О концепции экономики замкнутого цикла и ее роли в деятельности промышленного предприятия

Bioengineering textiles across scales for a sustainable circular economy

Earth as a planet has limited natural resources and current levels of extraction and consumption are not sustainable. The organizational model for the production of goods and services in society is predominantly linear: resources are extracted, passed through the production process, used by society, and then discarded, ignoring external effects. While the linear economy was very successful in creating material wealth in industrialized countries until the 20th century, it has proven to be unsustainable in the new millennium, as such an approach depletes natural resources, piles up waste, contributes to climate change, and increases other forms of pollution and environmental degradation. environment. In contrast to the conventional linear economic model, where resources are extracted, used and discarded, the concept of circular (circular) economy is increasingly developing in the world, conceived as an ideal and instrumental model of development determined by the responsible and cyclical use of resources, in order to maintain their value in the economy, minimized the pressures on the environment and contributed to the improvement of socio-economic well-being. The collection of concepts that make up the circular economy enables the reduction of waste by incorporating the reuse of goods components by design through closed loop and cascade approaches, increasing the resilience of the economic system, preserving the environment, meeting the growing demands of an increasingly populated planet and increasing the operability and profitability of production. The application of circular economy principles brings cleaner air through the application of measures to reduce air pollution, encouraging the use of renewable energy sources and energy efficiency; cleaner water through the implementation of measures to prevent water pollution; regulated waste management system; addressing climate change and a number of other measures that ultimately bring a positive impact on people's health and the preservation of resources for future generations. Eco-innovations are one of the key tools for the transition from a linear to a circular economy and the fight against climate change. The circular economy reduces the pressure on natural resources, and is a prerequisite for achieving the goal of climate neutrality by 2050 and stopping the loss of biological diversity. Implementation of CE worldwide appears to be still in its early stages, mostly focused on recycling rather than reuse. Evidence suggests that CE has numerous advantages as it represents a unique policy strategy for avoiding resource depletion, energy conservation, waste reduction, land management and integrated water resources management. The transition to a system based on a circular economy represents an advantage not only for the market, by stimulating competitiveness and innovation, but also for the environment, reducing resource dependence and waste problems. On the other hand, challenges include lack of clear, standardized quantitative measurements and targets, data quality, lack of advanced technology, weak law enforcement, weak economic incentives, poor governance and lack of public awareness. The advantages are undeniable, and such innovative models lead to a reduction of dependence on raw materials by strengthening the relationship between the company and its customers, offering products with a high degree of customization, the emergence of a participatory economy based on digital technologies, etc. Despite widespread recognition of its benefits, implementation has been slow. Attempts tend to focus on short-term, immediately feasible actions rather than transformative, structural changes. The category of highly circular strategies targets processes such as the creation, design and development of products or services and involves significant investment in research, development and innovation. The lesson learned from successful experiences is that the transition to CE comes from the involvement of all actors of society and their capacity to connect and create appropriate patterns of cooperation and exchange. Previous research shows that the transition to a circular economy represents a systemic shift that contributes to the long-term resilience of society and local communities to climate change and economic shocks, creates business opportunities and jobs, and has lasting positive effects on the environment and society. The government should play a leading role in drawing up a macro-development plan, raising public awareness of the circular economy, establishing a system of laws and regulations, encouraging key industries, investing capital and providing technical support for the development of the circular economy. The circular economy research field still has a long way to go to create positive global, political, economic, scientific, social and environmental impacts. There is a need for studies in different sub-fields to highlight potential impacts in the present and future, as well as research to find ways to accelerate the economic transition towards a circular economy.

Circular Urban Metabolism Framework

Toward a circular economy for plastics

Resource Depletion Risk for Medical Equipment: Embracing the Circular Economy.

Ending fossil-based growth: Confronting the political economy of petrochemical plastics

GI multisociety strategic plan on environmental sustainability.

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.

Business models for sustainable consumption in the circular economy: An expert study

The anaerobic digestion (AD) of the organic fraction of municipal solid waste (OFMSW) and food waste achieves both environmental and economic benefits. This bio-process, well-known for producing biogas, is used extensively for industrial applications all over the world. Despite the use of AD across the world, the overall sustainability of this process as a source of an alternate fuel (i.e., biomethane) is intrinsically linked to the successful management of one of its major byproducts, the digestate. In order for the digestate to be classified as a “product” rather than a “waste” and to achieve regulatory compliance, this liquid stream needs to undergo biological or physicochemical treatments. The most common treatment for digestate is the use as a soil amendment. Nutrients surplus, variable agricultural seasonal requirements, escalating transportation cost, and market acceptance (e.g., risk for food safety) represents the major obstacle for the use of digestate for agricultural applications. Therefore, it is necessary to study alternative approaches for digestate management and utilization options. One alternative concept is the Back to Earth Alternative (BEA) whose aim is to bring appropriately treated residues back to their non-mobile state, as they were extracted from the earth to be used as raw materials, which would achieve actual closing of the materials cycles. Similarly, the same concept can be introduced into the digestate management process, with the goal of reducing resource costs and mitigate potential impacts on climate change, by employing a more holistic circular economy model instead of linear economy model commonly referred to as “take-make-dispose”. The overarching aim of this study is to introduce the BEA and circular economy concepts into the digestate management process taking into consideration the initial quality of the digestate and the techniques and processes necessary to meet the specific regulatory and quality requirements for the utilization of this waste stream for different applications. Cost benefit analysis and environmental impact were also evaluated for each BEA.

