scholarly journals The Circular Model in Disposal with Municipal Waste. A Case Study of Slovakia

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (6) ◽  
pp. 1839
Author(s):  
Henrieta Pavolová ◽  
Roman Lacko ◽  
Zuzana Hajduová ◽  
Zuzana Šimková ◽  
Martin Rovňák
Keyword(s):  
Natural Resources ◽  
Circular Economy ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Slovak Republic ◽  
Raw Materials ◽  
National Level ◽  
Partial Replacement ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Linear Arrangement ◽  
Circular Model

Mineral resources are life and driving force of the European Union. It is gaining awareness not only in the EU dependent on imports, but also in the world. In the context of the growing population and the growing demands of economies for natural resources, this type of material management has a significant negative impact on the environment. The main aim of the study was to justify the model of circular economy on the national level, based on the disparities between the regions of Slovak republic. To meet the objective, mostly one-factor analysis was implemented. The circular model, which is based on the partial replacement of primary raw materials by secondary ones, should, on the one hand, limit the depletion of natural resources and, on the other hand, reduce the amount of waste produced. The presented work focuses on the issue of sustainable development, which is closely related to the circular economy, and then explains the circular economy model, including the differences from the linear arrangement and possible obstacles to its implementation for the specific conditions of the Slovak republic. From the results, it is clear that the proposed circular model would be helpful to improve the inefficiencies and disparities on the regional and national level.

European experience in transition to circular economy

2020 ◽  
Vol 19 (4) ◽  
pp. 598-617 ◽  
Author(s):  
S.V. Ratner
Keyword(s):  
European Union ◽  
Circular Economy ◽  
Raw Materials ◽  
Action Plan ◽  
National Level ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Scientific Methods ◽  
European Experience ◽  
General Scientific ◽  
The Eu

Subject. The article considers the concept of circular economy, which has originated relatively recently in the academic literature, and is now increasingly recognized in many countries at the national level. In the European Union, the transition to circular economy is viewed as an opportunity to improve competitiveness of the European Union, protect businesses from resource shortages and fluctuating prices for raw materials and supplies, and a way to increase employment and innovation. Objectives. The aim of the study is to analyze the incentives developed by the European Commission for moving to circular economy, and to assess their effectiveness on the basis of statistical analysis. Methods. I employ general scientific methods of research. Results. The analysis of the EU Action Plan for the Circular Economy enabled to conclude that the results of the recent research in circular economy barriers, eco-innovation, technology and infrastructure were successfully integrated into the framework of this document. Understanding the root causes holding back the circular economy development and the balanced combination of economic and administrative incentives strengthened the Action Plan, and it contributed to the circular economy development in the EU. Conclusions. The measures to stimulate the development of the circular economy proposed in the European Action Plan can be viewed as a prototype for designing similar strategies in other countries, including Russia. Meanwhile, a more detailed analysis of barriers to the circular economy at the level of individual countries and regions is needed.

scholarly journals A Review of Transnational Regulations in Environmental Protection and the Circular Economy

2020 ◽  
Vol 23 (4) ◽  
pp. 149-168
Author(s):  
Zofia Wysokińska
Keyword(s):  
United Nations ◽  
Natural Resources ◽  
Environmental Protection ◽  
Circular Economy ◽  
Raw Materials ◽  
Economic Benefits ◽  
The European Union ◽  
New Production ◽  
Environmental Goods ◽  
The United Nations

The aim of the paper is to present a review of transnational regulations (global and European) in the field of environmental protection and the circular economy. The paper discusses the regulations proposed in publications and reports of such global organizations and UN Agencies as the United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP), the United Nations Conference for Trade and Development (UNCTAD), the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), as well as the World Trade Organization (WTO), and the European Commission as the Executive Body of the European Union. With regard to the WTO, these regulations concern the effects of liberalizing trade in environmental goods and services and environmentally sound technologies. Sustainable development means, above all, protecting the natural environment and reducing excessive dependence on depleting natural resources, including primary raw materials, in the economic sector. This implies the need to implement a new resource‑efficient development model, based on the principles of the circular economy (CE), which has been proposed for several years by transnational organizations. In the CE model, the use of natural resources is minimized, and when a product reaches the end of its useful life, it is reused to create additional new value. This can bring significant economic benefits, contributing to new production methods and new innovative products, growth, and job creation. The topics mentioned above are the main subject of consideration in the presented paper.

