Development Level Of Circular Economy Research Articles

Assessment of the Development of the Circular Economy in the EU Countries: Comparative Analysis by Multiple Criteria Methods

In recent decades, attention to environmental resource management has increased worldwide. Circular economy (CE) is a concept that is increasingly being considered as a solution to this range of challenges. Therefore, it is important to monitor the development of CE. This research is an attempt to contribute to the CE surveillance literature by providing a framework for comparing the positions of states and their classifications. The main goal of the article is to assess the level of circular economy development in EU countries according to the chosen methodology. The indicators used in this study are sourced from the European Commission Monitoring Framework database, which includes data from 27 European Union (EU) countries over the time frame from 2016 to 2020. The analysis was carried out using Multi-Criteria Decision Methods (MCDM), such as Simple Additive Weighing (SAW), and the objective method of estimating weights in accordance with proportional differences (APROD), which helped to assess the state of CE. The results showed that EU countries can be divided into three groups based on the level of performance of the CE, and their level of development in relation to the circular economy is different. The level of circular economy development in most EU countries is low. Germany, the Netherlands, France, and Italy demonstrated the best positions. The study findings were derived from the combination of two MCDMs, thus increasing the refinement of the overall methodology. Doi: 10.28991/ESJ-2024-08-02-013 Full Text: PDF

The impact of regional material flows on circular economy: A case study of southwest China

AbstractCircular economy is beneficial to solve the conflict between the environment and development. The study combines the material flow in human society with the evaluation of the regional circular economy. Through the evaluation method combining DEA and rank‐sum ratio, the development level of circular economy in this area is evaluated from both vertical and horizontal perspectives (time level and space level). The result shows: (1) from the point of view of material input, direct material input, total material demand and total material consumption all show an upward trend. The overall resource input is relatively large. (2) In terms of material output, the emission is increasing. But the growth rate is relatively slow. The emission reduction effect is outstanding. The resource output rate showed a continuous growth trend. Economic development is less dependent on the massive consumption of natural resources. (3) In terms of material circulation, the import volume of natural resources outside the province in the southwest region increased. Solid waste recycling is not high. (4) Judging from the evaluation results, the development level of Sichuan's circular economy is relatively stable. Followed by Chongqing and Guizhou. However, the level of development in Yunnan fluctuates greatly. The material consumption rate in Southwest China is higher than the economic growth rate. Resource input and resource consumption are still relatively large. Although some environmental indicators have improved, there are still serious resource and environmental problems in the future economic development of the western region that need to be paid attention. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

The spatial changes of China's environmental efficiency and driving factors from the perspective of circular economy.

This paper mainly uses the super-efficiency EBM model to measure the environmental efficiency of 30 provinces in China from 2005 to 2019, utilizes the Theil index to analyze the degree of differentiation, and investigate the stochastic convergence of environmental efficiency in different regions. At the same time, it focuses on exploring the direction, intensity, and changing trend of the internal driving factors of environmental efficiency including fiscal decentralization and tax competition, so as to measure and show the overall situation of circular economy development. The research results show that (1) from a national perspective, environmental efficiency shows a pattern of gradual convergence from east to west and from coast to inland. There is a significant stepped regional imbalance in the development level of circular economy in the eastern coastal areas and the central, western inland areas. (2) The differences in environmental efficiency among the four major economic regions were apparently significant while the differences inside each region itself were relatively minor, although in a trend of being gradually widened. There are differences in the development level of circular economy in different regions or within the same region. (3) The inter-provincial efficiency in the eastern, western and northeastern zones maintained relatively stable, while the inter-provincial differences in the central region were expanding. The environmental deficit problem caused by economic development has been alleviated and the basic development model of circular economy has been initially established. (4) Economic development has played a positive role in improving the environmental efficiency of the region. But the resident consumption level inhibited the improvement of the environmental efficiency level of the surrounding areas. The conclusion of this paper can provide a macroscopic reference for the government in finding effective countermeasures to improve environmental efficiency.

Analysis of the impact of foreign direct investment on urbanization in China from the perspective of "circular economy".

Persisting in opening up and achieving coordinated development of economy, society, and ecology is China's major strategies for achieving sustainable urbanization. Ecological efficiency is a reasonable indicator to measure the development level of a circular economy. Therefore, using the statistical data of 30 provinces in China from 2004 to 2016, this paper uses the super-efficiency SBM model that considers undesired output to measure the eco-efficiency value, which is used to measure the level of circular economy development in each province. Based on this, a panel model is constructed to test the impact of circular economy and FDI on urbanization. The empirical results show that (1) there is a complex nonlinear relationship between the development of circular economy and the advancement of urbanization, and the shape of the curve varies with areas; (2) FDI under environmental regulation is conducive to promoting China's urbanization to achieve green, effective, and sustainable development; and (3) the development of the tertiary industry, human resources, innovation capabilities, and employment situation is conducive to promoting China's urbanization. Finally, based on the empirical results, this paper puts forward policy recommendations to achieve green, efficient, and intelligent development of Chinese cities by promoting the development of a circular economy and strengthening FDI screening.

