TPS C2 – Circular Economy Analysis and Monitoring Tools
Objective
- Identify and improve existing tools for analyzing and monitoring the circular economy (e.g. AFM, ACFM, LCA, carbon flows, etc.).
- Develop new, efficient methods for acquiring, processing, visualizing and analyzing fundamental information associated with the circular economy.
Examples of Research Questions and Issues
- What tools exist for analyzing and monitoring the circular economy?
- How can we develop new tools to improve the monitoring of the circular economy?
- How can existing tools be improved/adapted to the specific context of stakeholder environments (scale (territory, organizations, etc.) and sector of activity (agri-food, manufacturing, construction, services, etc.)?
- What are the potential rebound effects associated with these tools? What are the limitations of existing and developed tools?
- How can we assess the performance and quality of the tools we’ve developed?
- How can we accelerate the deployment and use of the most suitable tools in the target markets?
- How can we ensure that our tools fit in with our social planning? How to optimize data collection?
- How to optimize the use of tools, taking into account uncertainties and rebound effects?
- How do you represent data in an integrated and efficient way?
C2 Activities
Projects Led by C2
Study on the circularity of the textile industry and possible solutions in the CMQ territory
Requested by the Communauté Métropolitaine de Québec (CMQ), the aim of this project is to carry out a study on the circularity of the textile industry and possible solutions within the CMQ territory, notably by carrying out a material flow analysis (MFA). The project is led by CTTEI, in collaboration with RRECQ, Université Laval’s CerCeDD, CRE de la Capitale Nationale, CHROMA Conseil and Collective Detour.
A critical look at territorial material flow analysis
The aim of the project is to take a critical look at territorial material flow analysis (MFA), using several case studies of projects that have been completed or are currently underway. The analysis will enable us to develop a robust methodology for future MFA studies.
Matrix mapping for material flow analysis
The aim of this project is to improve the robustness of material flow analysis (MFA) by taking stock of existing knowledge on this tool. This includes identifying the scale and scope of MFA, the types of data mobilized, data acquisition methods, technologies used and analysis methods. The project plans to document these various aspects, without claiming to be exhaustive, in order to provide an overview of current AFM-related practices.
Territorial material flow analysis of the Montérégie region
The aim of this project is to explore the feasibility of an AFM at the regional level, using the Montérégie region as a case study and focusing on the cereal material subcategory. The overall objective of this work is to perform a material flow analysis on this biomass subcategory.
Analysis of material flows in hospitals
As part of a collaboration between the MELCCFP and the MSSS, a strategic initiative was set up to gain a better understanding of material flows in a hospital facility, in response to specific sustainable management needs. The study focuses on two care units to analyze the flow of materials, particularly plastic products and single-use items, while exploring existing best practices through a literature review.
Microlabs for the healthcare sector
The MicroLabs project, initiated by Université Laval’s CerCeDD, brings together players in the healthcare network in co-creation workshops aimed at improving the management of material resources in hospitals. As part of a wider materials flow analysis project, it aims to better understand systemic issues, encourage interdisciplinary collaboration and propose sustainable solutions adapted to the hospital context.
Mapping tools for the circular economy
The aim of this research is to structure and analyze existing tools for implementing circular economy principles. The main objective is to establish an inventory of available tools, while highlighting gaps in the literature and areas requiring the development of appropriate tools.
Organizational material flow analysis
The aim of this project is to develop a tool for carrying out material flow analyses (MFA) on an organizational scale. It also includes the design of a performance index to evaluate residual materials management within the Quebec government. In addition, a centralized knowledge base will be set up to identify existing practices and potential outlets for materials consumed and discarded by government organizations. Taken together, these components will help to better equip the government in its management of resources and residual materials.
Other projects linked to circular economy analysis and monitoring tools
Projects led by other TPS
- Linking urban planning and the circular economy: Diagnostic tools, urban planning criteria and specialized public policy instruments (Porté par Marc Journeault et Juste Rajaonson) > Discover
- Measuring a region’s circularity (Porté Mathias Glaus et Marc Journeault) > Discover
- Inventory of existing tools for organizations (Porté par Rafael Ziegler) > Discover
Projects funded through RRECQ calls for projects
- Simplification and adaptation of material flow cost accounting (MFCA) for SMEs (Project led by Marc Journeault) > Discover
- Modelling the environmental impacts of the life cycle of an emerging economic model: the product-service system Project led by Ben Amor) > Discover
- Sustainable design of closed-loop supply chains using Industry 4.0 technologies: A data-driven optimization approach towards the circular economy (Project led by Armin Jabbarzadeh) > Discover
- Smart and Sustainable Spent Coffee Grounds (SCG) Management System: from waste to resources (Project led by Amin Chaabane) > Discover
- Development of an advanced data analytics tool to optimize the performance of a connected, circular and sustainable supply chain (Project led by Tasseda Boukherroub) > Discover
- Circular Economy at the Heart of Office Furniture Conception: Towards Furniture Reuse Within the Industry (Project led by Houssein Awada) > Discover
- SME Circularity Index – 4.0 (Project led by François Labelle) > Discover
- Advanced planning of circular economy strategies in the construction sector by optimizing operations and logistics in deconstruction projects (Project led by Tasseda Boukherroub) > Discover
- Towards the Development of a Sustainable and Circular Economy Strategy for Waste Smartphone Glass – A Novel Remanufacturing Approach for E-waste Valorization (Project led by Lucas Hof) > Discover
- Ecosystems of reuse in construction: Development of support media to stimulate the reuse of constructive elements (Project led by Ivanka Iordanova) > Discover
- Closed-loop supply chains network design for circular economy in winter road maintenance (Project led by Jean-François Audy) > Discover
- Modular and Reusable Metastructures with Interlocked Interfaces for Circular Sustainable Construction (Project led by Hamid Akbarzadeh) > Discover
- Avenues to Advance the Circular Economy in Winter Road Maintenance in Québec (Project led by Amina Lamghari)
- Reuse of Post-Consumer Asphalt Shingles with Fiberglass in Pavement Materials (Project led by Jean-Claude Carret) > Discover
- Towards Concrete Circularity Inclusive of the Disabled (Project led by Claudiane Ouellet-Plamondon)
Other member projects
- Analysis of textile material flows in France (Porté par Mathias Glaus) > Discover
Steering Committee
TPS C2, which deals with analysis and monitoring tools for the circular economy, is led by a team of five researchers. They are responsible for proposing TPS orientations and represent a diversity of circular economy research on the theme of analysis and monitoring tools.
