Circular economy: : Sustainability assessment of circular business models basedon material flow analysis.

Abstract: This study has contributed to the developing concepts of circular economy by assessing circular business models and to test different approaches for circularity in a measurable way. In our current era of time, we stand against environment challenges with a warming planet and resources scarcity. To mitigate the effect of greenhouse gasemissions and to find new more circular solutions to material demand. The developing concept of circular economy is aligned with these goals. In this study the climate impact and profitability of circular business models are investigated using material flow analysis. The result is an assessment of these parameters from a sustainability perspective for product organizations and show that longer lifetime and use period a product has the lower the yearly global warming potential. For profitability the assessment is dependent on more parameters such ascurrent business models, gross margin, raw material, logistics and distribution cost an increased profit is not as strongly connected to lifetime or use. When an increasedcircularity can be accomplished as a complement to current business (withoutsignificant cost increase) there is a possible profit.The study suggests an analysis model for investigate circular strategies in theAssessment model for circular business models. The study contributed to the practical adaptation of circular economy principles providing a suggested analysis framework .By applying circular economy principles and this assessment model it is possible to contribute to a more sustainable future for the system of planet Earth.