Optimizing Circular Economy Practices in Industrial Manufacturing for the Case Company Consumables Business Area
Ruuska, Juho (2025)
2025
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Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2025052013531
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2025052013531
Tiivistelmä
This thesis investigates the opportunities to improve Circular Economy (CE) practices within Case Company’s Consumables Business Area, with a focus on improvement of material circularity, supplier collaboration, and sustainability performance tracking. The main objective was to develop actionable and business relevant recommendations that align with Case Company’s sustainability strategy as well as addressing practical challenges in implementing CE in industrial manufacturing.
The study was conducted by using a design research methodology, structured into four stages. The project started with a Current State Analysis (CSA), where the strengths and weaknesses of Case Company’s CNS’s current CE practices were identified, and final focus for the thesis was set. In the second stage, a literature review was conducted to build a Conceptual Framework (CF) of CE best practices from existing academic sources. The third stage combined findings from the CSA and literature to develop initial recommendations, which were presented to and validated with Case Company’s CNS Environment Director. With the feedback, the initial recommendations were refined to create a final recommendations.
The outcome of the study is a set of focused and actionable recommendations to improve CE performance in Case Company CNS. The recommendations include actions to scale existing pilots, introduce structured take-back programs, set realistic sustainability targets, strengthen supplier circularity efforts, and create material circularity processes for manufacturing sites. The recommendations provides Case Company a realistic roadmap to enhance circularity in operations, that Case Company can use to improve their long-term business and environmental goals.
The study was conducted by using a design research methodology, structured into four stages. The project started with a Current State Analysis (CSA), where the strengths and weaknesses of Case Company’s CNS’s current CE practices were identified, and final focus for the thesis was set. In the second stage, a literature review was conducted to build a Conceptual Framework (CF) of CE best practices from existing academic sources. The third stage combined findings from the CSA and literature to develop initial recommendations, which were presented to and validated with Case Company’s CNS Environment Director. With the feedback, the initial recommendations were refined to create a final recommendations.
The outcome of the study is a set of focused and actionable recommendations to improve CE performance in Case Company CNS. The recommendations include actions to scale existing pilots, introduce structured take-back programs, set realistic sustainability targets, strengthen supplier circularity efforts, and create material circularity processes for manufacturing sites. The recommendations provides Case Company a realistic roadmap to enhance circularity in operations, that Case Company can use to improve their long-term business and environmental goals.