Aleksandra M. Stasiak
Turning tides towards circular plastics
Addressing global challenges such as plastic pollution, biodiversity loss, and resource scarcity requires a systemic transition across sectors. Aquaculture, as a fast-growing industry, faces significant sustainability challenges due to its reliance on plastic-based infrastructure, including fish pens, pipes, and nets. These dependencies pushed industries to tackle the issues of waste management, resource inefficiency, and environmental degradation, prioritising the need for innovative approaches.
In Norway, a collaboration between fish farming equipment providers, research organisations, and academia was formed to foster circularity in aquaculture. This PhD research, conducted within the consortium, investigates the systemic and communication challenges associated with the design process of fish pens and the possibility of implementing circular economy principles in the aquaculture industry. Drawing on system design traditions, the study examines stakeholder dynamics, regulatory frameworks, and socio-technical complexities at both firm and systemic levels to identify pathways for transformative change.
A central aim of this work is the development of a map, examining the transitional “in-between” phase and the interplay of factors influencing the adoption of circular economy practices. The map synthesises solely the aspect of the stakeholder analysis and regulatory insights to contextualise innovation within existing industry norms. Communication is identified as a critical factor in managing the scale and complexity of stakeholder interactions within the aquaculture ecosystem, enabling more cohesive and coordinated efforts.
While the map sheds light on the scale of the problem, the findings emphasise the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration, particularly between design and engineering disciplines, to address barriers to eco-design and systemic change.
KEYWORDS: systemic design, circular economy, communication, ocean, plastic pollution
