Evaluating circular economy strategies and practices in households: A self-assessment tool
Household daily activities, such as food acquisition, housing, and mobility, are closely linked to sustainability impacts, including climate change, raw material use, quality of life, and waste production. Multiple studies have been conducted to understand circular economy assessment in products, pr...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2025-03-01
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| Series: | Cleaner and Responsible Consumption |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666784325000130 |
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| author | Alexandre Rodrigues da Silva Tomás B. Ramos |
| author_facet | Alexandre Rodrigues da Silva Tomás B. Ramos |
| author_sort | Alexandre Rodrigues da Silva |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Household daily activities, such as food acquisition, housing, and mobility, are closely linked to sustainability impacts, including climate change, raw material use, quality of life, and waste production. Multiple studies have been conducted to understand circular economy assessment in products, private or public organizations, eco-industrial parks, and cities. However, there is still a lack of knowledge regarding the assessment of circular economy practices implemented at the household level, including current strategies, and indicators. Thus, the present work aims at developing a self-assessment tool to assess and report the implementation of circular economy-based strategies and practices at the household level, including the definition of related consumption activities and indicators. This study is supported by a two-stage methodology, based on a mixed-method approach, focusing collaboration with residents'/family representatives, through a questionnaire survey and semi-structured interviews. The main findings from the survey enabled the identification of householders’ consumption priorities, encompassing different circular economy related strategies and practices. This allowed a qualitative triangulation with an integrative literature review, resulting in a set of 38 household circular economy indicators that enable self-assessment and foster circular economy at the consumer level. Then, the developed tool was evaluated by a selection of interviewed stakeholders to gain insights into its usage, leading to the identification of several practical recommendations to enhance understandability and operability, including technicalities and language related issues. The developed self-assessment tool could encourage individuals and families to start considering voluntary CE evaluations and reporting, particularly as municipalities and other relevant stakeholders begin to recognize and request this information. This research contributes to the ongoing debate regarding the role of a circular household in the transition to sustainability, including its inherent assessment, and communication. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-b8c2aa8cee0f45c9bc2aaf34944c671d |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2666-7843 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Cleaner and Responsible Consumption |
| spelling | doaj-art-b8c2aa8cee0f45c9bc2aaf34944c671d2025-08-20T02:52:27ZengElsevierCleaner and Responsible Consumption2666-78432025-03-011610026210.1016/j.clrc.2025.100262Evaluating circular economy strategies and practices in households: A self-assessment toolAlexandre Rodrigues da Silva0Tomás B. Ramos1Corresponding author.; CENSE, Center for Environmental and Sustainability Research, NOVA University Lisbon, NOVA School of Science and Technology, Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Campus da Caparica, 2829-516, Caparica, PortugalCENSE, Center for Environmental and Sustainability Research, NOVA University Lisbon, NOVA School of Science and Technology, Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Campus da Caparica, 2829-516, Caparica, PortugalHousehold daily activities, such as food acquisition, housing, and mobility, are closely linked to sustainability impacts, including climate change, raw material use, quality of life, and waste production. Multiple studies have been conducted to understand circular economy assessment in products, private or public organizations, eco-industrial parks, and cities. However, there is still a lack of knowledge regarding the assessment of circular economy practices implemented at the household level, including current strategies, and indicators. Thus, the present work aims at developing a self-assessment tool to assess and report the implementation of circular economy-based strategies and practices at the household level, including the definition of related consumption activities and indicators. This study is supported by a two-stage methodology, based on a mixed-method approach, focusing collaboration with residents'/family representatives, through a questionnaire survey and semi-structured interviews. The main findings from the survey enabled the identification of householders’ consumption priorities, encompassing different circular economy related strategies and practices. This allowed a qualitative triangulation with an integrative literature review, resulting in a set of 38 household circular economy indicators that enable self-assessment and foster circular economy at the consumer level. Then, the developed tool was evaluated by a selection of interviewed stakeholders to gain insights into its usage, leading to the identification of several practical recommendations to enhance understandability and operability, including technicalities and language related issues. The developed self-assessment tool could encourage individuals and families to start considering voluntary CE evaluations and reporting, particularly as municipalities and other relevant stakeholders begin to recognize and request this information. This research contributes to the ongoing debate regarding the role of a circular household in the transition to sustainability, including its inherent assessment, and communication.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666784325000130Circular economyIndicatorsSustainable consumptionAssessmentStakeholder engagement |
| spellingShingle | Alexandre Rodrigues da Silva Tomás B. Ramos Evaluating circular economy strategies and practices in households: A self-assessment tool Cleaner and Responsible Consumption Circular economy Indicators Sustainable consumption Assessment Stakeholder engagement |
| title | Evaluating circular economy strategies and practices in households: A self-assessment tool |
| title_full | Evaluating circular economy strategies and practices in households: A self-assessment tool |
| title_fullStr | Evaluating circular economy strategies and practices in households: A self-assessment tool |
| title_full_unstemmed | Evaluating circular economy strategies and practices in households: A self-assessment tool |
| title_short | Evaluating circular economy strategies and practices in households: A self-assessment tool |
| title_sort | evaluating circular economy strategies and practices in households a self assessment tool |
| topic | Circular economy Indicators Sustainable consumption Assessment Stakeholder engagement |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666784325000130 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT alexandrerodriguesdasilva evaluatingcirculareconomystrategiesandpracticesinhouseholdsaselfassessmenttool AT tomasbramos evaluatingcirculareconomystrategiesandpracticesinhouseholdsaselfassessmenttool |