ISCC as a solution provider for sustainably certified biopolymers supply chains

The circular economy (CE) and bioeconomy (BE) are recognized as potential solutions for achieving sustainable development, yet little research has examined their potential contribution to the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In this study, we conducted a bibliometric analysis of 649 articles published between 2007 and 2022, as well as a systematic literature review of 81 articles, to assess the extent to which the CE and BE communities have addressed the SDGs. Our analysis identified 10 research gaps including the limited number of empirical quantitative papers, particularly in the context of BE, and the underrepresentation of developing regions such as Latin America and Africa in the literature. Our main finding reveals that the CE community primarily focuses on SDG 12, Responsible Consumption and Production, followed by SDG 9, Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure; SDG 7, Affordable and Clean Energy; and SDG 6, Clean Water and Sanitation. The BE community, on the other hand, focuses primarily on SDG 7, followed by SDG 9 and SDG 12. However, both communities lack attention to social SDGs such as quality education, poverty, and gender equality. We propose that a combination of CE and BE, known as circular bioeconomy, could help countries achieve all SDGs. Further research is needed to develop and implement circular bioeconomy policies that address these gaps and promote sustainable development. In this sense, our study identified an important research gap that needs more attention in the future.

Bioengineering textiles across scales for a sustainable circular economy

The United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are designed to revolutionize societies to prepare for the future challenges. However, the practical implementation of such goals in many domains is are yet to be achieved despite of unique essence. Sustainable energy production (aligned with SDG 7), clean water and sanitation (aligned with SDG 6), sustainable waste services (aligned with SDG 11), and mitigating climate change impacts (aligned with SDG 13) have been the prime focus of SDGs. Moreover, much attention is being paid to research and development activities on waste prevention, reduction, recycling, and reuse to achieve responsible consumption and production (aligned with SDG 12). Waste biorefineries have emerged as a sustainable environmental management solution to achieve not only the aforementioned SDGs, but also to accomplish no poverty (aligned with SDG 1) and zero hunger (aligned with SDG 2) and to maintain well-being and good health aligned with (SDG 3) and decent work and economic growth (aligned with SDG 8) worldwide. This is true because integrated waste biorefineries can efficiently and sustainably produce fuels, heat, energy, power, and multiple value-added products and chemicals. It can further facilitate the transition from linear to circular economies and mitigate the major challenges faced, including environmental pollution, climate change, and adverse effects on public health. This Research Topic will focus on different types of waste biorefineries, current status, practical implications, optimization of waste-to-energy technologies, detailed life assessment studies, and future opportunities with a vision to achieve SDGs in the areas of sustainable energy generation, waste management, circular economies, and climate change mitigation. The editorial team of this special issue, consisting of world-renowned scientists including Highly Cited Researchers, welcomes submissions of original research articles, review articles, short communications, industrial and/or country/region case studies that covers the following enlisted topics: • Waste biorefineries (e.g., organic waste biorefinery, agricultural and forestry waste biorefinery, etc.) • Integration of different types of biorefineries • Sustainable development goals • Waste to energy technologies • Energy and resource recovery from biomass and other waste • Renewable and sustainable energy systems • Biomass and waste supply chain • Sustainable waste management systems • Mitigation of environmental pollution and climate change • Life cycle assessment • Sustainable circular and bio-based economies.

Circular economy concepts—including a circular bioeconomy—aim to transition the current, essentially linear, economic system to a more sustainable one. However, organizations and researchers currently define the circular economy concept differently, resulting in inconsistencies and difficulty in effectively implementing the framework. In this paper, we provide our perspective on the conceptual definitions of the circular economy, bioeconomy, and circular bioeconomy, outlining potential overlaps and differences and proposing a harmonized interpretation that stresses the importance of the carbon cycle. We conclude that the key goal of a circular economy is to slow, narrow, and close material resource loops, built on the foundation of renewable energy and non-toxic materials. Further, a sustainable bioeconomy goes beyond simply switching fossil resources with renewable, biological resources. It requires low-carbon energy inputs, sustainable supply chains, and promising disruptive conversion technologies for the sustainable transformation of renewable bioresources to high-value bio-based products, materials, and fuels. The bio-based circular carbon economy, in particular, stresses capturing atmospheric carbon via photosynthesis and exploiting this unique feature to the fullest extent possible. It sits at the intersection between the circular economy and the bioeconomy concept, resulting in a framework that focuses on closing the carbon cycle and stressing the opportunity to create an additional carbon sink capability in the technosphere by utilizing biogenic carbon for products and materials that are circulated in same or improved use cycles. Lastly, a sustainable circular bioeconomy transition will necessitate a set of consistent metrics that fit all products and industries.

