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Purpose: The purpose of this study is to explore the antecedents of uncaptured sustainable value and strategies to generate opportunities to capture it in the circular supply chain of post-consumer used clothing. Design/methodology/approach: This study is based on an inductive analysis of 21 semi-structured interviews conducted with various stakeholders in the circular clothing supply chain (for-profit and not-for-profit) using the value mapping approach, as previously applied in the literature on sustainable business models. Findings: Fifteen antecedents of uncaptured sustainable value, and thirteen value opportunity strategies were revealed that hinder or generate multi-dimensional value types. Economic value is impacted the most, while there is lack of explicit understanding of the impact of these antecedents and strategies on environmental and social value capture. From a multi-stakeholder perspective, the ecosystem is emerging as new for-profit actors are developing novel process technologies, while not-for-profit actors are consolidating their positions by offering new service options. There is also an emerging “coopetition” between the different stakeholders. Research limitations/implications: More granularity in the different types of uncaptured value could be considered, and external supply chain stakeholders, such as the government, could be included, leading to more detailed value mapping. Practical implications: This research provides practitioners with a value-mapping tool in circular clothing supply chains, thus providing a structured approach to explore, analyse and understand uncaptured value and value opportunities. Originality/value: This extended value perspective draws upon the value-mapping approach from the sustainable business model literature and applies it in the context of the circular clothing supply chain. In doing so, this research illustrates circular clothing supply chains in a new way that facilitates an improved understanding of mult

This Executive Brief compiles the key results obtained from some ongoing research and innovation studies conducted with the scope of two ongoing projects: (i) CLOSeD (Circular clothing dichotomies in global-local supply chain dispersion) funded by Ikea Family Research Foundation; ongoing since January 2021, and (ii) Circular Logistics (Exploring the role of logistics in the circular textile ecosystem) funded by Formas (Swedish research council for sustainable development); ongoing since May 2022. [More about the 2 projects here: CLOSeD↗ Circular Logistics↗] This Executive Brief is one-of-its-kind, given that it synthesizes the results of multiple ongoing studies, and draws connection among them by presenting an overarching purpose of creating science-based logical reasoning and understanding of how circular clothing supply chains and ecosystems, and the organizations embedded within, can maximise their valorisation potential amid the changing landscape led by, for example, the European Union (EU)-wide planning and adoption of “EU Strategy for textiles”. A common thread of our argument, as put forward in this Executive Brief is while the textile circular economy is largely influenced in practice by recent technological advancements, related to circular material development, innovative products and processes, or digitalization of circular business models and operations, the motivation in driving them forward has been largely from an efficiency-gain perspective, both in terms of economics and ecology, that is address whether and how circular economy would minimise costs, enhance profitability, and render economies of scale. A novelty-centred perspective has been largely implicit in this regard; however critical to generate a top-line on how circular supply chains and ecosystems should generate sustainable value, beyond cost/profit dimensions. To address this our Executive Brief presents the 5 distinct studies’ results. Each study is enriched by empirically-driven da

Despite the time-dependent behavior of carbon stored in plastic materials, literature assessing carbon flows into and from plastic typically applies a static approach. To better understand the climate impacts of such storage, this study explores how carbon stored in plastics can contribute over time to the national climate inventory with various emphasis on recycling. This is accomplished by implementing material stock change estimations for carbon in plastic materials that follow first-order decay and include impacts from recycling rates in the Integrated MARKAL-EFOM System model generator for Sweden (TIMES-Sweden). Thereafter, three approaches to how carbon released from the plastic material stock is accounted for in the national climate inventory were applied to determine how each approach affects resulting emission and net-zero pathways in different recycling rate scenarios. An accounting approach that follows the first-order decay pattern of material stocks was found to be important for capturing the impacts of recycling and for neither over- nor underestimating the emission impact from carbon stored in plastics. Accounting for carbon stored in plastics may provide important incentives for producing renewable plastics and reducing dependence on carbon removal technologies. Because of its synergies with recycling, the carbon storage potential of plastic products is well worth recognizing and promoting in a policy setting that aims for circularity. For Sweden, this reduces the need for bioenergy carbon capture and storage and makes more biomass-based carbon and electricity available for use elsewhere in the energy system., Validerad;2023;Nivå 2;2023-02-10 (joosat);This article has previously appeared as a manuscript in a thesis.Licens fulltext: CC BY License

