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Subject: search.filters.subject.401106 Waste management, reduction, reuse and recycling

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    A model to evaluate effectiveness of lean and ISO 14001 implementation on environmental benefits in the meat industry : a thesis presented in partial fulfillment of the requirement for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Engineering Management, School of Food and Advanced Technology, Massey University, Auckland, New Zealand
    (Figure 2.2 is reproduced under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial 3.0 license., 2024-09-20) Ahmed, Aqeel
    Excessive emissions of greenhouse gases, production of wastes (organic and inorganic) and inefficient utilisation of resources have drastic impacts on the operational and environmental performance in the meat industry. Reducing waste and processing environmentally friendly meat products have long been desired in meat processing and is still considered as a promising strategy to yield environmentally friendly products. ISO 14001 is a voluntary environmental management system standard that provides a continuous improvement framework to reduce environmental impacts and improve environmental performance. Lean is used as a strategy for minimising waste and non-value-adding activities focusing on increasing customer satisfaction, which also has a positive impact on the environment. Besides, continuous improvement is at the very core in both approaches. This study evaluates the environmental performance in the meat industry through the joint application of lean and ISO 14001. Further, a conceptual model is developed through literature synthesis which combines the lean and ISO 14001 strategies to achieve the environmental performance benefits that could be applied to the meat industry. The study uses the natural resource-based view (NRBV) as its theoretical lens to understand lean and ISO 14001 implementation as a combined approach for improving environmental performance outcomes in the meat industry. A preliminary study and subsequent multiple-case studies are employed as a qualitative research design for this evaluation. In the first phase of the study, semi-structured interviews with lean and ISO 14001 consultants are conducted to evaluate the implementation of lean and ISO 14001 as a combined approach for improving environmental performance in the meat industry. Next, multiple-case studies are conducted in three meat processing organisations – two in New Zealand and one in Ireland – to evaluate the effectiveness of implementing both lean and ISO 14001 strategies together for achieving environmental benefits. This study reveals that the application of the NRBV competencies (e.g., strategic planning and human) for a joint lean and ISO 14001 implementation helps to enhance natural capabilities (i.e., pollution prevention, product stewardship and sustainable development). For instance, lean and ISO 14001 implementation as a combined approach helps to better achieve pollution prevention (e.g., reduction of wastewater and greenhouse gas emissions), product stewardship (e.g., recycling of wastewater and introduction of renewable resources) and sustainable development (e.g., sustainable resources usage and environmental awareness). This research contributes to presenting key practitioner insights on the implementation of lean and ISO 14001 for improvement of environmental performance as well as provides factors for successful implementation of both strategies in the meat industry. A model is developed for lean and ISO 14001 implementation through empirical evidence and competencies and capabilities of the NRBV lens to help practitioners, policymakers, consultants and academia in their future work to improve environmental performance.
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    The state of circular economy implementation in the building and construction sector in Aotearoa New Zealand : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Environmental Management at Massey University, New Zealand
    (Massey University, 2024) Cossar, Lucy
    The building and construction (B&C) sector is pivotal in achieving a global shift towards a circular economy (CE) and moving away from a linear or 'take-make-dispose' model that drives unsustainable consumption rates and degrades vital ecosystem services. However, little is known about the extent to which B&C businesses implement the CE concept in Aotearoa New Zealand. Therefore, this study assessed the current level of implementation of the CE concept among businesses in Aotearoa New Zealand’s B&C sector. An exploratory sequential mixed-methods research design was utilised, beginning with the synthesis of circular strategies derived from existing literature. Experts representing seven business types (manufacturing, architecture and engineering, construction, design-build, fit-out, demolition, and waste management companies) were interviewed to explore the relevance of circular strategies, informing the development of a survey distributed to professionals from across Aotearoa New Zealand’s B&C sector. Most circular strategies were considered relevant by interviewees and were subsequently included in the survey. Interviewees also suggested that CE implementation is insufficient, inconsistent, uncoordinated, and limited by a narrow focus on recycling, necessitating more education, emphasis on the design phase, and a systemic and collaborative approach. According to the survey responses from 213 professionals, most businesses are at a ‘beginner’ stage of maturity regarding CE implementation, and most circular strategies receive minimal to moderate levels of implementation. Therefore, most circular strategies require greater attention, particularly service-based models, sharing platforms, material passports, remanufacturing, take-back schemes, organic recycling, and regenerating nature. These findings suggest that CE implementation among businesses in Aotearoa New Zealand's B&C sector is still in its early stages. In this context, there is significant potential to increase engagement in circular strategies, especially at the higher levels of the waste hierarchy and 9Rs, to accelerate the shift towards a more sustainable and circular economy.
