Addressing the Challenges of the CircularEconomy using Model-Based Co-Creation and Systems Design 

In this paper (for submission) Roodt and Dempers consider the concept of the circular economy (CE).  The concept is increasingly discussed as part of a broader approach to address climate change issues and sustainability. The idea is deceptively simple to explain and although implementation examples exist, it is claimed that the development is lead primarily by practitioners while the science-based design effort is largely ignored. It is understandable as the pressure mounts to act in the face of climate change urgency. 

The research (across disciplines, culture and regional boundaries) required to ensure the benefits to the environment are achieved in a timely manner, and that allows communities to thrive, seems to be largely unexplored. In a 2018 paper from Swedish and Finnish authors, six limits and challenges of CE are discussed. The current paper will show how these elements are used as a boundary object to define and develop a simulation model environment that can be used by an international team of geographically separated researchers and practitioners as an explorative tool for scenarios, strategies, experiments and communication. The first outcomes of the approach are promising and accentuate the importance of starting early with the co-creation effort to develop a common language and understanding.