Phosphorus Circular Economy: Closing Loops through Sustainable Innovation
A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Sustainable Engineering and Science".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 April 2018) | Viewed by 100599
Special Issue Editors
2. Weatherhead Center for International Affairs (WCFIA), Harvard University, 1737 Cambridge Street, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
Interests: sustainability-oriented innovation systems/-processes; sustainable resource management; phosphate rock mining; organizational and regional innovation systems; organizational communication
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Interests: global food security; sustainable phosphate rock mining and management; efficiency and performance benchmarking; operations research; closed-loop supply chain management
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
The necessary optimization of the predominately complex supply chain requires inevitable understanding of the underlying system dynamics; this holds especially true for the unique characteristics of phosphorus. The finiteness of the primary source phosphate rock requires a transdisciplinary approach in order to generate, utilize, and transfer knowledge between stakeholders. On its own, no discipline will be able to solve the underlying problems of future P supply, therefore, we aim to include the overall supply chain, from extraction, mining, processing, to the use phase. Recycling holds an exceptional position since it is of greater importance for closing potential loops. Therefore, unlike previous works, we will not focus solely on the recycling of sewage sludges, as previous studies show enormous potential, especially during mining and beneficiation processes. Furthermore, we want to emphasize the interrelations between the single phases of the supply chain, particularly the role of market prices and the role of technology which both leading to often unconsidered underlying dynamics. From our perspective innovation will be a key element for technological developments, prices of raw materials and intermediates, and, most importantly, for closing loops all along the supply chain.
Prof. Dr. Gerald Steiner
Mr. Bernhard Geissler
Guest Editors
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Keywords
- sustainable phosphorus management
- closed-loop supply chains
- transdisciplinarity
- efficiency
- circular economy
- innovation
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