scholarly journals Circular Economy Practices among Industrial EMAS-Registered SMEs in Spain

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (21) ◽  
pp. 9011
Author(s):  
Alexandra Barón ◽  
Rudi de Castro ◽  
Gerusa Giménez
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Management ◽  
European Union ◽  
Circular Economy ◽  
Sustainable Use ◽  
Environmental Management System ◽  
Use Of Resources ◽  
Production Processes ◽  
Main Driver ◽  
The Eu ◽  
Internal Production

The Eurobarometer report from December 2019 revealed that 80% of European Union (EU) citizens believe that industry is doing too little to protect the environment and that more work needs to be done to help companies transition to a more sustainable economic model. In recent years, the EU has made the Circular Economy (CE) a priority, and an environmental management system based on the EMAS Regulation can help companies achieve this goal by assisting them in analysing and measuring an efficient and sustainable use of resources. Thus, this study analyses EMAS companies’ environmental statements in order to identify and quantify the CE practices they have implemented. Findings identify 23 circular practices and show that the majority of companies focus their efforts on reducing emissions by optimizing the materials cycle and improving internal production processes. Eco-design stands out as the main driver amongst the circular transformation practices. This study has also detected a lack of uniformity in the way companies quantify the various circular practices currently operating, or how they communicate this information. These results may be useful to companies, professionals and administrations responsible for promoting the CE, and it can also provide guidance on what information to include in future environmental statements.

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 Strategic Green HRM – The Integration of Environmental Management into HRM with reference to one of the Healthcare Industry

2017 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 85 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shikha Yadav
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Management ◽  
Corporate Social Responsibility ◽  
Corporate Sustainability ◽  
Sustainable Use ◽  
Healthcare Sector ◽  
Healthcare Industry ◽  
Business Organisation ◽  
Use Of Resources ◽  
Pharmaceutical Industries ◽  
Corporate Social

<div><p><em>This paper studies one of the healthcare industry of India “Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Limited” which is ranked at 352 amongst the world’s largest 500 companies on corporate sustainability and environmental impact according to Newsweek in 2016. Sun Pharmaceutical Industries limited is the only company in the healthcare sector in India which has been listed as one of the Green companies in India. This paper mainly focuses on understanding and analysing the Green initiatives as a part of Corporate social responsibility (CSR) taken by the company which makes it the green company in India in Healthcare sector. </em></p></div><em>The green scores of the company has also increased by 4% compared to the previous year (2015), which shows that the company is always striving to incorporate strategic Green HRM. Strategic Green HRM is one of the growing innovative approaches which promotes the sustainable use of resources of the business organisation and thus integrates environmental management into HRM.</em>

The circular economy, environmental performance and environmental management systems: the role of absorptive capacity

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Luca Marrucci ◽  
Tiberio Daddi ◽  
Fabio Iraldo
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Management ◽  
Absorptive Capacity ◽  
Circular Economy ◽  
Environmental Performance ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Environmental Management System ◽  
General Interest ◽  
Environmental Certification ◽  
Content Type

Purpose Despite the general interest in the circular economy, organisations have difficulties in implementing circular practices. Developing absorptive capacity (ACAP) may foster circularity among organisations. The paper aims to shed light on relationship between ACAP and organisational performance. Design/methodology/approach To empirically investigate the contribution of ACAP in circular economy implementation, the authors analysed a European sample of more than 800 Eco-Management and Audit Scheme-registered organisations through partial least squares structural equation modelling. Findings The analysis demonstrates that ACAP and the underlying organisational activities of a firm significantly facilitate the implementation of a circular economy and the internalisation of an environmental management system (EMS), which consequently improve the overall performance of organisations. The authors found that the diffusion of the circular economy in the organisations’ environment does not affect their commitment to implement a circular economy. Originality/value The study expands the academic literature by framing the concept of the circular economy with ACAP theory, thereby highlighting the contribution of acquisition, assimilation, transformation and exploitation. The results also provide useful insights for practitioners highlighting how organisations with an environmental certification can identify and pursue opportunities deriving from a circular economy. Finally, the research contributes to the debate on the effect of internalising EMSs and how ACAP improves economic performance, environmental performance and reputation.

scholarly journals A New Mindset for Circular Economy Strategies: Case Studies of Circularity in the Use of Water

