Circular Economy Practices among Industrial EMAS-Registered SMEs in Spain

Alexandra Barón,Gerusa Giménez,Rudi De Castro

doi:10.3390/su12219011

Abstract

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.

Highlights

Neither the planet nor the economy can survive if it continues to follow the traditional economic model based on raw material extraction, manufacturing, use and disposal
It should be noted that the time period of the statements studied is from 2016 to 2019, and the incursion of the term is relatively recent in the business world
The term is not explicitly mentioned in most of the statements, one of the aims of the study was to explore which circularity practices are mentioned in the environmental statements of Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS)-registered organisations in the industrial sector in Catalonia

Summary

Introduction

Neither the planet nor the economy can survive if it continues to follow the traditional economic model based on raw material extraction, manufacturing, use and disposal. Preserving valuable resources and fully exploiting their full economic value has become crucial [1]. The Circular Economy (CE) is rooted in the principles of reducing waste and protecting the environment as well as dramatically transforming the way the economy works. By rethinking the way in which we produce, work and buy products, new opportunities and occupations can be created [2,3]. The CE needs to be able to generate value which is less dependent on natural resources by taking a systemic and holistic approach and integrating the whole value chain. The concept of a CE requires, and accommodates to a greater or lesser extent, the participation of a wide spectrum of agents varying in size and nature such as public and private agents, consumers or research centres

Objectives

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Conclusion