Why does the waste trade matter for export diversification and upcycling? Insights from network science and documentary analysis

Why does the waste trade matter for export diversification and upcycling? Insights from network science and documentary analysis | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article Why does the waste trade matter for export diversification and upcycling? Insights from network science and documentary analysis María Concepión García - Pérez, Carla Corolina Pérez - Hernández, and 2 more This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-9383259/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Under Review Version 1 posted 5 You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract This study examines the role of the waste trade in fostering export diversification and upcycling opportunities. It aims to identify products adjacent to waste in the export basket and to analyze their attributes within the product space network. The research is grounded in the premise that international trade can facilitate the transition from waste to resources and support upcycling processes. Accordingly, the study explores the waste and scrap sector and its connectivity with the surrounding ecosystem of exportable products. The methodology is structured in three stages: first, the estimation of economic complexity metrics using international trade data; second, the mapping of the product space network to identify products linked to waste; and third, a qualitative and documentary assessment of the upcycling potential of relevant residues within the network. The results reveal a paradox in the waste sector: it is accessible to countries across different income levels, yet it is generally characterized by relatively low levels of economic complexity and sophistication. At the same time, the sector encompasses a wide spectrum of technological and organizational capabilities related to waste management. These findings suggest that the waste sector should not be evaluated solely in terms of economic complexity, as this may underestimate its strategic relevance; instead, it should also be assessed based on its potential for upcycling within the circular economy. export diversification economic complexity product space network waste upcycling Full Text Additional Declarations No competing interests reported. Cite Share Download PDF Status: Under Review Version 1 posted Reviewers invited by journal 28 Apr, 2026 Editor invited by journal 22 Apr, 2026 Editor assigned by journal 16 Apr, 2026 Submission checks completed at journal 16 Apr, 2026 First submitted to journal 10 Apr, 2026 You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. 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Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-9383259","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Research Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":631199788,"identity":"0dd1ed0c-8d8f-4fbc-81a1-90be6ba2dba5","order_by":0,"name":"María Concepión García - Pérez","email":"data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAZAAAAAyAQMAAABI0h/eAAAABlBMVEX///8AAABVwtN+AAAACXBIWXMAAA7EAAAOxAGVKw4bAAAA8UlEQVRIiWNgGAWjYHCCxMd/Kmzs+IEsZiBmbCBCy2MDnjNpyZINxGthfCbA23aIccMBYrXIux9OY5A4c4DZ+Ebyw8cFDDayGw5wp0ng02J4Ji3tgUHFHT6zG2nGxjMY0ow3HODdbIBXS0NOukHCmWfMZjcSzKR5GA4nArVsfIBXS//7bxIH2w4zbp6R/v03D8N/kBaQv/D4RSIhTbIRqGWDRI4ZMw/DAcK2GEg8SDZmAAayxJk3xdI8BsnGMw8T8It8f0LiYwZQVLanb/zMU2En23e8dxveEDNAdTbIeGZ86kG2NBBQMApGwSgYBaOAAQCVMlHBs494gAAAAABJRU5ErkJggg==","orcid":"","institution":"Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Hidalgo","correspondingAuthor":true,"prefix":"","firstName":"María","middleName":"Concepión García -","lastName":"Pérez","suffix":""},{"id":631199790,"identity":"5b8cfcfd-e172-45b6-a042-7433e09e04dd","order_by":1,"name":"Carla Corolina Pérez - Hernández","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Hidalgo","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Carla","middleName":"Corolina Pérez -","lastName":"Hernández","suffix":""},{"id":631199793,"identity":"b3f167c0-85cf-4759-aafc-939c43188e72","order_by":2,"name":"Fernando Gómez-Zaldívar","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Monterrey Institute of Technology and Higher Education","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Fernando","middleName":"","lastName":"Gómez-Zaldívar","suffix":""},{"id":631199794,"identity":"e396280a-e917-49f2-96c3-78b5f1eb6513","order_by":3,"name":"Manuel de Jesus Gómez-Zaldívar","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Universidad de Guanajuato","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Manuel","middleName":"de Jesus","lastName":"Gómez-Zaldívar","suffix":""}],"badges":[],"createdAt":"2026-04-10 22:23:19","currentVersionCode":1,"declarations":"","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-9383259/v1","doiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-9383259/v1","draftVersion":[],"editorialEvents":[],"editorialNote":"","failedWorkflow":false,"files":[{"id":108805367,"identity":"30963c3a-cdf9-4249-9f4e-e38edded49af","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2026-05-08 15:25:44","extension":"pdf","order_by":1,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"manuscript-pdf","size":1185807,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"PaperDiversificationandupcyclingSpringer.pdf","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-9383259/v1_covered_7d908f9a-fc1a-4d84-b006-6607085de3e8.pdf"}],"financialInterests":"No competing interests reported.","formattedTitle":"Why does the waste trade matter for export diversification and upcycling? 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