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (22) ◽  
pp. 9781
Author(s):  
Elisabeth Viles ◽  
Javier Santos ◽  
Tamara Fernández Arévalo ◽  
Martín Tanco ◽  
Florencia Kalemkerian
Keyword(s):  
Case Studies ◽  
Resource Use ◽  
Circular Economy ◽  
Production Management ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Traditional Approach ◽  
Use Of Resources ◽  
Production Processes ◽  
New Strategy ◽  
Holistic Vision

In a circular economy (CE) environment, it is important to make good and efficient use of resources and consider that the waste generated in production processes can be a valuable resource. However, the tools and methodologies conventionally used to analyze and evaluate production systems are based on techniques focused on linear production management models, where the primary purpose is to reduce the treatment and management of waste as much as possible and where productive and environmental efficiency are not evaluated simultaneously. Changing the paradigm from a linear to a circular economy requires that a new strategy for production systems be defined, one that makes production processes simultaneously circular and efficient (in terms of quality and productivity). In this context, a holistic vision is needed when implementing CE strategies. Therefore, the main aim of this paper is to provide evidence, through two real case studies in the use of water, that the management of this resource without considering systemic thinking may not be the most circular solution. Main results showed that improvements based on the traditional approach of reducing resource use cannot provide the best results if they are supported only by current process consumption without considering the circularity of resources.

scholarly journals The “New” Environmental Policy Of The European Union: A Path To Development Of A Circular Economy And Mitigation Of The Negative Effects Of Climate Change

2016 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 57-73 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zofia Wysokińska
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
European Union ◽  
Environmental Policy ◽  
Circular Economy ◽  
Low Carbon ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Low Carbon Economy ◽  
Carbon Economy ◽  
The Eu

This paper analyses the evolution of the new environmental policy of the European Union in the context of the efforts undertaken to moderate the negative effects of climate change. It describes all the activities in the European Union designed to implement new tools of the EU environmental policy, such as low carbon economy technologies, tools that improve the efficiency of managing the limited natural resources, the environmentally friendly transport package, etc. All of them are aimed at laying the foundations of the circular economy, which may also be referred to as a closed-loop economy, i.e., an economy that does not generate excessive waste and whereby any waste becomes a resource.

scholarly journals Eco-innovations for a circular economy: the EU countries rankings

2021 ◽  
Vol 114 ◽  
pp. 01012
Author(s):  
Konstantin G. Gomonov
Keyword(s):  
European Union ◽  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Circular Economy ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Eu Countries ◽  
Catching Up ◽  
The Eu

This article reveals the importance of implementing eco-innovation for the circular economy and sustainable development. The author provides different approaches to measuring the level of development of eco-innovation in the countries of the European Union. The two main indices for measuring eco-innovation are revealed in more detail. Described the pillars of each of the indices. Clustering of EU countries was carried out using the k-means method and groups of countries were identified by the level of implementation of eco-innovation. The clear leaders are Denmark, Sweden. Bulgaria, Cyprus, Poland are catching-up countries.

scholarly journals RUSSIA’S ENERGY EXPANSIONISM ON THE EXAMPLE OF NORD STREAM 2 IN THE EUROPEAN UNION

2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
Keyword(s):  
European Union ◽  
Energy Policy ◽  
Main Tool ◽  
Political Influence ◽  
The United States ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Use Of Resources ◽  
Nord Stream ◽  
Energy Relations ◽  
The Eu

The modern world depends on energy, the consumption of which is increasing, while the use of resources is becoming more and more intensive. It should be noted that imperialist Russia makes excellent use of this opportunity, which is reflected in the expansion and strengthening of its sphere of political influence. As we know, all states hold energy policies based on national-strategic values and define national aspirations and priorities. Russia has a big amount of energy resources, which it uses quite purposefully. The main tool of the Kremlin’s expansionist policy is energy policy, which opposes European integration and increases its own role in the international arena. Despite the fundamental radical differences between the democratic West and undemocratic Russia, they still manage to find common preventive-cooperative relations in terms of energy policy. A clear example of this is the energy relations between Russia and Germany, which are complex and perennial. The Nord Stream 2 is a project of global importance that explicitly increases the EU’s energy dependence on Russia, which may not prove as beneficial to the Brussels side as it may do to the Moscow side. Both Putin and his governance system are using their country’s resources and geopolitics “dishonestly” to exercise considerable influence on political space around them, serving the national interests of Russia. Therefore, in the eyes of the developed West, Russia is perceived as an aggressor and an undemocratic country, which creates a negative political landscape for both the European Union and the international political arena. That is why such maneuvering of Russia is not positively understood by any of the powerful states of the world, as this very project is found to be an integral part of world politics. The United States also supports this view. The Nord Stream 2, followed by Brexit, is the first international project and it is literally a dynamic action on how the energy relations between the EU and Russia can be continued. At the current stage, Germany’s political actions are more profitable and productive for Russia than for the EU, since this case carries the potential for the energy sector of the two parties to become more integrated.

