Core Elements towards Circularity: Evidence from the European Countries

Olga Lingaitienė,Aurelija Burinskienė

doi:10.3390/su13168742

Abstract

In this paper, the authors identified key elements important for circularity. The primary goal of circularity is to eliminate waste and prove the constant use of resources. In the paper, we classified studies according to circular approaches and stated which of them get the highest attention. Further, we identified the principal elements, grouped them into four categories important for circularity, and presented scientific works dedicated to each of the above-mentioned categories. Further on, several core elements from the first category were investigated, aiming to connect different waste streams and provide a regression model. Finally, the methodological part reviewed the correlation between various types of waste and their recycling and selected suitable ones for developing a new panel regression model. The empirical research was delivered for the 27 European Union countries during the period between 2000 and 2019. We indicate that the recycling rate of municipal waste impacts the increase of recycling biowaste the same calendar year. The increase of recycling of municipal waste by one per cent means the increase of the recycling of biowaste by 0.6 per cent.

Highlights

Excessive use of natural resources, essential for economic growth and development, has harmed the environment while making these resources rarer and more expensive [1,2].it is not difficult to see why the idea of a circularity, which offers new ways to create a more sustainable economic growth model, is taking hold around the world.An early approach towards practical sustainability was envisioned and demonstrated as saving resources, preventing waste, and the extension of product shelf life [3,4,5,6]
To develop a literature review of circularity, we reviewed the dominant elements
The improvement of circularity is significant under various levels: society, industry, and government

Summary

Introduction

An early approach towards practical sustainability was envisioned and demonstrated as saving resources, preventing waste, and the extension of product shelf life [3,4,5,6]. Case examples are proving the interlink between recycling and sustainability [7,8,9,10]. These examples summarise and demonstrate successful implementation by some companies from the production industry, like Hewlett Packard and Low carbon industrial manufacturing park (LOCI-MAP), etc., and studies investigating the effect on environmental and socio-economic conditions sustainable development [11,12,13]

Objectives

Results

Discussion

Conclusion