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    Development of a process to convert paper towel fibre waste destined for landfill into viable construction materials : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Engineering in Chemical and Bioprocess Engineering at Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand. EMBARGOED until 18th March 2026.
    (Massey University, 2023) Payne, Caleb
    This thesis covers the continued development of a Precycle NZ product made from paper towel waste fibre. The initial product by Precycle NZ was a rigid board made from paper towels destined for landfill, with the idea of using it as a building product. This Master’s project covered the development of this board, which included the literature review where manufacturing methods, similar products, and standards and certifications like the Building Code were researched. Development was done on the manufacturing methods outlined by Precycle NZ through fine-tuning, optimising, and trialling adhesives from the literature. This development resulted in various panels, such as starch glue panels, casein panels, and regular panels of different sizes, before filtering some out based on structural failings internally, while others continued for testing. The tests included measuring the moisture content and observing the mould growth under different humidity, which was important to the Building Code’s internal moisture requirements, its insulative properties, which was vital as it had the potential to be used as an insulative panel, and mechanical properties where the compressive strength, bending strength, and impact resistance were tested, as structure and durability were outlined in the Building Code. The testing found that the tapioca starch glue–pulp panel was the best overall compared to the other manufactured pulp panels. However, this was not durable enough to justify using this as a structural panel compared to industry standards. It was found to have good insulative properties, though insufficient to replace industry insulation products or meet roof insulation requirements, and comparable mould growth to wood products like MDF. The panel should be considered non-load-bearing for future development and placement but can be paired with a load-bearing material. It can provide insulative properties as part of a prefabricated wall system and be converted into alternative uses like furniture or some other use case. Future development should cover other tests that still need to be performed, such as acoustic testing and breathability, to determine airflow. This will also involve scaling to larger panels by determining their cost-effectiveness and researching new manufacturing methods before scaling to a pilot plant.
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    Municipal zero waste methodology : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Environmental Management at Massey University, Turitea Campus, Palmerston North, New Zealand
    (Massey University, 2022) Hannon, Jonathon
    This research originally undertook an extensive literature review, in order to develop a deeper understanding of how the phenomenon of zero waste interrelates with the alternative sustainability-framed movements responding to the crisis of waste and the failures of conventional waste management theory and practice. This initial work was translated into a series of publications that provide content for the foundational chapters (1. Literature review 2, Background/Context and 3. Methodology) of this thesis and provided the basis for identifying the problem statement, research objectives and hypothesis. A key focus of this research involved examining the critique of the zero waste movement, in particular the extreme assertion that, in a municipal context, zero waste is a chronic failure/impossible/doomed and is a super-mega proposition for which there is no blueprint or methodology. The value-proposition for research addressing this critique was established by examining the real-world New Zealand (zero) waste case-setting where a combination of misinformation, lobbying, and policy capture resulted in an abandonment of zero waste and a consequent regression in KPIs of the prior New Zealand Waste Strategy (NZWS:2002) entitled Towards Zero Waste and a Sustainable New Zealand. The published outputs of this research make the case that zero waste approaches can and should be scientific, practically successful, measurable and evidenced, a good economic investment, socially and culturally beneficial, framed in a continuum of learning and evolution, and democratically popular. Additionally, this research has provided new insights to the extreme scope, challenge, and intensely complex disciplinarity of the waste → zero waste transition spectrum. This has enabled visualising and reinterpreting the significant, but largely unmet interdisciplinary requirement of (zero) waste management, as a critical barrier to progress. Based on a three-stage review of policy analysis in (zero) waste management research, a specific methodology of mixed methods content analysis (formally annotated as MMR HCA-T-MZWM quant + QUAL(quant)) was designed to test and explicate the disputed existence of municipal zero waste methodology (MZWM). Detailed quantitative findings converge in the formation of an extensive hybrid embedded qualitative written narrative result that is the illustrated in four final graphic summary illustrations of the hypothesised MZWM. This Ꝏ infinity – continuum model offers a new conception of dynamic integrated elements and interoperative, interdisciplinary clusters comprising the MZWM. The Ꝏ infinity – continuum MZWM model embodies the disruptive, hyper-aspiration of zero waste in seeking maximum transition into a sustainable circular economy, and in extent and detail appears commensurate with the cited super-wicked complexity of waste issues. The Ꝏ infinity – continuum MZWM model provides a simple, yet meaning-laden graphic, abductive bridge between the UNSDG imperative and zero waste’s innovation seeking and transformational ideals. The MZWM represents a key foundation for the critical next-step opportunity to develop an evaluation framework (ideally as an internationally agreed research framework encompassing further learning and experience) to systematically measure and enhance the performance of future municipal zero waste programmes.