Full Text Available
Note: Clicking the button above will open the full text document at the original institutional repository in a new window.
Innovation for transition to a circular economy : a transdisciplinary case study at Distell
ENGLISH SUMMARY : The negative effects of excessive global resource use see the urge for decoupled methods of consumption. The circular economy has been acknowledged as a tool to mitigate continued resourced exploitation, and could provide a method for countries to transition towards sustainability...
Saved in:
| Main Author: | |
|---|---|
| Other Authors: | |
| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | en_ZA |
| Published: |
Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
2017
|
| Subjects: | |
| Tags: |
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| Summary: | ENGLISH SUMMARY : The negative effects of excessive global resource use see the urge for decoupled methods of consumption. The circular economy has been acknowledged as a tool to mitigate continued
resourced exploitation, and could provide a method for countries to transition towards sustainability.
This thesis investigates whether the application of the circular economy may facilitate broader
systemic change that provides economic, environmental and social benefits in the context of South
Africa. More locally, this thesis responds to the impending closure of the Stellenbosch landfill site,
and aims to explore a practical solution to help divert waste from landfill.
This thesis aims to fulfil two main objectives. First, it aims to synthesise both transitions theory and
the circular economy to provide an innovative tool with which to approach sustainable transitions.
Second, it aims to apply this hybrid theory in a transdisciplinary case study at Distell to uncover an
innovative closed-loop waste solution. Other objectives aim to contribute to Distell’s ongoing
sustainability efforts, respond to Stellenbosch Municipality’s target of reducing organic waste to
landfill, contribute to the growing research and evidence of the circular economy and its outcomes,
motivate continued theory development and empirical research into the potential synthesis of the two
theories and initiate the academic discourse of the circular economy in South Africa.
The two main objectives are explored by analysing two sub-questions in two freestanding journal
articles. The first article explores the potential synthesis of the fields of the circular economy and
transitions theory through a literature review. Although these theories are clearly different, the
argument is made that the strengths in the one theory can bolster the weaknesses in the other. The
intersection between the two distinct theories has the potential to facilitate a sustainable transition
towards a circular economy through innovation. The general conditions under which the circular
economy may be replicable is suggested, and further research is recommended to investigate this
lens in a case study.
The amalgamated theory provides the conceptual tool used to analyse the transdisciplinary case
study at Distell in article two. The case study investigates the various waste stream opportunities at
Distell that can demonstrate the synthesis in article one to provide a scalable intervention with
environmental, social and economic benefits. The filter waste stream was chosen due its high priority
given by Distell, and with the conceptual tool it was possible to design a closed loop intervention
that has the potential for widespread positive environmental, economic and social effects.
Closing the loop on the cellulose filter waste entails using them to grow and sell edible mushrooms,
thereafter selling or using the exhausted substrate as compost. The implications could include two new revenue streams, reduced costs, waste diverted from landfill, reduced greenhouse gas emissions
associated with landfilling, soil regeneration, increased carbon sequestration ability of soils, strategic
positional advantages and semi and low-skilled job creation. Since the majority of the Western Cape
wineries use the same filter method, these findings could potentially transform the Western Cape
wine industry, and thus our soils. The specific conditions under which this intervention could be
replicable is suggested, and further research is recommended to develop a clear strategy for
implementing this project, and to continue the theory development of the amalgamation of
transitions theory and the circular economy. |
|---|