Publicação
Circular economy self-assessment tool for households: A collaborative approach
| Resumo: | Household daily activities, such as food acquisition, housing, and mobility, are closely linked to sustainability impacts, including climate change, raw material use, quality of life, and waste production. However, individuals still don’t know how to act to better manage and improve their household sustainability performance, covering sustainable consumption and well-being, among other related aspects. In the context of households, when sustainable consumption is connected with circular economy, financial benefits become a possibility, and a main driver towards a sustainable lifestyle. Multiple studies have been conducted to understand circular economy assessment in products, private or public organizations, eco-industrial parks, and cities. However, there is still a lack of knowledge regarding the assessment of circular economy practices implemented at the household level, including current strategies, and indicators. Thus, the present work aims at developing a self-assessment tool to assess and report the implementation of circular economy-based strategies at the household level, including the definition of consumption activities, and indicators. This study is supported by a two-stage methodology, based on a mix-method procedure, that centres co-creation with residents/ fam- ily’s representatives in its approach, through the use of questionnaire surveys, and semi-struc- tured interviews with open-ended questions. Through a survey, the householders consumption priorities were identified, encompassing different circular economy practices and scopes. This allowed a qualitative triangulation with an integrative literature review, resulting in a set of 38 household circular economy metrics that enable self-assessment and foster circular economy at the consumer level. Additionally, insights over the use of the self-assessment tool were an- alysed, following a list of recommendations to optimize the construction of similar mecha- nisms. The developed self-assessment tool will allow individuals and families to assess, com- municate, and reflect on their behaviours about sustainability, in the vein of circular economy. It will foster a pro-environmental mindset, social equity, and economic consciousness in everyday decisions. This research contributes to the debate on the role of the household in the transition towards a circular economy, and its inherent assessment, and communication, using circular economy indicators. |
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| Autores principais: | Silva, Alexandre Manuel Ferreira Rodrigues da |
| Assunto: | Circular economy Indicators Sustainable consumption Assessment Stake-holder engagement |
| Ano: | 2023 |
| País: | Portugal |
| Tipo de documento: | dissertação de mestrado |
| Tipo de acesso: | acesso aberto |
| Instituição associada: | Universidade Nova de Lisboa |
| Idioma: | inglês |
| Origem: | Repositório Institucional da UNL |
| Resumo: | Household daily activities, such as food acquisition, housing, and mobility, are closely linked to sustainability impacts, including climate change, raw material use, quality of life, and waste production. However, individuals still don’t know how to act to better manage and improve their household sustainability performance, covering sustainable consumption and well-being, among other related aspects. In the context of households, when sustainable consumption is connected with circular economy, financial benefits become a possibility, and a main driver towards a sustainable lifestyle. Multiple studies have been conducted to understand circular economy assessment in products, private or public organizations, eco-industrial parks, and cities. However, there is still a lack of knowledge regarding the assessment of circular economy practices implemented at the household level, including current strategies, and indicators. Thus, the present work aims at developing a self-assessment tool to assess and report the implementation of circular economy-based strategies at the household level, including the definition of consumption activities, and indicators. This study is supported by a two-stage methodology, based on a mix-method procedure, that centres co-creation with residents/ fam- ily’s representatives in its approach, through the use of questionnaire surveys, and semi-struc- tured interviews with open-ended questions. Through a survey, the householders consumption priorities were identified, encompassing different circular economy practices and scopes. This allowed a qualitative triangulation with an integrative literature review, resulting in a set of 38 household circular economy metrics that enable self-assessment and foster circular economy at the consumer level. Additionally, insights over the use of the self-assessment tool were an- alysed, following a list of recommendations to optimize the construction of similar mecha- nisms. The developed self-assessment tool will allow individuals and families to assess, com- municate, and reflect on their behaviours about sustainability, in the vein of circular economy. It will foster a pro-environmental mindset, social equity, and economic consciousness in everyday decisions. This research contributes to the debate on the role of the household in the transition towards a circular economy, and its inherent assessment, and communication, using circular economy indicators. |
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