Hicham El Yousfi
Ph.D., Research professor at Mohamed V University (Rabat, Morocco)
Marc Journeault
Ph.D., CPA, MBA, Professor at Université Laval and co-holder of Axis 2
Mathias Glaus
ing., Ph.D., Professor at ÉTS and co-holder of Axis 3
Lucas Hof
Ph.D., Professor at ÉTS
Mobilized Experts
The members of the steering committee are joined by TPS C2 experts. Regularly called upon to contribute their points of view and expertise, they help to broaden our knowledge of circular economy analysis and monitoring tools, and to further our thinking on the subject.
List of TPS members
- Abdelmoumen Baghdoud, Doctoral student at ÉTS
- Abdoul Aziz Sy Diouf, Doctorate at Université Laval
- Adeline Seneclauze, Project Manager at INOVEM
- Ali Karevan, Doctorate et ÉTS
- Ana Carolina Eugênio de Oliveira, Lecturer at Université Sherbrooke
- Andrew Henderson, Professor at ÉTS
- Arnaud Quenneville, Centre d’expertise international en intelligence artificielle de Montréal
- Bocar Samba Ba, Professor at Université Laval
- Brice Martial Kamdem, Doctoral student at ÉTS
- Camilo Mejia Moncayo, Student at ÉTS
- Charlotte Dautremont, Postdoctoral researcher at ÉTS
- Charlotte Trudeau-Drolet, Student at HEC
- Claire Gillet-Monjarret, Professor at Université de Montpellier
- Elisabeth Viry, Researcher at CTTEI
- Emna Helal, Institutional researcher atÉTS
- Enora Barrau, Post-doctoral researcher atEcole des Mines de Saint-Etienne (France)
- Esra Alp Coskun, Co-fonder of Circularity Matrix
- Fatima Touhami, Maître de conférence à l’Université Sultan Moulay Slimane – Beni Mellal (Maroc)
- Félix Veillette, Master student at ÉTS
- Félix Garcés, Industrial Development and Environmental Technologies Advisor at MEIE
- Francheska Chouinard, Product Manager at Evirum
- François Saunier, Executive Vice President of CIRAIG
- Grégory Hersant, Chemistry Teacher at Cégep Limoilou
- Hajer Bannour, Researcher atGroupe CTT
- Hani Zbib, Professor at UQAM
- Hortense Montoux, Project Manager at CERIEC
- Irina Tkachenko, Professor at ÉTS
- Ivanka Iordanova, Professor at ÉTS
- Jean-Yves Guimond, Director of Business Development atCorporation Valorisation Solidaire
- Josephine Sciortino, Canadian Science publishing
- Kakali Mukhopadhyay, Associate Professor at McGill
- Kevin Masinda Mahema, Doctoral student at Polytechnique
- Khaled Ziane, Researcher at the Center for Research and Innovation in Energy Intelligence (CR2ie)
- Khalla Niang, Doctoral student at UQAM
- Killian Onida, Postdoctoral researcher at ÉTS
- Lamyae Lachguer, Student at ÉTS
- Marie-Luc Arpin, Professor at Université de Sherbrooke
- Mariia Zhuldybina, Researcher at ÉTS
- Mathilde Vincent, Project Manager at CTTÉI
- Mélissa Zbacnik-D’Antonio, Project Manager at CTTÉI
- Mir Abolfazl Mostafavi, Professor at Université Laval
- Mohammed Aider, Professor at Université Laval
- Omur E. Dagdeviren, Professor at ÉTS
- Oumar Sangaré, Post-doctoral fellow at Université Laval
- Rachida Bouhid, Doctoral student at UQAM
- Raphaël Dias Brandao, Doctoral student at ÉTS
- Saba Kakavand, Master’s student at ÉTS
- Samira Rousselière, École nationale vétérinaire de Nantes
- Selma Etteieb, Coordinator at CTRI
- Soulé Idrissou, Lecturer and researcher at Université d’Abomey-Calavi (Benin)
- Thang Le Dinh, Professor at UQTR
- Thinhinane Aissou
- Willy Boniface Awatcha, Student at ÉTS
- He Wang, Consultant and researcher at Environnement Mauricie
Resources
- Regional study of material flow accounting (in french only)
- Estimating food losses in the Outaouais region (2023) (in french only)
- ISO 14051:2011 : Environmental management — Material flow cost accounting — General framework
- ISO 59020:2024 : Circular economy — Measuring and assessing circularity performance
- ISO 14040:2006 : Environmental management — Life cycle assessment — Principles and framework
- Life Cycle Assessment: A Metric for The Circular Economy
- Guide “Carrying out a material flow cost analysis (MFCA)” (in french only)
- Methodology for material flow analysis at the organizational scale
