Toward a circular transition in port waste streams The case of worn-out mooring lines at the Port of Norrköping

Sammanfattning

Ports are key nodes in material flows and logistics networks, yet the management ofcomplex waste streams within port environments remains largely linear and understudied.This study examines the end-of-life (EoL) management of worn mooring lines at the Portof Norrköping, Sweden, with the aim of identifying barriers, opportunities, and valuechainchanges required to support more circular management. Through qualitative datacollection that included interviews, email correspondence and a site visit, a total of 25actors actively contributed to the study, with their expertise and insights on the area.The results of the value-chain mapping show that worn-out mooring lines are currentlymanaged linearly, mixed with other complex materials and directed toward incineration.Key challenges to circularity include mixed polymer compositions, physical size, contaminationfrom use, insufficient sorting at source, and low material volumes that limit theeconomic viability of dedicated circular pathways. Responsibilities for EoL managementare fragmented across the value-chain, with no single actor assuming system-wide responsibility.Circular management is enabled through collaboration, particularly with upstream actors.The EoL waste management is currently treated as a local problem, but it demandsa systemic perspective for a circular transition. In the current linear handling betweenmultiple stakeholders, critical information about moorings is lost. Material characteristicsand knowledge must be preserved and carried throughout the entire lifecycle. Thesystem requires a fundamental shift in perspective, moving away from a linear materialfocusedapproach toward a product-oriented and systemic view to achieve higher levels ofcircularity.The study concludes that advancing circularity for mooring line waste requires coordinatedaction across the value-chain, with particular engagement from upstream actors such asrope manufacturers, regulators, and logistics service suppliers. Ports can play an importantfacilitating role by improving waste categorisation and fostering stakeholder collaboration.