A Circularity Indicator Tool for Measuring the Ecological Embeddedness of Manufacturing

Hana Trollman, James Colwill and Sandeep Jagtap
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Hana Trollman: Wolfson School of Mechanical, Electrical & Manufacturing Engineering, Loughborough University, Loughborough LE11 3TU, UK
James Colwill: Wolfson School of Mechanical, Electrical & Manufacturing Engineering, Loughborough University, Loughborough LE11 3TU, UK
Sandeep Jagtap: School of Aerospace, Transport & Manufacturing, Cranfield University, Cranfield MK43 0AL, UK

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 16, 1-23

Abstract: Circularity in manufacturing is critical to reducing raw material usage and waste. Ecological embeddedness examines circular relationships intended to benefit both economic actors and the natural environment. By understanding circular relationships in the value chain, manufacturers can formulate strategies that are eco-effective. This work develops and validates an original circularity tool to measure the ecological embeddedness of manufacturers using exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis. The tool is tested on process manufacturers selling products in the United Kingdom. The three main results are that the tool is useful and comprehensive (87% of users), enables simple comparisons with competitors, and identifies weaknesses in strategies related to the five dimensions connecting manufacturers, consumers, and the environment: understanding, realising, utilising, negotiating, and reclaiming. Manufacturers may use the tool to improve their ecological embeddedness, and sector-based circularity levels may be established for policy development. The novelty of the tool is in the use of ecological relationships to support achievement of a circular economy.

Keywords: circular economy; ecological embeddedness; factor analysis; strategy formulation; sustainable manufacturing (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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