Publications

@article{Pansera2021,

title = {Politicising Circular Economy: what can we learn from Responsible Innovation?},

author = {Mario Pansera and Andrea Genovese and Maddalena Ripa},

url = {https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/23299460.2021.1923315 https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/23299460.2021.1923315},

doi = {10.1080/23299460.2021.1923315},

issn = {2329-9460},

year  = {2021},

date = {2021-05-01},

journal = {Journal of Responsible Innovation},

pages = {1--7},

publisher = {Routledge},

abstract = {The ‘Circular Economy' has become a new buzzword in debates about sustainability. Circularity, however, is usually presented in terms of scientific and technological challenges that often neglect t...},

keywords = {Circular economy, Environmental justice, Responsible Innovation, stakeholders engagement},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Santagata2021,

title = {Food waste recovery pathways: Challenges and opportunities for an emerging bio-based circular economy. A systematic review and an assessment},

author = {R. Santagata and M. Ripa and A. Genovese and S. Ulgiati},

url = {https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0959652620355360},

doi = {10.1016/j.jclepro.2020.125490},

issn = {09596526},

year  = {2021},

date = {2021-03-01},

journal = {Journal of Cleaner Production},

volume = {286},

pages = {125490},

publisher = {Elsevier},

abstract = {The transition towards a Circular Economy in the agri-food supply chain will require appropriate support mechanisms. Globally, 1/3 of food is wasted, generating by-products which could be treated and processed. In a bioeconomy perspective, qualitatively and quantitatively assessing the availability of secondary raw materials and classifying the different conversion systems is crucial for the transition to happen. For this reason, a literature review of food waste conversion pathways, and related trade-offs and opportunities, has been carried out. Ecological performances of EU28 food waste treatment processes have been assessed through Life Cycle Assessment and Emergy Accounting methods, providing information from a donor and a consumer side perspectives for supporting policies. The added value of this work is the commixture of the analysis of food waste recovery and recycle pathways, their environmental assessment and the indication of opportunities and constraints. A conversion pathways database has been generated and classified. A major interest towards recovery of mixed food waste and biological type of conversion processes is highlighted. The main identified opportunities are the reduced environmental pressure and better management of resources, the avoided loss of economic value and the generation of work opportunities, as well as conditioning stakeholders' behaviors. On the other hand, it is highlighted that bad management of food waste can pose a threat on human health. The planning of these processes must carefully acknowledge local characteristics.},

keywords = {Bioeconomy, Circular economy, Emergy Accounting, Food waste, LCA},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Giampietro2020,

title = {From elite folk science to the policy legend of the circular economy},

author = {Mario Giampietro and Silvio O. Funtowicz},

url = {https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S1462901120302033},

doi = {10.1016/j.envsci.2020.04.012},

issn = {14629011},

year  = {2020},

date = {2020-07-01},

journal = {Environmental Science & Policy},

volume = {109},

pages = {64--72},

publisher = {Elsevier Ltd},

abstract = {This paper explores the implications of the widespread success of the term circular economy in the institutional and public debate. The concept of circular economy in itself implies a logical contradiction: on the one hand, the concept acknowledges the dependence of the economy on biophysical flows; on the other hand, the proposed solution\textemdasha business model guaranteeing a full decoupling of the economy from natural resources\textemdashseemingly ignores that biophysical processes are subject to thermodynamic constraints. A biophysical view of the sustainability predicament\textemdashthe flows exchanged between the technosphere and the biosphere \textemdash is depicted to show that the idea of a full decoupling is simply due to ignorance of the knowledge generated in (inter)disciplinary scientific fields other than the dominant economic one. The success of economics as an ‘elite folk science' is explained by the need of the establishment to ignore uncomfortable knowledge that would destabilize existing institutions. The success of the term circular economy can be seen as an example of socially constructed ignorance in which folk tales are used to depoliticize the sustainability debate and to colonize the future through the endorsement of implausible socio-technical imaginaries. A strategy that can lead to an irresponsible management of expectation: implausible master narratives are impossible to govern. Rather than continuing to impose technocratic plans, as if we knew the optimal thing to do, Post-Normal Science suggests that it is much more effective and responsible to adopt a flexible management approach, exploring the ability of self-organization of social-ecological systems.},

keywords = {Circular economy, Decoupling, Life-support system, Policy legend, Post-normal science, Uncomfortable knowledge},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Saltelli2020,

title = {The technique is never neutral. How methodological choices condition the generation of narratives for sustainability},

author = {Andrea Saltelli and Lorenzo Benini and Silvio Funtowicz and Mario Giampietro and Matthias Kaiser and Erik Reinert and Jeroen P. Sluijs},

url = {https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S1462901119304721},

