Exploratory Study on Circular Economy Approaches A Comparative Analysis of Theory and Practice

V

Acknowledgements

I started working on this thesis at the end of 2012, which means I have been on this

journey for over four years now. A number of people have accompanied me during

this time and supported me greatly.

First, I want to thank my academic supervisor Prof. Dr. Christoph Lütge for

providing me the opportunity to realize this project. I am grateful for your support

and in particular the intellectual freedom you gave me. I was able to work on a topic

which really interests me. Thank you for your guidance, input, and trust in my work.

I want to express my sincere gratitude to my committee members Prof. Dr. Markus

Beckmann and Prof. Dr. Sebastian Pfotenhauer for your interest in my thesis and

for taking over the roles of second supervisor and chairman of the committee. I

would also like to thank all the other colleagues at the chair for challenging me at

the doctoral seminars and for providing constructive feedback.

In addition, I want to thank my family and friends. You are my strength, and

without your love and support I would never have started this journey. I am especially

grateful to my parents and my sister. Your unconditional love has always been the

motivation in my life. Without your support this work would not have been possible.

Finally, I would like to thank the most important person in my life besides my

son, my husband. You supported me in more ways than I can express. Thank you

for your patience in the endless debates about my thesis and your encouragement

and true belief in me during this challenging time.