Samokhalov, B. Baldassarre
Why is it important to understand the potential of circular economy for security? With the green transition in full swing and vulnerabilities in value chains as a consequence of the COVID–19 pandemic and Russian aggression towards Ukraine, this question has never been more timely.
Titanium metal constitutes a poignant case, as it is a critical raw material essential for the strategic civil aerospace and defence sectors. In addition, circular economy solutions constitute a viable solution to mitigate import dependencies in the case of this particular raw material.
The European Union, with one of the largest aviation industries globally, is dependent on titanium imports from Russia and the United States. The latter, in turn, (re)imports titanium scrap from EU aviation manufacturing to increase material efficiency and reduce costs through recycling.
Based on extensive stakeholder interviews across several countries and quantitative trade data, this article presents a first-time analysis of how, in the case of the titanium value chain, circular economy solutions can support the EU Open Strategic Autonomy (OSA) objectives, as enshrined in the 2023 Critical Raw Materials Act.
We suggest that in order for the EU to achieve both the OSA and decarbonization objectives, it is essential to prioritize the establishment of recycling facilities as part of reshoring of the mid-value titanium industry. With the prospect of Ukraine becoming an EU member state, this strategy could be complemented by investments into the decarbonization of the upstream value chain in Ukraine while meshing it further with the EU industrial base.
We argue that such reshoring could be best achieved through careful intergovernmental and industrial negotiations between the US and EU stakeholders within the formerly established channels for aviation dispute resolutions and within the framework of Ukraine's postwar reconstruction and potential EU accession. ...
Titanium metal constitutes a poignant case, as it is a critical raw material essential for the strategic civil aerospace and defence sectors. In addition, circular economy solutions constitute a viable solution to mitigate import dependencies in the case of this particular raw material.
The European Union, with one of the largest aviation industries globally, is dependent on titanium imports from Russia and the United States. The latter, in turn, (re)imports titanium scrap from EU aviation manufacturing to increase material efficiency and reduce costs through recycling.
Based on extensive stakeholder interviews across several countries and quantitative trade data, this article presents a first-time analysis of how, in the case of the titanium value chain, circular economy solutions can support the EU Open Strategic Autonomy (OSA) objectives, as enshrined in the 2023 Critical Raw Materials Act.
We suggest that in order for the EU to achieve both the OSA and decarbonization objectives, it is essential to prioritize the establishment of recycling facilities as part of reshoring of the mid-value titanium industry. With the prospect of Ukraine becoming an EU member state, this strategy could be complemented by investments into the decarbonization of the upstream value chain in Ukraine while meshing it further with the EU industrial base.
We argue that such reshoring could be best achieved through careful intergovernmental and industrial negotiations between the US and EU stakeholders within the formerly established channels for aviation dispute resolutions and within the framework of Ukraine's postwar reconstruction and potential EU accession. ...
Why is it important to understand the potential of circular economy for security? With the green transition in full swing and vulnerabilities in value chains as a consequence of the COVID–19 pandemic and Russian aggression towards Ukraine, this question has never been more timely.
Titanium metal constitutes a poignant case, as it is a critical raw material essential for the strategic civil aerospace and defence sectors. In addition, circular economy solutions constitute a viable solution to mitigate import dependencies in the case of this particular raw material.
The European Union, with one of the largest aviation industries globally, is dependent on titanium imports from Russia and the United States. The latter, in turn, (re)imports titanium scrap from EU aviation manufacturing to increase material efficiency and reduce costs through recycling.
Based on extensive stakeholder interviews across several countries and quantitative trade data, this article presents a first-time analysis of how, in the case of the titanium value chain, circular economy solutions can support the EU Open Strategic Autonomy (OSA) objectives, as enshrined in the 2023 Critical Raw Materials Act.
We suggest that in order for the EU to achieve both the OSA and decarbonization objectives, it is essential to prioritize the establishment of recycling facilities as part of reshoring of the mid-value titanium industry. With the prospect of Ukraine becoming an EU member state, this strategy could be complemented by investments into the decarbonization of the upstream value chain in Ukraine while meshing it further with the EU industrial base.