doi = {10.1016/j.envsci.2020.01.008},

issn = {14629011},

year  = {2020},

date = {2020-04-01},

journal = {Environmental Science & Policy},

volume = {106},

pages = {87--98},

abstract = {textcopyright 2020 The Authors How to tackle uncertainties and ensure quality in integrated assessment for sustainability? To what extent does the choice of the methodology condition the narrative produced by the analysis? The present work argues that the two questions are tightly coupled. The technique is never neutral. If we are the tools of our tools, as suggested by Thoreau, then it can also be said that language is not only a vehicle for communication, it is the driver as well. For this reason, in sustainability assessment it is not unusual to discern a close relationship between arguments made and methods adopted. In the present work a set of six reflexive analytical tools \textendash we call them lenses \textendash is suggested which could be pooled to the effect to appraise and improve the quality of integrated assessment and the resulting sustainability narratives, and to alleviate the constraints of the method-argument dependency. None of the lenses is new and each has been used before. Never have they been used together. The lenses are (i) Post-normal science (PNS), (ii) Controversy studies, (iii) Sensitivity auditing, (iv) Bioeconomics, (v) Ethics of science for governance, and (vi) Non-Ricardian economics. The six lenses are illustrated together with a set of case/narratives/arguments. The lenses allow some narratives \textendash or methodologies \textendash to be shown as either implausible or inadequate, and new narratives to be developed to tackle pressing sustainability issues, which expand the horizon of possible strategies for a solution.},

keywords = {Bioeconomics, Circular economy, Controversy studies, Decarbonization, Ethical matrices, Ethics, European environment agency, Food ethics, Green growth, Heterodox economics, Honeybees, Insectageddon, Integrated assessment, Nexus water-energy-food, Non-ricardian economics, Post normal science, Relational ecology, Sensitivity auditing, sustainability, Transitions},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Santagata2020,

title = {Assessing the sustainability of urban eco-systems through Emergy-based circular economy indicators},

author = {Remo Santagata and Amalia Zucaro and Silvio Viglia and Maddalena Ripa and Xu Tian and Sergio Ulgiati},

url = {https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S1470160X19308532},

doi = {10.1016/j.ecolind.2019.105859},

issn = {1470160X},

year  = {2020},

date = {2020-02-01},

journal = {Ecological Indicators},

volume = {109},

pages = {105859},

publisher = {Elsevier},

abstract = {Circular Economy (CE) concepts and tools are getting increasing attention with regard to their implementation in agricultural, urban and industrial sectors towards innovative business models to optimize resource use, process performances and development policies. However, conventional biophysical and economic indicators hardly fit CE characteristics. Life cycle assessment, footprint and economic cost-benefit indicators, do not fully capture the specificity of a closed loop CE framework, characterized by feedbacks and resource use minimization and quality assessment. Commonly used mono-dimensional indicators seem unable to successfully relate the process performance and the use of ecosystem services and natural capital, in that they do not assess the environmental quality and sustainability (renewability, fit to use, recycle potential) of resources and the complexity of interaction between agro/industrial/urban environments and socioeconomic systems, and translate into an incomplete and inadequate picture, far from an effective CE perspective. In this study, Emergy Accounting method (EMA) is used to design an improved approach to CE systemic aspects, focusing on the importance of new indicators capable of capturing both resource generation (upstream), product (downstream) and systems dimensions. This conceptual scheme is built around the case study of the City of Napoli's economy (Campania region, Southern Italy) considering the surrounding agro-industrial area with its smaller urban settlements. In order to design a reasonable and reliable CE framework, a number of already existing and innovative processes is analyzed and discussed, through a bottom-up procedure capable to account for CE development options based on the recovery of locally available and still usable resources (i.e., conversion of waste cooking oil into biodiesel, conversion of slaughterhouse residues to power and chemicals, recovery and conversion of agro-waste residues, amongst others). The result highlighted that EMA was capable to keep track of the improvement generated by the implemented circularity patterns in terms of reduced total emergy of the system. Moreover, EMA indicators suggested that, in any case, the CE business framework should be intended as a transitional strategy towards more feasible paradigms.},

keywords = {Circular economy, Circular indicators, Emergy Accounting, Sustainability assessment, Urban systems},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Giampietro2019,

title = {On the Circular Bioeconomy and Decoupling: Implications for Sustainable Growth},

