In the constant pursue of the sustainability of socio-industrial systems, the definition of useful, reliable and informative, and at the same time simple and transparent, indicators is an important step for the evaluation of the circularity of the assessed systems. In the circular economy (CE) context, scientific literature has already identified the lack of overarching indicators (social, urban, prevention-oriented, etc.), pointing out that mono-dimensional indicators are not able to grasp the complexity of the systemic, closed-loop, feedback features of CE. In this respect, Emergy accounting is one of the approaches that have been identified as holding the potential to capture both resource generation and product delivery dimensions and therefore to provide an enhanced systems’ evaluation in a CE perspective.
Because of Emergy’s intrinsic definition and its calculation structure, Emergy-based indicators conceptually lend themselves very well to the evaluation and monitoring of circular processes. Additionally, Emergy has the unique feature of enabling the evaluation of systems that are not necessarily only technosphere systems, but also of technological systems which embed nature (techno-ecological systems).
The present paper gives a perspective on a set of Emergy-based indicators that we have identified as suitable to evaluate circular systems, and outlines the different perspective compared to the circularity indicators defined in the “Circularity Indicators Project” launched by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation.
The article discusses results of pull-off adhesion strength tests on poly-p- phenylene benzobisoxazole (PBO) mesh bonded to fir timber beams using epoxy resin. The tests were performed in accordance with the PN-EN 1542 standard. Timber elements reinforced with PBO fibres were subjected to pull-off tests to measure the adhesive strength of the mesh to the beams.The factors occurring during the test were also characterized, which may affect its results such as the method of application of the tearing force, selection of epoxy glue, surface preparation of the tested elements, occurrence of material defects in the wood and types of substrate destruction.The experimental data show that failure of the timber layer was not observed in all the specimens tested.