scholarly journals Implementation of circular economy on the basis of European experience

2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 (2) ◽  
pp. 280-289
Author(s):  
Natalia Horbal ◽  
◽  
M. Mazuryk ◽  
Oleh Mykytyn ◽  
◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
European Union ◽  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Natural Resources ◽  
Circular Economy ◽  
Business Models ◽  
Closed Loop ◽  
Raw Materials ◽  
Adoption Process ◽  
The European Union ◽  
The Eu

Accelerated population growth, depletion of natural resources, excessive pollution of the environment, which threatens the existence of mankind, was a prerequisite for the emergence of the concept of circular economy and the principles of sustainable development, ie doing business without harm to the environment. The model of circular (circular) economy is aimed at energy saving, regenerative environmentally friendly consumption and production. The article presents the results of the study of the concept of circular economy and the benefits of its implementation based on the experience of the European Union - a global leader in this field. The main goals, priorities and measures of the EU in the implementation of the circular economy are revealed. The basic principles of the circular economy are highlighted, examples of successful use of its business models are given. The two most acute global problems that can be solved only by a closed-loop economy are identified, and forecasts of the results of its global use are given. Closed-loop economics is a concept of resource management that is rapidly gaining global popularity and is recognized in the scientific literature as one of the key drivers for achieving objectives of the Paris Agreement. 30 years have passed since the first mention of the "circularity" of the economy, however only after its official introduction in the EU its popularity has grown rapidly, and world leaders have gradually been realizing its importance for achieving sustainable development. Climate change and depletion of natural resources are the visible negative processes that require the implementation of a circular economy. At the same time, society itself must change – from the choice of raw materials, product development methods and new concepts of service to the widespread use of by-products of one industry as complete raw materials for another. This requires the training of relevant specialists, whose professional activity will be the circular economy.To date, the most significant results in the transition to a circular economy are demonstrated by the European Union (EU), where the European Resource Efficiency Platform, which brings together EU countries, aims to ensure the transition to a circular economy based on reuse and high-quality recycling. Circular economy is a new trend that is seen as an important area of structural reform and aims to raise awareness of the real environmental, energy and socio-economic situation of the world by identifying ideological options for a better understanding of the dilemma of economic growth vs. the environment, optimal ways and more effective tools for solving problems, faced by society. The goal of the circular economy is to ensure, in line with the global CSWs, a shift towards sustainable production and consumption while integrating environmental issues into the adoption process solutions.

scholarly journals Circular Bioeconomy Business Models to Overcome the Valley of Death. A Systematic Statistical Analysis of Studies and Projects in Emerging Bio-Based Technologies and Trends Linked to the SME Instrument Support

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 1899
Author(s):  
Fabiana Gatto ◽  
Ilaria Re
Keyword(s):  
Circular Economy ◽  
Success Factors ◽  
Business Models ◽  
Raw Materials ◽  
Action Plan ◽  
Future Perspective ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Strategic Orientations ◽  
Start Ups ◽  
Valley Of Death

Reducing the environmental pressure along the products life cycle, increasing efficiency in the consumption of resources and use of renewable raw materials, and shifting the economic system toward a circular and a climate-neutral model represent the heart of the current macro-trends of the European Union (EU) policy agendas. The circular economy and bioeconomy concepts introduced in the EU’s Circular Economy Action Plan and the Bioeconomy Strategy support innovation in rethinking economic systems focusing on market uptaking of greener solutions based on less-intensive resource consumption. In recent decades, industrial research has devoted enormous investments to demonstrate sustainable circular bio-based business models capable of overcoming the “Valley of Death” through alternative strategic orientations of “technological-push” and “market-pull”. The study highlights industrial research’s evolution on bio-based circular business model validation, trends, and topics with particular attention to the empowering capacity of start-ups and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to close the loops in renewable biological use and reduce dependence on fossil fuels. The research methodology involves a bibliographic search based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) approach and the European Innovation Council (EIC) Accelerator Data Hub investigation to understand SMEs’ key success factors and start-ups of the circular bioeconomy sector. Eco and bio-based materials, nutraceuticals, and microalgae represent the most sustainable industry applications, leading to circular bioeconomy business models’ future perspective.