author = {M. Giampietro},

doi = {10.1016/j.ecolecon.2019.05.001},

issn = {09218009},

year  = {2019},

date = {2019-08-01},

journal = {Ecological Economics},

volume = {162},

pages = {143--156},

publisher = {Elsevier B.V.},

abstract = {This paper explores the existing confusion around the conceptual definitions and interpretations of the term circular bioeconomy. The co-existence of diametrically opposite interpretations of the concept indicates lack of a serious discussion of its theoretical foundations. Two narratives on circular bioeconomy are explored in depth: (i) the new economic paradigm based on technological progress (the economics of technological promises) that seeks perpetual economic growth; (ii) an entropic (thermodynamic) narrative that reflects on the limits on economic growth imposed by nature. The latter narrative makes a distinction between primary, secondary and tertiary resource flows and helps to identify what can and cannot be re-circulated within the metabolic pattern of social-ecological systems. Adopting the biophysical view, it becomes clear that the industrial revolution represented a linearization of material and energy flows with the goal to overcome the low pace and density of biological transformations. The required level of productivity of production factors in contemporary developed economies (flows per hour of labor and per hectare of land use) is orders of magnitude larger than the pace and density of supply and sink capacity of natural processes. Relying on nature to ‘close the loop' will simply slow down the economic process.},

keywords = {Bioeconomy, Circular economy, Decoupling, Fund-flow model, Linearization, Metabolic pattern, Social-ecological ystem, Sustainable growth},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Mayumi2019,

title = {Reconsidering “circular economy” in terms of irreversible evolution of economic activity and interplay between technosphere and biosphere},

author = {K. Mayumi and M. Giampietro},

url = {https://econpapers.repec.org/article/rjrromjef/v_3a_3ay_3a2019_3ai_3a2_3ap_3a196-206.htm},

issn = {25376071},

year  = {2019},

date = {2019-01-01},

journal = {Journal for Economic Forecasting},

volume = {22},

number = {2},

pages = {196--206},

abstract = {textcopyright 2019, Institute for Economic Forecasting. All rights reserved. The notion of circular economy has attracted increased attention in recent years. A set of common denominators of circular economy is identified. Then, four questions are raised to show that the ideas of a circular economy cannot be untenable: (i) is there any fundamental difference between the framework of circular economy and the neoclassical standard economics?; (ii) the efficiency improvement of energy and material use is achievable within the framework of circular economy proposal?; (iii) can the harmonious interplay between Technosphere and Biosphere be maintained?; and (iv) is there any serious consideration of “water fund” management within the framework of circular economy?.},

keywords = {Biosphere, Circular economy, Jevons paradox, Technosphere, Water fund},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Ghisellini2018,

title = {Exploring environmental and economic costs and benefits of a circular economy approach to the construction and demolition sector. A literature review},

author = {Patrizia Ghisellini and Maddalena Ripa and Sergio Ulgiati},

url = {https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0959652617328809},

doi = {10.1016/j.jclepro.2017.11.207},

issn = {09596526},

year  = {2018},

date = {2018-03-01},

journal = {Journal of Cleaner Production},

volume = {178},

pages = {618--643},

publisher = {Elsevier},

abstract = {Circular economy (CE) as a new model of economic development promotes the maximum reuse/recycling of materials, goods and components in order to decrease waste generation to the largest possible extent. It aims to innovate the entire chain of production, consumption, distribution and recovery of materials and energy according to a cradle to cradle vision. The awareness of increasing constraints on the availability of resources as well as the increasing demand for access to welfare and wellbeing by developing countries and social groups make it evident the need for new economic models capable to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of resource use. In the last two decades a growing literature addressed the environmental and economic impacts of construction and demolition (C&D) sectors, with special focus on the production and management of its waste materials. This study reviews and organizes the recent literature within the framework of the CE to explore how its key principles (Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle) apply to the management of C&D waste (C&DW). The reviewed literature mainly focuses on changes of environmental impacts as a consequence of CE implementation. Impacts have been mainly quantified by means of the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) approach, under the adoption of different boundaries of analysis, although other economic and biophysical approaches were also applied to a minor extent. The final goal of this study is evaluating if the adoption of the CE framework is environmentally and economically sustainable, given that the recovery of waste materials requires investments of resources. Different type of barriers (economic, political, legislative, informative and managerial) as well as solutions and success factors for implementing an effective management of C&DW within a circular framework are also pointed out. Results show that in most cases the reuse/recycling of C&DW at the end-of-life of a building as well as the production of recycled products provide environmental and economic benefits. Nevertheless, the environmental and economic sustainability of CE framework is very site specific and depends on several factors such as the type of material, building elements, transport distances, economic and political context. Finally, several directions for future research have been proposed: increased LCA modelling for sustainability evaluation, a wider development of cleaner production strategies focused on circular design, and finally the adoption of a comprehensive accounting of input and output flows, in order to assign appropriate weights to flows and benefits that are most often disregarded.},

keywords = {C&DW, Circular economy, Cleaner production, Life cycle assessment, Recycle, Reuse},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}