Premium
The environmental and material implications of circular transitions: A diffusion and product‐life‐cycle‐based modeling framework
Author(s) -
Sigüenza Carlos Pablo,
Steubing Bernhard,
Tukker Arnold,
AguilarHernández Glenn A.
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
journal of industrial ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.377
H-Index - 102
eISSN - 1530-9290
pISSN - 1088-1980
DOI - 10.1111/jiec.13072
Subject(s) - industrial ecology , life cycle assessment , circular economy , system dynamics , product lifecycle , stock (firearms) , limiting , product (mathematics) , computer science , risk analysis (engineering) , business model , new product development , environmental economics , business , sustainability , economics , engineering , production (economics) , marketing , ecology , mathematics , microeconomics , mechanical engineering , geometry , artificial intelligence , biology
Circular business models (CBMs) and their potential environmental benefits have been widely assessed by using life cycle assessment (LCA). However, most LCA studies consider static systems and assume instant and full technology adoption, limiting the analysis of the implications of circular transitions. Considering technology diffusion in LCA models may bring a better understanding of the environmental implications of the adoption of CBMs. Nevertheless, diffusion is also related to stock dynamics, which are difficult to represent in classic LCA models. To overcome these issues, we propose a modeling framework that integrates three modeling families to assess the environmental impacts and material implications of the adoption of CBMs: diffusion of innovations, product stock dynamics, and LCA. We present a method of application and illustrate it with a theoretical case study. This framework might be useful in the socio‐economic analysis of systems transitioning to CBMs, especially in systems that involve long‐lived products.