scholarly journals MEASURING THE PROGRESS TOWARDS CIRCULAR ECONOMY IN EUROPEAN UNION COUNTRIES

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 19-35
Author(s):  
Nicolae Pintilie ◽  
Keyword(s):  
European Union ◽  
Waste Management ◽  
Circular Economy ◽  
Raw Materials ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Future Directions ◽  
Production And Consumption ◽  
European Union Countries ◽  
Continuous Actions ◽  
Consumption Waste

This paper aims to create an image of progress towards circular economy registered by European Union countries through specific indicators. In this way, this paper is based on the study and analysis of the 13 indicators, grouped on 4 pillars: Production and consumption, Waste management, Secondary raw materials, Competitiveness and innovation. After the presentation of the methodology, the paper develops an analysis in time and space of the selected indicators, then an analysis of the countries with their grouping on clusters, creating a map of them and highlighting the current situation of circular economy in the European Union. Moreover, the paper also presents the evolution of the countries regarding circular economy, which has a big importance taking into account that in the European Union the preoccupations for this concept is higher from one period to another. Among the most interesting results are: (1) a massive concentration of countries with problems for Waste management pillar; (2) Europe is one of the regions with the largest contribution in terms of circular economy, but the concept is developing differently from one country to another; (3) The scoreboard evolution is particularly useful in revealing the continuous actions adopted by countries in order to facilitate the conversion to circular economy. Finally, the paper presents possible limits of the research, but also future directions of its development.

scholarly journals Impact of globalisation on circular economy and sustainable development

2020 ◽  
Vol 74 ◽  
pp. 06018
Author(s):  
Iveta Máliková
Keyword(s):  
Economic Growth ◽  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Circular Economy ◽  
Slovak Republic ◽  
Raw Materials ◽  
Sustainable Use ◽  
Economic Cycle ◽  
Global Issues ◽  
Europe 2020 ◽  
Globalized World

Currently, the issues related to the global threats of the environment represent a special, increasingly more significant category of global issues. The main cause of the constantly changing conditions of the environment is the economic growth itself as it is closely connected to the growth of population, satisfaction of the man´s needs and a consequent increase in consumption. With the increase in consumption, there is an increase in the use of natural resources which we perceive as a usable resource that results in the transformation of raw materials into materials being used in the production of consumer goods. The energy used in the production, together with the reusable resources, is being later returned to the economic cycle in the form of waste. However, the way we currently use resources is not sustainable. To ensure sustainable development in the Slovak Republic, as well as in the whole European Union, we need to employ resources in a more inteligent, sustainable way. It is evident that the linear model of economic growth, that we relied on in the past, does not fullfill the needs of present, modern societies in the globalized world. The transition to a circular economy seems to be an appropriate system that can provide environmentally- and economically- sustainable use of available resources, and , thereby, being able to support the main objective within the Strategy for Smart, Sustainable and Inclusive Growth - Europe 2020.

scholarly journals Perspectives of Circular Economy in Romanian Space

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (17) ◽  
pp. 6819
Author(s):  
Horațiu Vermeșan ◽  
Alexandrina Mangău ◽  
Ancuța-Elena Tiuc
Keyword(s):  
Circular Economy ◽  
Economic Model ◽  
Practical Implementation ◽  
Human Society ◽  
Real Economy ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Economic Concept ◽  
Theoretical Approaches ◽  
Circular Model ◽  
Selection Of

