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Project Overview

WE HAVE A WASTE PROBLEM.

The ‘take, make, waste’ model has dominated the global economy for hundreds of years. Despite efforts to minimize waste, develop symbiotic models of waste retention, and implement various recycling approaches, the amount and character of global waste continues to proliferate and broaden. The resulting ecological degradation has outpaced societal benefits, indicating the need to properly understand the problem and develop and implement new and transformative solutions.

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Day 3 Highlights

On Workshop Day 3 (May 12, 2021), we continued the progression from disciplinary discussion to convergence as we looked at steps needed for real change and the collaboration it will require. Posted here are links to our Day 3 presentations, and highlights from group discussions.

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Day 2 Highlights

We again had around 50 participants for our second day’s workshop on Monday, May 10, 2021. Participants enjoyed presentations from our invited speakers and small group discussion on the research, convergence, and other steps needed to tackle the problem of waste. Posted here are links to our Day 2 presentations and highlights from group discussion.

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Day 1 Highlights

Thank you to all who joined us for our first day’s workshop on Thursday, May 6, 2021. We had around 50 registered attendees. Participants enjoyed presentations from our invited speakers and small group discussion on defining the problems associated with waste. Posted here are links to our Day 1 presentations, and highlights from group discussion.

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Recommended Pre-Workshop Reading

Because our group represents multiple disciplines, we invited our speakers to share resources on their particular areas of expertise. We hope you’ll peruse these resources as you’re able.

Absolute Zero report

Julian Allwood will be our first speaker on Thursday, May 6, 2021. His talk is “The supply and use of bulk materials with zero emissions in the near future.” He recommends viewing the Absolute Zero report and/or video overview (https://youtu.be/xpImlufArwk).  A longer recommended read is Sustainable Materials – With Both Eyes Open by Julian M. Allwood and Jonathan M. Cullen (Uit Cambridge Ltd.).

What Is Waste?

Josh Reno will also speak on Thursday, May 6, 2021, presenting “Putting People First… Or Second:  Waste as a Problem and Program in the Social Sciences.” He recommends his article “What is Waste,” published in Worldwide Waste: Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies, 1(1) DOI: http://doi.org/10.5334/wwwj.9  and so do we. This engaging articles focuses on how we approach and define waste differently from our various points of view.

The Significance of Environmental Attributes as Indicators of the Life Cycle Environmental Impacts of Packaging and Food Service Ware

Reid Lifset will speak on Monday, May 10, 2021, presenting “A World Without Waste When the Answer to Most Questions is ‘It Depends.’” He recommends this meta-review on packaging and food serve ware, published in Environmental Science Technology (Vendries, et al. (2020) https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.9b07910).  The review draws from numerous life cycle assessment studies to to determine whether material attributes commonly considered to be environmentally beneficial (recyclability, recycled content, compostability, and biobased) actually correlate with lower net environmental impacts across their full life cycle.

Harry Saunders’ Presentation 5-10-21

Harry Saunders will also speak on Monday, May 10, 2021, addressing “Energy Rebound.” If rebound is a new concept to you, feel free to look through Saunder’s slide deck and familiarize yourself with related terms and ideas.

National Science Foundation Convergence Accelerator

Linda Molnar will speak on Wednesday, May 12, 2021 about “Accelerating Convergent Solutions for Societal Impact.” She recommends checking out the NSF Convergence Accelerator’s website to see what other grand challenges the program is addressing:  https://www.nsf.gov/od/oia/convergence-accelerator/portfolio.jsp

Two Resources from Weslynne Ashton

Weslynn Ashton will speak on Wednesday, May 12 on “Wasted resources: opportunities and pathways for re-imagining and regenerating value.” She recommends the two papers below as we approach the social aspects essential to building solutions that actually work.

Expanding perceptions of the circular economy through design: Eight capitals as innovation lenses   André Nogueira, Weslynne S. Ashton, Carlos Teixeira. Resources, Conservation and Recycling,
2019: (149) 566-576. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2019.06.021.

Capital-based life cycle sustainability assessment: Evaluation of potential industrial symbiosis synergies Subramanian, KChopra, SSAshton, WS. J Ind Ecol20211– 16https://doi.org/10.1111/jiec.13135

Putting Waste In Its Place

Timothy Gutowski, Bhavik Bakshi, Melissa Bilec, Elena Irwin, Cindy Isenhour, Dusan Sekulic, Thomas Theis, and Valerie Thomas

Introduction

The title of our project proposal, Convergence Around a Sustainable World without Waste, contains three key and somewhat malleable words that require our attention: convergence, sustainability, and waste. Continue reading