This study describes the relationships between climate change and the concept of a circular economy, outlining the need for synergies within a company's context. It reports on a bibliometric analysis of the relations between climate change and circular economy, and it provides evidence and assessments based on a sample of 11 large companies in the chemical industry. The results show that there is a concern in the academic literature to discuss circular economy efforts to combat climate change, reduce carbon emissions, strengthen the supply chain, assess the life cycle of products, their environmental impact, and waste management, and identify barriers to implementing the circular economy. In addition, there is a close association between the CE concept and tackling climate change in how organisations report their practices to the stakeholders, in considering concepts of recycling, reusing, adopting renewable energy, seeking resource efficiency, and rethinking strategies. The study concludes by providing some suggestions that may assist companies in intensifying their efforts to reduce their carbon footprint, combining them with more circular business models. Efforts from interested stakeholders must focus on defining CE in a more detailed manner, as well as its implementation at the different stages of production and consumption, especially in operations for which no uniform approach or common practice can be established. In this context, implications for positive social and environmental impacts by promoting a faster and more proactive climate transition in the chemical sector are presented. The novelty of this paper relies on the fact that it advances knowledge on matters related to the circular economy under a climate change context, identifying current trends and suggesting some measures which may optimise current business practices of the chemical sector.

The circular economy concept has spread around the world, including Europe and Latin America. It is defined as a concept that led to a rethinking of economic and sustainable practices today and is inspired by the functioning of ecosystems and nature. It is innovation and design that are inseparable from products and systems, in the context of sustainable development. It is based on the principle of “closing the life cycle” of products, allowing a reduction in the consumption of raw materials, energy, and water. It promotes the development of new relationships between companies, which become consumers and suppliers of materials and are reincorporated into the production cycle. Several Circular Economy goals have already been achieved in the field of research, science, and technology. Numerous studies and efforts have been performed in the scientific and technological area for searching solutions to overcome legal, regulatory, political and technological barriers posed by several institutions; among them, the pioneering Ellen Mac Arthur Foundation has been joining efforts over the years in improving the conception and operation of the circular economy, applied to industrial processes and production chains, as well as in the structuring of new technological ecosystems. For every achievement, new challenges arise for the Circular Economy, which now needs to gain the trust of managers, politicians, investors, and entrepreneurs to initiate, plan and manage the circular economy in industry and companies. Consumers present challenges that need to be overcome by offering differentiated products and services. The objective of the work reported here was to identify mental and cultural barriers, which can generate various obstacles to the development of Circular Economy and Environmental Social Governance (ESG, such as climate change, pollution, and human resource management) issues and find ways and guidelines to resolve the problem. When investigating mentality, culture and skills for the Circular Economy, there are several possibilities to contribute to the construction of knowledge applied to the reality of companies and consumers, carrying out pilot studies in Industries with the method expressly created and oriented towards the “integrated assessment of competence", with the objective of planning and implementing the circular economy. It is based on the identification of mental models, on psychological aspects that are in line with the transition to the Circular Economy.” This method is reported here and has been used to collect data for the author's doctoral thesis. As a tool, the information platform was used, with FlashPlayHR® software (www.flashplayhr.com.br/#). bilingual, in Portuguese and English, and was developed with the aim of helping leaders, employees and stakeholders to better understand the complex systems developed through innovation in the Circular Economy. It is based on the assessment of mental models from linear to circular, as well as in identifying skills to operate with circular models. The case studies presented here included an electronics recovery and recycling industry located in São Paulo – Brazil in 2022 and a group of internet users. The study defines circular guidelines based on mindset, generating data for systemic, tactical, and operational planning, with interaction between technology and humans. The method provided the mapping/diagnosis of each employee and the organization's human system, defining the stages of the process “from linear to circular,” generating content for conducting systemic planning. One of the fundamental aspects of the method is to support the strategic human resources area of organizations, providing conditions for creating constructive interaction and integration with other areas of the industry to build a Systemic Corporate Governance Model., in addition to data and content for the development of circular programs and actions. The systems view becomes preponderant and fundamental for planning. The method/software was applied to two groups of people: one more focused on circular economy in the context of an electronic recovery industry, and another more distant from circular economy concepts, formed by Internet users. The methodology applied to the electronic retrieval industry and a random group of Internet users is reported here in detail. It was possible to identify the “linear to circular” stage of the industry to achieve the circular model.