Circular Urban Metabolism Framework

Microplastics (MPs) less than 5 mm in dimension are progressively becoming persistent in aquatic and food ecosystems and are a global concern. Microbeads (less than 1 mm) used in household cleaners, cosmetics, and apparel washing are the primary source, followed by secondary sources including broken-down plastic litter and waste. They are ingested by a range of aquatic animals, including zooplankton, crustaceans, and fish, and can enter human food chains in a variety of manners. Thus, microplastic pollution poses a detrimental effect on the overall ecological balance, including the aquatic ecosystem, food safety, and human health. Strategies such as microbial enzymes/biofilms and nanotechnology-based solutions to MPs biodegradation, the usage of substitute materials such as biodegradable plastics, and source reduction could be employed to mitigate microplastic pollution. In addition, the implementation of plastic waste into the circular economy, for example by applying the reduce, recycle, and reuse approach, could potentially serve as a sustainable solution to abate the adverse effects of plastics. Thus, plastic waste could contribute to a sustainable circular and climate-neutral economy as a result of its durability and recyclability. This review presents a comprehensive report on microplastic management and transformation strategies, reflecting bioremediation coupled with circular economy-based solutions to microplastic pollution. It also highlights future recommendations to stakeholders and for governmental policies for the reduction of plastic pollution by potentially utilizing plastic waste in a circular economy to generate wealth from waste. Overall, this article provides an exhaustive and essential overview of microplastic treatment procedures and their role in the circular economy, where plastic waste generated by aquatic and food-based ecosystems might possibly be managed and re-utilized.

Research background: Circular economy is of great importance, as it plays a vital role in ensuring the reuse of waste created and, therefore, reduces the waste of limited resources, which is the primary goal of the general economic concept. In line with the circular economy, sustainable development gains great attention, as the United Nations announced the sustainable development goals that should be reached by 2030. Hence, the current paper aims at examining whether the circular economy could be treated as an effective assistance tool for sustainable development of OECD countries. Purpose of the article: The paper aims to investigate whether the circular economy could serve as an assistance tool for sustainable development and, therefore, seeks to determine if the circular economy could directly impact a country?s sustainable development. Methods: First, the countries chosen were prioritised using the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) and the Evaluation Based on Distance from Average Solution (EDAS) methodologies. AHP method was used for weight assignment to the circular economy indicators that were further used for OECD countries? prioritisation procedure for which multi-criteria decision-making method EDAS was employed. Second, to reveal a link between the circular economy ranking results and sustainable development, a comparative analysis was done. Third, the impact of the country?s circular economy on sustainable development was evaluated using the fixed-effect regression model on four years of panel data from 2016 to 2019 for the sample of 32 OECD countries. Findings & value-added: The comparative analysis of the circular economy?s prioritisation results and Sustainable Development Goals Index (SDGI) ranking showed 20 out of 32 matches, assuming a link between the circular economy and sustainable development could be made. The fixed-effect regression equation results demonstrate that the unemployment rate, poverty rate, air pollution exposure, and CO2 emission per capita negatively influence sustainable development. In contrast, indicators such as gross domestic expenditure on R&D, renewable energy, number of passenger cars in use, and households with Internet access positively impact SDGI. The hypothesis that the circular economy is seen as an assistance for sustainable development and directly affects a country?s sustainability was approved. The paper contributes to the scientific literature in the field of circular economy and sustainable development interaction and could be seen as an assumption for new research directions, focusing on the linkage between circular economy and sustainable development. Moreover, the obtained results could contribute to a country?s policy-makers by highlighting the essential indicators of a circular economy that should be considered while forming the strategy of a country?s sustainable development.

