In this inaugural address, reflections on the transition towards a circular economy are shared, with a deliberate focus on human behaviour. This focus is intentional. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, behavioural changes could reduce global greenhouse gas emissions by as much …

Business model innovation is essential to drive the systemic change required for a new economy. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) provide focus and direction towards this transition. For companies in the agriculture and horticulture sectors, SDG 12, Responsible Consumption and Production, is …

Circular, biobased, and modular construction practices are gaining traction as cities seek to reduce the environmental impact of the built environment. However, little is known about how these strategies affect construction logistics and their associated emissions. We develop an agent-based model to …

The increasing interest in Aronia melanocarpa berries for their antioxidant properties sets the necessity to define sustainable strategies to valorize the by-products. This study investigates the use of supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO2) extraction, with and without ethanol as a co-solvent, for recovering …

Dear Reader, Welcome to Sustainable EU Economy. This book is more than a textbook—it is an invitation to explore how the European Union shapes business, society, and sustainability in today’s interconnected world. My hope is that it will inspire you to think critically, engage actively, and see how Europe’s …

Food loss and waste (FLW) remains a critical global challenge, particularly in the food and beverage (F&B) sector, where small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) operate under tight margins and fragmented supply chains. This study investigates how F&B SMEs in the Netherlands address sustainability (including …

Abstract Digital Product Passports (DPPs) can play an essential role in accelerating the circular economy. However, the process of DPP implementation and adoption in the Electrical and Electronic Equipment (EEE) sector remains slow and unclear, highlighting a critical gap in the existing research. This …

The transition to a circular economy presents significant challenges for high-tech manufacturing, particularly among small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which often face resource constraints. Digital Product Passports (DPPs) have emerged as pivotal tools for enhancing transparency, traceability, …

The construction and demolition is a resource intensive sector, with Construction and Demolition Wastes (CDWs) considered as the largest waste streams accounting for 374 million tonnes in Europe. Although the 70% target for material recovery of CDWs set in the European Union Waste Directive Framework …

Bio-based and circular building materials and techniques can play an important role in the transition toward a more sustainable construction sector. This study focuses on the Northern Netherlands and explores those competencies (in terms of knowledge, skills, and attitude) required by construction workers …