Daniel Guzzo

Project title: A systems approach to modelling Circular Economy transition rebounds within the electronics and ICT industry

Host Institution: Technical University of Denmark (DTU)

Host Supervisor: Dr. Daniela Cristina Antelmi Pigosso

Co-host Institution: Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e)

Co-host Supervisor: Dr.ir. Bob Walrave

Summary project: A Circular Economy (CE) transition is critical to enhance the global use of resources and ensure prosperity within the planetary boundaries. However, researchers and decision-makers still pay little attention to potential rebound effects of transition initiatives, which can undermine their sustainability gains. Rebound effects are unintended consequences of CE actions, which can offset their intended positive impact. Despite growing interest, scholars have yet to identify the underlying mechanisms causing rebound effects in the CE context. In response, this research project aims to resolve “How to model and forecast rebound effects in CE transitions within the EEE industry?”. CE, sustainability, and System Dynamics (SD) modelling and simulation sustain the research. The primary research outcome is a validated process-based framework to proactively identify rebound effects in CE transitions within the EEE industry, complemented by a catalogue of rebound mechanisms to help decision-makers’ identify rebound effects ex-ante and implement design strategies that limit their impact. The European CE Action Plan actions for the EEE industry will guide the empirical investigations and practical recommendations of the project.