Living in a society where plastic has become a necessity, the over-reliance on these materials is quite disturbing as they have social and economic effects, especially in waste disposal and resource management. Such issues have introduced the circular plastics economy (CPE), which aims to eliminate plastic waste by focusing on reducing, recycling, and reusing (3R) and designing biodegradable plastic products. Owing to these facts, a systematic literature review (SLR) was conducted to analyze the existing literature on circular economy principles and plastic waste management systems in terms of 3R initiatives. Also, this study showcases the CPE by investigating how it is possible to manage plastic within a circular economy instead of a linear system. Additionally, system dynamics modeling (SDM) was applied to examine the inter-relationships between key elements such as plastic production, waste generation, recycling rates, and regulatory actions, along with the cognizance phase of waste diversion and advanced sorting technology to minimize landfill dependency and environmental pollution initiatives, including producer responsibility programs and zero-landfill targets. This study accumulated that zero waste strategies, such as plastic circularity, national waste management, and high-quality recycling, have achieved recycling rates ranging from 30% to 81% across various countries, significantly reducing plastic waste and enhancing resource efficiency. However, the added strategies in countries that are related to policy-driven initiatives can prospectively be useful for increasing recycling capacity to eliminate plastic waste in landfills, promoting a circular economy and sustainable waste management practices. This study also involved the critical stakeholders of the CPE who will make the utilization of plastic waste a reality. Ultimately, this research contributes to the fast-growing knowledge base on plastic waste management by presenting an interdisciplinary framework based on model synthesis and mathematical modeling, which is crucial for decision-makers, industries, and researchers.

Amid the escalating environmental crises and economic disparities, Circular Economy (CE) has garnered recognition as a pragmatic mechanism for achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In response, several supply chain organisations are integrating CE strategies into their business operations and production processes. Despite these developments and since the introduction of Business Charter for Sustainable Development by the International Chamber of Commerce in 1991, the academic corpus comprehensively connecting CE research themes, catalysts, deterrents, practices with the SDGs has remained limited. To bridge this gap, we present a systematic literature review (SLR) of CE research in operations, supply chain and production management encompassing a time span of 31 years (January 1991 – June 2022), by sourcing, screening, and analysing articles obtained from multiple research databases. Our thematic coding analysis generated ten research themes, and subsequently linking them with relevant SDGs. Additionally, we interweaved CE catalysts and deterrents, establishing a connection with the SDGs. This is further enriched with CE strategies aimed at equipping business practitioners to enhance sustainable business performance and contributing to specific SDGs. Lastly, we delineate CE knowledge data management and priority actions frameworks to aid organisations to enhance employee capability and actively leverage digital technologies for implementing CE strategies.

With the rapid development of China's economy, the green economy is a necessary part of the sustainable development of marine economy.To a certain extent, the development of the marine economy can gradually ease the pressure of the economic development of the land. The ocean as a new area of economic development, in the wake of the development will have more and more important role, whether domestic or foreign, and utilization of marine resources and become a new economic development in the direction of the major trend.How to promote the development of marine circular economy has become the focus of attention of the world.In recent years, the development of marine circular economy in our country has carried on many directions to explore and try. In recent years, with the gradual development of the marine economy, the problems exposed are endless, damage to the marine ecological environment, promote the development of marine circular economy is imperative. Among them, the core of the most important in the development of the marine circular economy in the process of fiscal policy exploration and construction.The framework of fiscal and tax policy is related to social equity, social resource distribution, national macro-control and so on. This paper mainly from the concept of marine circular economy theory, the defects of China's existing fiscal and taxation policies of the marine circular economy, how to promote the development of marine circular economy and the feasibility of the construction of fiscal policy. In order to better promote the development of marine circular economy in our country to put forward some useful views.