The circular economy (CE) is a popular concept in the European Union (EU) space, which has been the subject of numerous research and substantiation activities. In the last years, there has been a growing interest in Romania regarding the characteristics of this new economic model and the principles on which it works. Referring to Romanian specialized literature currently available regarding the submitted topic, we consider that the theoretical part is insufficiently structured. In addition, by pointing out the applicability of the circular economy in Romanian space, we consider this to be represented mainly by the fragility of its effective and practical implementation. The examples of Romanian successes in the field of circular economy are limited, a fact that can be explained—from our perspective—through the aspect that in other EU countries, the process of development of CE has some precedents, a stronger background and a ”self-constructed” history in the topic. There is undoubtedly a necessity for adopting this new economic model, considering that, for the most part, Romanian economy is still dependent on the linear economic system. Starting from these arguments, the proposed article uses a thematic debate of the notion of circular economy, presenting, at the beginning, an incursion into the predominantly European variety of theoretical approaches. The selection of definitions and conceptualization is continued with an analysis of the stage of implementation of CE in Romania. The purpose of this approach is to investigate a niche identified in the Romanian space, not covered in the specialized scientific research and to expose the specificity of the process of transition of Romania to a circular economy, of the barriers encountered—namely, the problem related to the attitude and mentality regarding this new concept. We also point out that the intention of the study is to integrate a ”different” contemporary and very current economic concept into a real economy, and at the same time, to increase the visibility of its application at the level of a member country of the EU. The challenges encountered in the context of the increasingly present tendency in Romania of assimilating and complying with the precepts of the circular economy are also detailed, proposing, at the end of the study suggestions for improving the gaps identified at this level. The most realistic implementation of the circular model in Romania represents a qualitative plus for the human-society factor, as well as for the environment. In conclusion, we note that, despite the evolution of the number of theoretical approaches and concerns, the field of circular economy and the perspectives it proposes, continues to offer a favorable ground for further research.

scholarly journals A Process Oriented MCDM Approach to Construct a Circular Economy Composite Index

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 618 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ana Garcia-Bernabeu ◽  
Adolfo Hilario-Caballero ◽  
David Pla-Santamaria ◽  
Francisco Salas-Molina
Keyword(s):  
Circular Economy ◽  
Action Plan ◽  
National Level ◽  
Composite Index ◽  
Composite Indicator ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Member States ◽  
Eu Member States ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Monitoring Framework

The purpose of this contribution is to develop a Circular Economy Composite indicator to benchmark EU countries performance. Europe is at the forefront of the global transition towards a sustainable and circular economy. To this end, the European Commission has launched in 2015 a Circular Economy Action Plan including a monitoring framework to measure progress and to assess the effectiveness of initiatives towards the circular economy in the European Union (EU) and Member States. Still, this monitoring framework lacks a composite indicator at the national level to aggregate the circular economy dimensions into a single summary indicator. Although there is a wide range of sustainability composite indicators, no aggregate circular economy index exits to this date. We use a multi-criteria approach to construct a circular economy composite index based on TOPSIS (Technique for Order Preferences by Similarity to Ideal Solutions) methodology. In addition, we introduce a novel aggregation methodology for building a composite indicator where different levels of compensability for the distances to the ideal and anti-ideal (or negative-ideal) values of each indicator are considered. In order to illustrate the advantages of this proposal, we have applied it to evaluate the Circular Economy performance of EU Member States for the year 2016. This proposal can be a valuable tool for identifying areas in which the countries need to concentrate their efforts to boost their circular economy performance.

