Circularity and recycling are gaining increased attention, yet the amount of recycled plastic applied in new products remains low. To accelerate its uptake by businesses, it will be useful to empirically investigate the barriers, enablers, needs and, ultimately, requirements to increase uptake of recycled plastic feedstock for the production of new plastic products. During the six focus group sessions we conducted, a value chain approach was used to map the factors that actors face regarding the implementation of recycled materials. The identified factors were structured based on three levels: determining whether a certain factor acted as a barrier or enabler, identifying the steps in the value chain that the factor directly affected and the category it could be subdivided into. The results were then further processed by translating the (rather abstract) needs of businesses into (specific) requirements from industry. This study presented eight business requirements that require actions from other actors in the value chain: design for recycling, optimised waste processing, standardisation, material knowledge, showing possibilities, information and education, cooperation, and regulation and government intervention. The main scientific contributions were the value chain perspective and the applied relevance of the findings. Future studies may delve deeper into the individual factors identified.
MULTIFILE
This paper assesses the impact of perceived HRM practices on organisational citizenship behaviour (OCB) and whether leader membership exchange (LMX) mediates this relationship. The required research data were retrieved from four different departments within a logistics and supply chain management organisation. The results show that there is a significant relationship between the HRM practices as perceived by a subordinate and their level of organisational citizenship behaviour. The relationship that subordinates have with their frontline manager (LMX) acts as a significant mediator. In the final section, of this paper the findings are discussed and recommendations for future research and practical implications are given.
Background and aim ʹ Many countries signed the Paris Agreement to mitigate global average temperature rise. In this context, Dutch government decided to realize a reduction of 50% using resources and raw materials in 2030. This paper explores how practice-based research into facility operations can contribute to this aim. Methods / Methodology ʹ Practice-based research which includes direct observations, desk research, and participatory action research. Results ʹ This explorative research presents principles and suggestions for facility managers and procurement managers on how they can embed sustainable materials management in the organisation and how to take control of waste. The proposed suggestions are derived from practice-based research and presented as topics of attention for facility professionals. Originality ʹ Within education of Dutch universities of applied sciences and daily professional facility practices, the phenomenon of materials management is underexposed. To contribute to the national and international climate objectives, (future) facility professionals need better support to reduce waste. Bachelor students were involved throughout this research. This approach gave refreshing insights into waste at the end of the supply chain (control separation units) that can improve informed decisionmaking at the beginning of the supply chain. Practical or social implications ʹ Facility management professionals have an important role to play in the mitigation of global average temperature rise, because of their leading role in procurement, service operations, and materials management. However, they struggle to find sustainable solutions. This paper seeks to inspire professionals with interventions that have proven effectiveness on the reduction of waste. Type of paper ʹ Short research paper.
Logistics companies struggle to keep their supply chain cost-effective, reliable and sustainable, due to changing demand, increasing competition and growing service requirements. To remain competitive, processes must be efficient with low costs. Of the entire supply chain, the first and last mile logistics may be the most difficult aspect due to low volumes, high waiting and shipping times and complex schedules. These inefficiencies account for up to 40% of total transport costs. Connected Automated Transport (CAT) is a technological development that allows for safer, more efficient and cleaner transport, especially for the first- and last-mile. The Connected Automated Driving Roadmap (ERTRAC) states that CAT can revolutionize the way fleets operate. The CATALYST Project (NWO) already shows the advantages of CAT. SAVED builds on several projects and transforms the challenges and solutions that were identified on a strategic level to a tactical and operational (company) level. Despite the high-tech readiness of CAT, commercial acceptance is lacking due to issues regarding profitable integration into existing logistics processes and infrastructures. In-depth research on automated hub-to-hub freight transport is needed, focusing on ideal vehicle characteristics, logistic control of the vehicles (planning, routing, positioning, battery management), control modes (central, decentralized, hybrid), communication modes (vehicle-to-vehicle, vehicle-to-infrastructure) and automation of loading and unloading, followed by the translation of this knowledge into valid business models. Therefore, SAVED focuses on the following question: “How can automated and collaborative hub-to-hub transport be designed, and what is the impact in terms of People, Planet and Profit (PPP) on the logistics value chain of industrial estates of different sizes, layouts and different traffic situations (mixed/unmixed infrastructure)?“ SAVED results in knowledge of the applicability of CAT and the impact on the logistics value chain of various industrial estates, illustrated by two case studies.
Decentrale energiewekking wordt een belangrijk onderdeel van het laagspanningsnet. Een nieuwe uitdaging is hoe om te gaan met piekbelasting (zowel vraag als aanbod van energie) in het netwerk. Een mogelijke oplossing hiervoor is slimme sturing (demand-side management) binnen microgrids. Aardehuizen heeft als energy community interesse in verbetering van de zelfconsumptie van de eigen opgewekte energie en in het geautomatiseerd delen en onderling verrekenen van energie, b.v. via blockchain. In het kader van dit KIEM project willen de partners een open ICT-platform ontwikkelen waarin energieopwekking en verbruik wordt gemonitord, een buurtbatterij en warm waterboilers slim worden gestuurd en op termijn energie onderling verrekend kan worden via blockchain. Bij het project zijn de volgende partners betrokken: het lectoraat Duurzame Energievoorziening van Saxion, de onderzoeksgroep CAES van Universiteit Twente, Aardehuizen VvE, Dr. Ten, Bosch-Nefit, stichting Kiemt, Natuurlijk Huus Raalte en Kiekebosch communicatie. De innovatie die het consortium wil realiseren: een community gebaseerde, geïntegreerde sturing van buurtbatterij en warm waterboilers welke wordt ontwikkeld in een open innovatiemodel met bedrijven en bewoners.