Editorial and News

Abstract. The article aims to substantiate the areas for improvement in the innovation statistics in Ukraine for information and analytical support of circular economy development. The lack of a measurement framework for the study of this model of economic development in Ukraine, as well as the understanding of the circular economy as a basis for the SDG implementation determine the relevance of the subject study. The authors focus on the following research questions: 1. To what extent are the indicators of SDG implementation in Ukraine related to the principles of the circular economy? 2. To what extent do Ukrainian innovation statistics assess the contribution of innovation activity to the development of a circular economy? 3. What statistical tools does the European Union use to measure the circular economy development and the impact of innovation on development progress? 4. What should be the system of indicators for the circular economy development in Ukraine and the contribution of innovation to this process? This study used systemic and comparative analysis to substantiate a set of indicators used to monitor the implementation of principles of a circular economy and the introduction of environmental innovations in Ukraine. According to our study of 183 indicators of implementing SDG in Ukraine, 28 of them are related to the principles of the circular economy, and most focus on such goals as «Responsible Production and Consumption», Affordable and Clean Energy, Decent Work and Economic growth. The selected indicators can be used as a database for monitoring the circular economy in Ukraine. However, the “blind spot” is the lack of indicators that measure progress of implementing the principle of reuse of resources, including secondary raw materials. In addition, there are no indicators in Ukrainian innovation statistics that measure the impact of innovation on the implementation of the principles of the closed-loop economy. A study of the EU’s experience shows that European statistics use three main tools to measure the circular economy development and innovation activity in this area: 1) Circular economy monitoring progress 2) European Innovation Scoreboard and Innovation Index 3) The Eco-Innovation Scoreboard and Eco- Innovation Index. Taking into account the European intent to integrate with Ukraine and the current state of Ukrainian statistical practice, the authors identify the following areas for its improvement: 1) the introduction of monitoring of the circular economy based on the selected indicators of the SDG and 2) expand the list of selected monitoring indicators by including indicators such as the use of circular materials and the level of recycling of various types of waste. The practical significance of the study lies in the development of a measurement framework that can be used as information and analytical support in governing the circular economy development in Ukraine. Keywords: Sustainable Development Goals, circular economy principles, innovation statistics, environmental innovation, Innovation Index, Eco-Innovation Index, monitoring, Ukraine, European Union.

Plastic waste pollution is a growing environmental and economic challenge in Africa, driven by rapid urbanization, increased plastic consumption, and inadequate waste management infrastructure. Traditional linear waste management models, characterized by “take, make, and dispose” practices, have led to significant environmental degradation and public health risks. A circular economy (CE) approach offers a sustainable alternative by promoting plastic waste reduction, reuse, and recycling, transforming waste into valuable resources. This review explores circular economy principles and their application in plastic waste management across African urban centers. Key opportunities include job creation, resource efficiency, private sector investment, and policy-driven waste management reforms. However, challenges such as weak regulatory frameworks, limited infrastructure, informal sector integration, and low public awareness hinder full adoption. The study emphasizes the need for multi-stakeholder collaboration, technological innovation, and policy alignment to achieve a sustainable circular plastic economy in Africa. Keywords: Circular economy, plastic waste, waste management, sustainability, Africa, recycling, policy, innovation

Circular economy and the bioeconomy are increasingly recognised as complementary innovation pathways for achieving environmental sustainability, preserving economic competitiveness. A growing body of literature has examined circular- and bioeconomy-related innovation at the firm and sectoral level, yet there is little evidence investigating whether a company’s organisational architecture impacts circular and bioeconomy adoption. In this paper, we delve into the worker cooperative model, where workers collectively own and manage the company. Accordingly, we propound that the drivers and barriers shaping circular-bioeconomy innovation in worker cooperatives may follow distinct patterns compared to conventional, investor-owned companies, due to the democratic governance and the embeddedness of such companies within territories and communities. This paper reviews academic literature on circular economy, bioeconomy and the union of the two, and worker cooperatives. Based on a sample of 28 peer-reviewed studies from Web of Science, we conduct a thematic analysis to identify and systematise the main drivers and barriers to circular and bioeconomy innovation of worker cooperatives. The analysis is organised along multiple analytical dimensions. In addition, the paper maps the indicators used in the literature to measure circular bioeconomy-related innovation, highlighting differences in operationalisation and the limited attention devoted to labour- and worker-related dimensions.

Policymakers Take Notice of Bioeconomy's Potential