Dynamic Material Flow Analysis of Steel Resources in China Based on Circular Economy Theory

2013 ◽  
Vol 813 ◽  
pp. 64-71 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peng Wang ◽  
Ze Yi Jiang ◽  
Xin Yi Geng ◽  
Shi Yu Hao
Keyword(s):  
Development Strategy ◽  
Circular Economy ◽  
Material Flow ◽  
Raw Materials ◽  
National Level ◽  
Flow Analysis ◽  
Material Flow Analysis ◽  
Flow Characteristics ◽  
Evaluation Framework ◽  
Basic Material

The circular economy (CE) is a new development strategy for China to alleviate the contradiction between rapid economic growth and the shortage of raw materials and energy. As the basic material, steel is a key driver of the world's economy. Therefore, it is essential to set up CE indicators system to understand the mechanism of steel resources role in the circular economy. In this paper, a national level material flow evaluation framework based on CE theory is presented at the first. Then steel resources national lifetime cycle diagram is built based on dynamic Material Flow Analysis (MFA) method considering the steel lifetime circular flow characteristics. Under the guidance of this diagram, the material flow results of various stages (such as production process, fabrication & manufacturing process, in-use process, etc.) of steel lifetime cycle between 2001-2010 in China is obtained, including the end-of-life scarp amount of nine downstream industries. The results indicate that China steel resources has made gratifying achievements in improving productivity, reducing energy consumption and related pollution emission, but the degree of overall circulation remains to be improved urgently. In the end, a sketch of the future relevant policy recommendations are provided.

scholarly journals Palimpsest and heterotopia, metaphors of the Circular Economy

2019 ◽  
Vol 107 (5) ◽  
pp. 505 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jean-Pierre Birat
Keyword(s):  
Linear Model ◽  
Second Life ◽  
Circular Economy ◽  
Raw Materials ◽  
Social Sciences And Humanities ◽  
Material Efficiency ◽  
Laser Scribing ◽  
Circular Model ◽  
Engineering Sciences ◽  
Societal Challenge

Words like palimpsest or heterotopia do not belong to the working vocabulary of materials or engineering sciences: they are used in Social Sciences and Humanities (SSH). A palimpsest is a manuscript written on an older document, the text of which has been erased. Heterotopia is a young word forged by Michel Foucault in 1967 to describe a closed space, the boundaries of which mark a discontinuity in terms of behavior: a jail or a monastery are thus a heterotopia. The Circular Economy (CE) is an essential concept in the framework of the ecological transition, pulled by a series of converging economic, ecological and political drivers. It is usually described as the adoption of a circular model of production to replace the “linear model”, but also as the new buzzword to describe material efficiency, the 3-R rule, the zero-waste ideal, the concepts of lean or frugal design or their reformulation by the Ellen Macarthur Foundation, as a societal challenge and an ethical necessity. Materials producers claim that they have been practicing the Circular Economy since long before the expression was ever invented, thus à la Monsieur Jourdain, etc. The point of this paper is to describe the Circular Economy as a palimpsest and as a heterotopia and to use the metaphors, if indeed they are only metaphors, to highlight some of the less obvious features of the CE. A palimpsest is a parchment or a papyrus, which is used several times to support a series of consecutive texts. Secondary raw materials are like a palimpsest, because there are retrieved from a previous life and used again in a second life: a new artefact made from that material is like a new text written on/with this material – a metaphor also used, mutatis mutandis, in expressions like 3-D printing or laser scribing. Some interesting features of the CE pointed out by the metaphor: a the palimpsest can be used several times, like a material can be recycled several times; the concept of the palimpsest posits that the parchment is somehow more important than the text that is written on it, therefore a material is more important than the goods that are made of it; the palimpsest was used before the invention of paper and, similarly, the Circular Economy was the standard model before mass production of cheap consumer goods imposed the so-called “linear model”; a palimpsest keeps a fragmented memory of the past, in the same way as recycled material maintains a link to its past lives, through its composition in tramp elements. Examples of heterotopia are a prison or a cemetery. The Circular Economy defines a space where a particular material/element exists in its various avatars, impersonations and reincarnations and this may tentatively be worked out as a heterotopia. This is a more complex endeavor than discussing the palimpsest metaphor, but a potentially more fruitful one. Foucault has provided criteria defining heterotopia which can help us explore the analogy: particularly the point that such a space is either a space of illusion or a space of perfection. This analysis is original because it hybridizes materials and SSH concepts and thus fits with the exploration of the frontier between materials and society that SAM conferences are concerned about.

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