Forskningsfråga: - Hur har ökat distansarbete påverkat motivation och engagemang hos anställda inom organisationer i offentlig sektor? - Hur kan motivation och engagemang främjas under distansarbete? Syfte: Syftet med studien är att bilda en djupare förståelse för hur distansarbete kan påverka individer och organisationer tillhörande offentlig sektor. Motivation och engagemang är centrala delar i organisationer och är därför högst intressanta att undersöka kopplat till distansarbete för att bidra med kunskap till området. Metod: Studien har en kvalitativ metod med en abduktiv ansats där 10 semistrukturerade intervjuer genomfördes. En tematisk analys har sedan använts för att analysera insamlat empiriskt material. Slutsats: Ökat distansarbete innebär förändrade förutsättningar för organisationer inom den offentliga sektorn som har lett till högre krav. Faktorer som förändrats i samband med ökat distansarbete som typ av kommunikation, personliga preferenser och vana av att kommunicera via digitala verktyg har visat sig kunna påverka anställdas motivation och engagemang. En ledare bör kunna anpassa sig till dessa förändrade faktorer och vidta nödvändiga åtgärder för att undvika att motivation och engagemang försämras under distansarbete.

A logistics learning capability based on an experimental “test-and-learn” approach holds the key to unlock logistics operations as a major competitive weapon in the current landscape of retailing. The purpose of this study is to empirically explore the characteristics of such a logistics learning capability, and to describe the corresponding logistics development practices. The research is based on an action research approach conducted at the Swedish fashion retailer H&M. During a period of 18 months, data has been collected through observations, informal discussions and interviews, and findings have been refined in two major cycles. The case of H&M offers insights into real existing learning and development practices at a retail company that operates in a highly competitive and complex retail landscape, characterized in particular by its process towards improved omni-channel practices. The findings elaborate the four logistics learning components of culture, structure, relationships, and speed. Furthermore, five of H&M's logistics development practices are described and defined as experimental logistics development. In contrast to traditional development processes in which analysis is followed by lengthy linear implementation and evaluation phases, these practices are characterized by an experimental, “test-and-learn” approach with short feedback loops and iterative development processes.

Industry is a major user of energy and emitter of fossil CO2. At the same time, Sweden targets net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2045. Current policies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate climate change, and the transition of the energy system it requires, will present major challenges for industry. Energy system optimisation models (ESOMs) are an important tool (of many) for improving the understanding of the sociotechnical transition required to reduce emissions. At the same time, previous modelling efforts rarely stretch the analysis further than net-zero emissions and lacking technology representation have historically led to over-reliance on carbon dioxide removal technologies. The general aim of this thesis is to support industry’s transition toward carbon neutrality. This will be achieved by (i) improving the representation of industry in ESOMs and (ii) applying the suggested representation to TIMES-Sweden and exploring different pathways for Swedish industry to reach net-zero or net-negative CO2 emissions using scenario analysis. The model representation is based on a detailed representation of tradeable materials. This detailed representation allows for easier modelling of demands and prepares the model for analysing the impacts of circular economy and material substitution. Regarding its ability to explore pathways to net zero emissions, the model representation was improved in two ways. First, the model has an improved technology representation that for each industrial process step includes a minimum of one option using biofuel/biomass, one option using carbon capture, and one electrification option. This makes the model capable of reaching net-zero emissions with minimum reliance on carbon removal technologies. Second, the suggested model representation is specifically derived to recognize and capture opportunities for process integration, industrial symbiosis, and sector coupling aspects in national energy system models. This allows for a

Edited by CuratorLab 2020/21.With contributions by Mario Airò, Sarah Alberti, Amal Alhaag, Naomi Beckwith, Ida Biard, Wigger Bierma, Barbara Bloom, Susan Bolgar, Jonna Bornemark, Carlos Capelán, Carmen Cuenca, Quinten Dierick, Mark Dion, Stephan Dillemuth, Zippora Elders, Andrea Fraser, Clarien van Harten, Wulf Herzogenrath, Irene Hohenbüchler, Mary Jane Jacob, Krista Jantowski, Viola Krajewska, Michael Krichman, Suzanne Lacy, Rune Mields, Aernout Mik, Thomas Millroth, Christian Philipp Müller, Marielle Nitoslawska, Betsabeé Romero, Andreas Siekmann, Valerie Smith, Petra Smits, Christoph Tannert, Sissel Tolaas, Madeleine Tunbjer, Ryszard Waśko, Sofia Wiberg, Måns Wrange, Sally Yard, Mel Ziegler

Edited by CuratorLab 2020/21.With contributions by Ulla Arnell, José Bedia, Carlos Capelán, Elisabet Haglund, Ewa Kumlin, Gunilla Lundahl, Jan-Erik Lundström, Sissi Nilsson, Joan Rom, Patssi Valdez, and others.

