6 A. Klitkou et al.
the generator has no further use for these resources and discards them, or
intends or is required to discard them. This means that the definition of waste
is dynamic: (1) since the generator can change the production process and can
introduce new processes which exploit the former waste streams, (2) the
regulator might change the requirements for what should be discarded and
(3) the generator might identify a demand for the resource from other firms
and start trading the materials as a good. On the other hand, waste streams,
by definition, exclude residuals which are directly recycled or reused at the
place of generation, as well as waste materials which are directly discharged
into ambient water or air. The latter means that resource streams which are
discharged from fisheries and offshore aquaculture into the oceans are underreported, which might contribute to the increased pollution of the oceans. In
this book, we address the valorisation of both organic waste streams and sidestreams. We distinguish between residues which have no economic value and
side- streams which already have a value.
Waste valorisation means adding value to residues and side- streams through
changes in markets and/or in the physical properties of these materials. Valorisation requires both technological and institutional innovation. When analysing valorisation pathways for organic waste and side- streams we can
distinguish between different groups of technologies which are applied for
organic waste valorisation: (1) more conventional technologies that have been
used in the management and treatment of those streams of resources, such as
animal feeding, composting, anaerobic digestion, incineration and landfill disposal, and (2) alternative, biorefinery technologies aiming at the extraction
and recovery of high- value compounds and the production of chemicals,
materials and fuels (Maina, Kachrimanidou & Koutinas, 2017). However, the
choice of technology is not the only and most important dimension of valorisation. Valorisation pathways are the trajectories through which such values
are created and distributed by and among actors from the private sector,
policy, research, civil society and households. Valorisation pathways may even
constitute so- called transitions pathways which involve changed technologies,
institutions and regulations, infrastructures, production systems, business
models and consumption patterns (Turnheim et al., 2015).
Sustainable business models address different ways in which firms can
combine an improved customer value with societal, environmental and economic benefits (Boons, Montalvo, Quist & Wagner, 2013). They can target
innovative value propositions, value creation and delivery, and mechanisms
to capture value (Bocken, Short, Rana, & Evans, 2014, p. 43f.). As Lozano
has pointed out, value includes flows of material resources and energy as
inputs and products and services as outputs, but also economic value, human
resources and, last but not least, environmental value (Lozano, 2018, p. 6).
The concept of sustainable business models can be linked to the discourse
about the sustainable transition of socio- technical systems (Boons et al., 2013;
Geels, 2002; Schot & Steinmueller, 2018).
the generator has no further use for these resources and discards them, or
intends or is required to discard them. This means that the definition of waste
is dynamic: (1) since the generator can change the production process and can
introduce new processes which exploit the former waste streams, (2) the
regulator might change the requirements for what should be discarded and
(3) the generator might identify a demand for the resource from other firms
and start trading the materials as a good. On the other hand, waste streams,
by definition, exclude residuals which are directly recycled or reused at the
place of generation, as well as waste materials which are directly discharged
into ambient water or air. The latter means that resource streams which are
discharged from fisheries and offshore aquaculture into the oceans are underreported, which might contribute to the increased pollution of the oceans. In
this book, we address the valorisation of both organic waste streams and sidestreams. We distinguish between residues which have no economic value and
side- streams which already have a value.
Waste valorisation means adding value to residues and side- streams through
changes in markets and/or in the physical properties of these materials. Valorisation requires both technological and institutional innovation. When analysing valorisation pathways for organic waste and side- streams we can
distinguish between different groups of technologies which are applied for
organic waste valorisation: (1) more conventional technologies that have been
used in the management and treatment of those streams of resources, such as
animal feeding, composting, anaerobic digestion, incineration and landfill disposal, and (2) alternative, biorefinery technologies aiming at the extraction
and recovery of high- value compounds and the production of chemicals,
materials and fuels (Maina, Kachrimanidou & Koutinas, 2017). However, the
choice of technology is not the only and most important dimension of valorisation. Valorisation pathways are the trajectories through which such values
are created and distributed by and among actors from the private sector,
policy, research, civil society and households. Valorisation pathways may even
constitute so- called transitions pathways which involve changed technologies,
institutions and regulations, infrastructures, production systems, business
models and consumption patterns (Turnheim et al., 2015).
Sustainable business models address different ways in which firms can
combine an improved customer value with societal, environmental and economic benefits (Boons, Montalvo, Quist & Wagner, 2013). They can target
innovative value propositions, value creation and delivery, and mechanisms
to capture value (Bocken, Short, Rana, & Evans, 2014, p. 43f.). As Lozano
has pointed out, value includes flows of material resources and energy as
inputs and products and services as outputs, but also economic value, human
resources and, last but not least, environmental value (Lozano, 2018, p. 6).
The concept of sustainable business models can be linked to the discourse
about the sustainable transition of socio- technical systems (Boons et al., 2013;
Geels, 2002; Schot & Steinmueller, 2018).