Title: Circular material resource consumption for sustainability of manufacturing growth: a System Dynamics analysis

Authors: Ravindra Ojha; Prem Vrat

Addresses: Department of Operations Management, Great Lakes Institute of Management, Gurgaon, Haryana, India ' The Northcap University, Gurgaon, Haryana, India

Abstract: The paper highlights the volatility in material prices and other environmental impacts due to sharp depletion of material resources. The depletion is an outcome of the linear model of resource consumption based on 'take-make-dispose' approach to managing material resources. The circular model of resources consumption based on 'take-make-use-collect-reprocess-reuse' approach has been proposed as an alternate paradigm which has been of interest to economists and policy planners in recent times. The paper develops a System Dynamics (SD) model to understand and analyse long-term policy implications of the circular model on manufacturing growth. Using the generic SD model developed; 12 scenarios have been simulated which provide very useful insights to facilitate sustainable policy decisions for manufacturing growth. A case study for recycling of zinc is provided which examines the issues involved in the context of zinc as an important metal-necessary to sustain manufacturing growth.

Keywords: green-reserve; circular material-consumption; System Dynamics and causal loop diagram; manufacturing growth; end-of-life of product.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMTM.2020.108018

International Journal of Manufacturing Technology and Management, 2020 Vol.34 No.4, pp.349 - 375

Received: 28 May 2016
Accepted: 09 Sep 2016
Published online: 02 Jul 2020 *

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