scholarly journals The Importance of Higher Education in the EU Countries in Achieving the Objectives of the Circular Economy in the Energy Sector

Energies ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (17) ◽  
pp. 4407
Author(s):  
Tomasz Rokicki ◽  
Aleksandra Perkowska ◽  
Bogdan Klepacki ◽  
Hubert Szczepaniuk ◽  
Edyta Karolina Szczepaniuk ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
European Union ◽  
Circular Economy ◽  
Energy Sector ◽  
The European Union ◽  
High Concentration ◽  
Eu Countries ◽  
The Lorenz Curve ◽  
Research Period ◽  
The Eu

The main purpose of the article was to identify and present the current situation and changes in higher education in the field of electricity and energy studies in the European Union countries. The specific objectives include determining the degree of concentration of education in the fields of electricity and energy in the EU countries, showing the directions of their changes, types of dominant education in this field, establishing the correlation between education in the fields of electricity and energy and the parameters assessing the achievement of circular economy assumptions in the energy sector. All Member States of the European Union were deliberately selected for research. The research period covered the years 2013–2018. The source of the materials is a literature review on the subject and Eurostat data. For the analysis and presentation of materials, methods such as descriptive, tabular, graphical, dynamics indicators with a constant basis, Gini concentration coefficient, concentration analysis using the Lorenz curve, coefficient of variation, Pearson’s linear correlation coefficient were used. A high concentration of education in the fields of electricity and energy was found in several EU countries, the largest in countries with the highest energy consumption, i.e., in France and Poland. Changes in the level of concentration practically did not take place, only in the case of master’s studies, there was an increase in concentration. However, the EU countries did not differ significantly in terms of the structure of the number of students studying electricity and energy.

scholarly journals Circular economy performance of EMAS organizations in Poland based on an analysis of environmental statements

2019 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 536-547 ◽  
Author(s):  
Agnieszka Janik ◽  
Marek Szafraniec
Keyword(s):  
European Union ◽  
Linear Model ◽  
Circular Economy ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Member States ◽  
Easy Task ◽  
The Future ◽  
Micro Level ◽  
The Eu

Abstract The transition from the linear model to the circular economy (CE) model is not an easy task and it requires constant monitoring of the achieved effects. Taking this fact into consideration, in January 2018 the European Union (EU) set 10 indicators to monitor and evaluate the main elements of the circular economy in the EU and its Member States. The list of indicators is short and it is based on the use of current available data. The monitoring results are intended to constitute the basis for setting new priorities towards the long-term goal of the circular economy. In case of companies there is still no framework for monitoring the effects of circular economy at micro level. In practice, various indicators for circularity assessment at micro level are available, but each of the indicators evaluates the complexity of circular economy to different extent. For this reason, there is a need to create a framework for monitoring the circular economy at company level, which would also be based on information already collected by the companies for the preparation of various environmental reports. Therefore, this article presents the results of review 66 environmental statements, which are prepared and updated annually by organizations participating in the Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS) system in Poland. On this basis, it was determined what circular economy information are already collected and reported by the companies and which information can be included in the framework of circular economy monitoring at company level in the future.

scholarly journals Održivo upravljanje okolišem u marinskim područjima: primjer Crnog mora

Geoadria ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 3
Author(s):  
Boian Koulov
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Management ◽  
Black Sea ◽  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Sustainable Management ◽  
Management System ◽  
Environmental Management System ◽  
The Black Sea ◽  
Environmental Cooperation ◽  
Black Sea Region ◽  
The Eu

The EU Marine Strategy Directive (2008/56/EC) proposes four marine regions as a political geographic framework for implementation of the Community's environmental policy. This study critically analyzes the state-based approach, which the Directive uses to outline the regions' boundaries. It suggests that environmental sustainability of marine odies strongly depends on the geographic congruence between their watersheds and the borders of the respective environmental management system, i.e., marine regions have to be environmentally managed within their watersheds. The proposed watershed-based approach also takes into consideration all elements – water, land, and air – of marine regions, which is a conditio sine qua non for their integrated and sustainable management. In the case of the Black Sea region in particular, the borders of a watershed-based environmental management system include a much wider set of stakeholder countries and enable a higher level of environmental cooperation among them.

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