We argue that such reshoring could be best achieved through careful intergovernmental and industrial negotiations between the US and EU stakeholders within the formerly established channels for aviation dispute resolutions and within the framework of Ukraine's postwar reconstruction and potential EU accession.
Titanium metal constitutes a poignant case, as it is a critical raw material essential for the strategic civil aerospace and defence sectors. In addition, circular economy solutions constitute a viable solution to mitigate import dependencies in the case of this particular raw material.
The European Union, with one of the largest aviation industries globally, is dependent on titanium imports from Russia and the United States. The latter, in turn, (re)imports titanium scrap from EU aviation manufacturing to increase material efficiency and reduce costs through recycling.
Based on extensive stakeholder interviews across several countries and quantitative trade data, this article presents a first-time analysis of how, in the case of the titanium value chain, circular economy solutions can support the EU Open Strategic Autonomy (OSA) objectives, as enshrined in the 2023 Critical Raw Materials Act.
We suggest that in order for the EU to achieve both the OSA and decarbonization objectives, it is essential to prioritize the establishment of recycling facilities as part of reshoring of the mid-value titanium industry. With the prospect of Ukraine becoming an EU member state, this strategy could be complemented by investments into the decarbonization of the upstream value chain in Ukraine while meshing it further with the EU industrial base.
We argue that such reshoring could be best achieved through careful intergovernmental and industrial negotiations between the US and EU stakeholders within the formerly established channels for aviation dispute resolutions and within the framework of Ukraine's postwar reconstruction and potential EU accession.
Journal article
(2024)
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A Arcipowska, Sara Blanco Perez, Jakimow Malgorzata, B. Baldassarre, Davide Polverini, Miguel Cabrera
In May 2022, the European Commission adopted a new European Union (EU) Solar Energy Strategy [1] aiming to ensure that solar energy achieves its full potential in helping to meet the European Green Deal's climate and energy targets. A goal of the strategy is to reach nearly 600 GW of installed solar photovoltaics (PV) capacity by 2030. While Europe is a pioneer in the definition of new policy requirements to ensure the circularity and sustainability of PV products, its manufacturing capabilities are limited. The EU mostly imports PV modules from China, which for the last decade has remained the global leader in PV manufacturing across the supply chain. This article aims to provide insight into the solar PV industry and the surrounding policy context, focusing on the manufacturing phase and its climate impact. It provides a comparative overview of the key players in the European and Chinese PV markets with an overview of the whole supply chain (i.e. production of polysilicon, cells, wafers and modules). Having in mind the net-zero commitments across the globe, and a central role of the solar PV in the energy transition, the demand for PV products is expected to grow exponentially in the next decades. With this in mind, the authors look into environmental impacts from the PV manufacturing. A simplified analysis concludes on the suitability of the PV manufacturing process today and indicates the opportunities for the net-zero transition in the future. While the focus is on the carbon impacts of the solar PV industry, the authors also identify other relevant aspects (such as circularity), laying the ground for a future research.
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In May 2022, the European Commission adopted a new European Union (EU) Solar Energy Strategy [1] aiming to ensure that solar energy achieves its full potential in helping to meet the European Green Deal's climate and energy targets. A goal of the strategy is to reach nearly 600 GW of installed solar photovoltaics (PV) capacity by 2030. While Europe is a pioneer in the definition of new policy requirements to ensure the circularity and sustainability of PV products, its manufacturing capabilities are limited. The EU mostly imports PV modules from China, which for the last decade has remained the global leader in PV manufacturing across the supply chain. This article aims to provide insight into the solar PV industry and the surrounding policy context, focusing on the manufacturing phase and its climate impact. It provides a comparative overview of the key players in the European and Chinese PV markets with an overview of the whole supply chain (i.e. production of polysilicon, cells, wafers and modules). Having in mind the net-zero commitments across the globe, and a central role of the solar PV in the energy transition, the demand for PV products is expected to grow exponentially in the next decades. With this in mind, the authors look into environmental impacts from the PV manufacturing. A simplified analysis concludes on the suitability of the PV manufacturing process today and indicates the opportunities for the net-zero transition in the future. While the focus is on the carbon impacts of the solar PV industry, the authors also identify other relevant aspects (such as circularity), laying the ground for a future research.