This article presents the results of a critical review of Bulgarian legislation in the field of circular economy. It also defines recommendations and guidelines on creating favourable conditions for transition from linear to circular models based on all life cycle stages of processes, products and services. The main analysed policy document, directly addressing circular economy, is the Strategy and Action Plan for the transition to a circular economy of the Republic of Bulgaria for the period 2022-2027. It lays down the strategic framework towards achieving resource efficiency by applying waste management hierarchy, i.e. waste prevention, reuse and recovery through recycling, reducing landfilling and limiting harmful impact on the environment and human health. The main pieces of legislation relevant to circular economy are the Waste Management Act and by-laws implementing Directive 2008/98/EC on waste (Waste Framework Directive), Directive 94/62/EC on packaging and packaging waste (Packaging Waste Directive), Directive 1999/31/EC on the landfill of waste (Landfill Directive), Directives 2000/53/EC on end-of-life vehicles, 2006/66/EC on batteries and accumulators and waste batteries and accumulators, and 2012/19/EC on waste electrical and electronic equipment, etc. The review of provisions in the Waste Management Act and Local Taxes and Fees Act on implementing the ‘Waste Management Hierarchy’ and ‘Polluter Pays’ principles shows the need to promote economic incentives. Bulgarian municipalities should revise their ordinances and calculate local waste fees based on the quantity of waste generated (also requested by the current EC infringement procedure for failure to implement the ‘Polluter Pays’ principle at municipal level). ‘Eco design’ provisions are in place, and provisions protecting customers’ right to repair are expected. In addition to implementing EU acquis, it is possible to promote further measures to reduce environmental impact of products throughout their entire life cycle. The critical review also overs the main documents tackling climate challenges, i.e., the Climate Change Mitigation Act and by-laws, and the National Strategy and Action Plan by 2030 for adaptation to climate change of the Republic of Bulgaria, defining the framework for actions for adaptation to climate change and priority directions. The review of ‘horizontal’ environmental legislation of the Republic of Bulgaria, i.e., provisions of the Environmental Protection Act and by-laws on strategic environmental assessment (SEA), environmental impact assessment (EIA) and integrated pollution prevention and control (IPPC), reveals the potential to address circular economy aspects in the recommendations issued as part of the relevant competent authorities’ permits. Other potential areas are the environmental protection standards and ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) as a framework for environmental and social impact. Last but not least, the review considers circular economy financing opportunities.

To tackle climate change, resource scarcity, and environmental degradation, the circular economy (CE) is gaining popularity as a key tool for promoting sustainability by harmonising societal, economic, and environmental needs and contributing to global sustainable development goals. This research aims at determining which circular economy indicators most significantly impact the sustainable development goals (SDGs) in European Union (EU) countries. Panel regression analysis was used to determine which circular economy indicators most significantly impact the Sustainable development goals index across the EU countries. In this study, five separate panel regression models were developed, each representing a pillar of the European Union’s CE framework: production and consumption, waste management, secondary raw materials, competitiveness and innovation, global sustainability and resilience. Based on the results, CE indicators have varying effects: material and consumption footprint, generation of municipal and packaging waste per capita, the recycling rate of municipal waste, circular material use rate, trade in recyclable raw materials as well as persons employed in the circular economy sector and material import dependency are associated with the improvement of the SDG index, while recycling rate of WEEE (waste of electrical and electronic equipment) and greenhouse gas emissions are associated with the decrease of the SDG index. These outcomes are often linked to economic growth and the expansion of green technologies, which are essential for a more sustainable future. This research explains the linkage between the circular economy and its contribution to achieving the SDGs in EU countries. It enables policymakers, businesses, and other stakeholders to recognise the significance of CE practices in attaining sustainable development. The research outcomes can guide the development of CE policies, prioritising impactful areas for countries dedicated to achieving sustainable development through CE practices.

The production of construction materials accounts for significant quantities of raw materials and significant amount of energy. Construction materials contribute to sustainable building management and that is something that has been presented by many studies. Their environmental impact have to be determined based on raw materials’ input, the production process followed and the energy sources used. To quantify the environmental impact there are a lot of methodologies to follow. The ongoing challenges in economy and environment lead to new methodologies in order to evaluate and improve the global competitiveness towards sustainability. In that sense, in 2015, the European Commission adopted an ambitious Circular Economy Action Plan. Circular economy is a methodology aiming at efficient resources management, as well as waste management at the end of products’ life. Calculations made trying to show in practice the way that increase of the recycling material used as an input material to the production process, of at least 25%, showed that the material circularity indicator can be increased to almost 0,5 decreasing the linear flow indicator for the system studied. Increased material circularity indicator means more closed loops, less linear flows, decrease of the raw materials used. Circular economy targets to minimizing waste, environmental impact, resources use towards sustainability and economic efficiency.