Time series data is a sequence of data points that are collected over some time interval, either at equally or unequally spaced points. Most people come into contact with time series data on a daily basis without their knowledge. For instance, with the COVID-19 pandemic, more people than ever consume time series data and demands fast and accurate information about daily trends of various COVID-19 statistics. Another example is the financial markets, which rely on autonomous trading algorithms that continuously collect data on how the markets are changing. The time series database type is growing in popularity for every year, but there is limited research on how working with financial market data affects the performance of time series databases. Therefore, the purpose of this thesis is to evaluate, and compare, a set of state-of-the-art time series data storage solutions, in terms of write and read throughput, and query flexibility, when storing transactional and frequently updated market data. A field study was conducted to discover candidate time series data storage solutions that were easy to use, popular, and high-performant, which resulted in the databases MongoDB, TimescaleDB, InfluxDB, QuestDB and OpenTSDB. After the field study, because of the limited duration of the work of this thesis, an implementation feasibility study was conducted to verify that the candidate solutions could be implemented in reasonable time, which resulted in discarding OpenTSDB from the evaluations. To evaluate the candidate solutions, a Java program was implemented, that executed and measured the performance of write and read queries for each of the candidate solutions, when a workload of historical time series market data was used. The results from the performance tests show that, for the workloads tested in this thesis, MongoDB and QuestDB display the best write throughput, read throughput, and query flexibility.

Packaging can play a key role in reducing food waste and enabling resource efficient logistics operations. This paper offers insights into why this potential is not fully adopted by companies in food supply chains by exploring adoption barriers for sustainable packaging practices in ten companies in South Africa and Sweden. The paper develops an analytical framework from theory and applies it to the empirical data. This resulted in ten propositions that structure adoption barriers for sustainable packaging practices in food supply chains and explain the reasons for their occurrence. The propositions can form a basis for researchers to understand why the adoption of sustainable packaging practices in food supply chains may be lacking. Corporate decision-makers can use the propositions to form strategies and initiatives to overcome adoption barriers. The study also identified some contextual differences, but overall, the contextual impact on adoption barriers was surprisingly low. To deepen research and practice insights about the complexity of adopting sustainable packaging practices, the paper offers a process view on the adoption barriers in which their relationships are linked. The analytical framework and the process view offer integrative views on adoption barriers for sustainable packaging practices that enable re-searchers and practitioners to address them with a structured approach. This explorative study finally unfolds further research opportunities., Funding Agencies|Formas (the Swedish government research council for sustainable development) [2017-00792]

Purpose The textile and fashion industry currently undergoes a shift towards more circular practices, and post consumer used textiles are increasingly brought into circular flows typically including reuse, resell and repair. To decrease the share of landfill and incineration, large-scale textile-to-textile recycling practices need to be developed as a complement to these reuse-alternatives. The purpose of this study is to explore supply chain capabilities required in the textile-to-textile recycling supply chain. Design/methodology/approach Based on an action research approach, empirical data to this study has been collected at a large fashion retailer, currently involved in a pilot project aimed at understanding the end-to-end, fibre-to-fibre recycling supply chain practices and its involved stakeholders. Findings Three major supply chain capabilities were identified: standardisation of products, managing inventories, and designing supply chains. Their content and importance are elaborated in the context of the textile-to-textile recycling supply chain, which is characterised by rapidly increasing volumes, consumer requirements, and technology developments. Research limitations/implications Recent technology developments such as chemical fibre-to-fibre recycling and automated textile sorting are currently accelerating the development of new circular supply chains of low-value textile waste. Supply chain capabilities are imperative for efficient and effective logistics operations in these supply chains. Original/value In contrast to circular business models focused on reuse-alternatives, the textile-to-textile recycling supply chain is much less explored, despite it is anticipated to play a major role in a future, more circular, textile and fashion industry.