The Dynamic Environmental and Economic Impacts of the Circular Economy

The objective of this particular PhD is to study the interaction between the changing economic context and the resource and environmental drivers for circular economy. How can economic models for the circular economy better take the dynamics of material flows and environmental impacts into account, and how can environmental assessments better reflect the consequences of changing markets. In other words, the dynamics of the system in which the studied product or product life cycle is embedded, will be considered. The work will elaborate on sustainability modelling frameworks, including MFA, consequential LCA, LCSA, economic modelling and use this models to study the effects of policy instruments. The research will be based on concrete case studies of material/product life cycles which will be studied together with the other researchers of SuMMa+, and in close collaboration with the Flemish administration.