Conference paper
(2023)
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Roger Nyffenegger, B. Baldassarre, N.M.P. Bocken
Renewable solar energy is essential to achieve the Paris climate agreement. The EU faces two main challenges. First, the increased photovoltaic (PV) capacity installed today will result in enormous amounts of waste at the end of life of PV modules. Second, the EU is currently dependent on the imports of PV modules, manufactured outside the EU using fossil fuel sources and critical raw materials. Circular strategies (i.e., reduce, reuse, recycle) may help address these challenges. Here, we focus on reuse, which according to the EU waste framework directive should be prioritized over recycling. Based on a review of academic and industry literature and exploratory interviews with industry stakeholders and policymakers, we shed light on the reuse business models of PV modules, and the EU policy context. Four main reuse business model archetypes were determined: (1) opportunity driven diversifier; (2) socially driven orchestrator, (3) turnover oriented trader, and (4)state appointed collector. All reuse business models are shaped by the EU policy landscape. This landscape includes the upcoming Ecodesign requirements for new PV modules placed on the market; the directive on Waste from Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) determining end of life requirements; and in between a regulatory gap related to enforcing potential reuse activities. The identified circular business model archetypes and EU policies are finally discussed to inform potential future research, business, and policy actions to make the European PV industry more circular and resilient.
...
Renewable solar energy is essential to achieve the Paris climate agreement. The EU faces two main challenges. First, the increased photovoltaic (PV) capacity installed today will result in enormous amounts of waste at the end of life of PV modules. Second, the EU is currently dependent on the imports of PV modules, manufactured outside the EU using fossil fuel sources and critical raw materials. Circular strategies (i.e., reduce, reuse, recycle) may help address these challenges. Here, we focus on reuse, which according to the EU waste framework directive should be prioritized over recycling. Based on a review of academic and industry literature and exploratory interviews with industry stakeholders and policymakers, we shed light on the reuse business models of PV modules, and the EU policy context. Four main reuse business model archetypes were determined: (1) opportunity driven diversifier; (2) socially driven orchestrator, (3) turnover oriented trader, and (4)state appointed collector. All reuse business models are shaped by the EU policy landscape. This landscape includes the upcoming Ecodesign requirements for new PV modules placed on the market; the directive on Waste from Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) determining end of life requirements; and in between a regulatory gap related to enforcing potential reuse activities. The identified circular business model archetypes and EU policies are finally discussed to inform potential future research, business, and policy actions to make the European PV industry more circular and resilient.
Why Circular Business Models Fail And What To Do About It
A Preliminary Framework And Lessons Learned From A Case In The European Union (Eu)
The circular economy aims to decouple economic growth from negative environmental impacts. To achieve this goal, circular economy concepts and policies must be implemented in practice by organizations through new circular business models. However, organizations often fail to implement circular business models on the market at scale. This is a major problem in business innovation practice, while a knowledge gap about the underlying implementation challenges remains in the scientific literature. More research on the subject is needed. The objective of this study is contributing to shed light into the gap with empirical insights. Using an action research method within an EU innovation project, this article proposes a preliminary empirical framework that links the value proposition, creation, delivery, and capture dimensions of a circular business models with specific cultural, regulatory, economic, and technical barriers that might hinder implementation. Based on the framework, four lessons to support managerial action are provided. Future research might build upon this work by systematically collecting and structuring more granular empirical data about the specific reasons why new circular business models fail to be implemented by organizations, across different sectors and geographical areas.
...
The circular economy aims to decouple economic growth from negative environmental impacts. To achieve this goal, circular economy concepts and policies must be implemented in practice by organizations through new circular business models. However, organizations often fail to implement circular business models on the market at scale. This is a major problem in business innovation practice, while a knowledge gap about the underlying implementation challenges remains in the scientific literature. More research on the subject is needed. The objective of this study is contributing to shed light into the gap with empirical insights. Using an action research method within an EU innovation project, this article proposes a preliminary empirical framework that links the value proposition, creation, delivery, and capture dimensions of a circular business models with specific cultural, regulatory, economic, and technical barriers that might hinder implementation. Based on the framework, four lessons to support managerial action are provided. Future research might build upon this work by systematically collecting and structuring more granular empirical data about the specific reasons why new circular business models fail to be implemented by organizations, across different sectors and geographical areas.