Authors
Sanchez, Inma; Checa, Daniel; Escamilla, Marta; Leão, Susana
Abstract
Circular economy is a driver for sustainability and contrary traditional business models, designing circular business models that create value utilizing economic value retained in products after use in the production of new offerings (Linder & Williander, 2017). A circular company usually means the business efficiently uses raw materials, (re)uses its waste flows, prolongs the lifespan of products, sells services instead of products, and closes cycles with partners. Business models may be invented for each of these elements or a combination of them and could close a loop (Jonker, et al., 2017). The Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA) approach has been highlighted as a promising solution for the sustainable development of aquaculture around the globe. IMTA seems to meet exactly the characteristics of the organic feedstock Circular Economy Business Model (CEBM) reported in literature (Lüdeke-Freund, et al., 2018), where biomass conversion provides inputs for other production processes. This pattern refers to the generation of products based on recycled waste, where the green and organic -based inputs are the major value proposition. The value creation results from the ability of the IMTA systems to support the processing of organic waste that can be used as production input, moving from monocultures to circular process, boosting the sustainability in the long term. The Horizon 2020 project IMPAQT aims to support IMTA by developing modelling tools, as well as new and emerging technologies, which enable economically, environmentally, and socially sustainable aquaculture development throughout the EU. In the context of this project, a common framework has been developed for the creation of circular business models of IMTA systems.