Circular economy development in China-current situation, evaluation and policy implications

Circular economy (CE), distinguishing from the traditional linear developmental model, is a new mode which stresses recycling resources to save resources, protect environment and achieve economic development. Thus, many countries have made the development of circular economy as a strategy, since it has played an important role in adjusting the industrial structure, changing the way of economic growth, constructing ecological civilization and finally promoting sustainable development. However, to evaluate the level of CE development is rarely seen. China has experienced “11th Five Year” and “12th Five Year” to promote the development of circular economy through the whole country, and have made remarkable achievements. We assessed the circular economy development levels of 31 Chinese provincial regions in 2017 using data envelopment analysis (DEA) in this study. This analysis applied indicators which can well reflect the characteristics of circular economy. Results show that large differences still exist in the development level of circular economy in different regions. 23% of the provinces (e.g. Beijing, Shanghai, Tianjin) are relatively efficient. 70% of the regions being inefficient in scale efficiency show decreasing returns to scale. The overall efficiency of Inner Mongolia ranks last. In addition, this study finds the inhibitors of circular economy development according to the DEA results and proposed suggestions for establishing an effective mechanism to promote CE development. Overall, our research methods and findings may help China and other regions abroad measure the level of circular economy development and promote the development of circular economy

Analysis and evaluation of the level of circular economy development in Russian regions

Subject. The article addresses circular models of production systems organization. In Russia, the circular economy concept has not been significantly developed, either theoretically or practically. Objectives. We focus on developing a method for quantitative assessment of the current level and a potential for circular economy development in Russian regions. The method rests on the analysis of business environment. The proposed approach to measuring the level of circular economy development was tested on the data from the Central, Northwestern and Southern Federal Districts for 2017. Methods. The study employs general scientific methods. Results. Our calculations show that Moscow, the Chechen Republic, the Republic of North Ossetia-Alania, the Orel and Bryansk regions had the highest level of circular economy development in 2017. As for the Chechen Republic, this result is explained by the fact that the region has zero environmental expenditures, including the organization of the waste management system. Therefore, in the practical use of the offered method, we propose to exclude objects with zero and extremely low cost of environmental management from sample data. Conclusions. The lack of reliable data on circular economy development creates significant management problems, making it difficult for government departments to forge an adequate strategy for production models systems, which are specific to the circular economy, as well as a system of measures to boost it.

Analysis of the efficiency of structural transformations in the economy of large cities in the Western Region in the context of priorities of the circular economy model development

Based on the analysis of the efficiency of the structural transformations in the economy of large cities in the Western Region, the paper proves that their socio-economic systems are in the initial stages of reorientation from the traditional linear model to the model based on the concept of the circular economy. This is confirmed by the low level of products and waste utilization, low volumes of their reuse, and low requirements of national environmental legislation for the formation of closed-loop production, as well as insufficient activity of government, business, society, and public organizations in forming the main components of the circular economy. In order to assess the current level of the circular economy development of large cities in the Western Region of Ukraine, a modified index of circular economy development is applied. Based on the results, the paper proves that the linear model with a high level of material consumption and raw materials specialization continues to dominate in their socio-economic systems, generating significant amounts of waste, which are still managed through outdated approaches. The introduction of modern technologies and methods of recycling, recovery, and reuse is at a critically low level, which is confirmed by the low average values of the circular economy development index in large cities of the Western Region of Ukraine compared to developed EU countries. The level of circular economy development in large cities of the Western Region of Ukraine, as well as in Ukraine in general, is insufficient due to several regulatory, socio-economic, and technological obstacles. Concentrated efforts of government and business to reduce and overcome these obstacles can play a positive role in shaping the circular economy in the regions of Ukraine. Strengthening the efficiency and development of specialized regulatory support, on the one hand, and state support for companies and research projects related to the circular economy, on the other hand, should be powerful incentives for the transformation of linear models of regional and municipal socio-economic systems into a circular one.

The study of evaluation index system on construction enterprise’s circular economy

The development of circular economy is an important way to judge quality of enterprise development and to realize the sustainable development of enterprises. This paper will combine the characteristics of the development of circular economy in construction enterprise to construct circular economy evaluation index system. Then it uses fuzzy mathematics theory and hierarchical analysis evaluation method for comprehensive evaluation of circular economy development level. Through the empirical analysis, the paper provides the reference basis for construction enterprises to further improve the level of circular economy.

Contrastive Study of the Circular Economy of Coal Resource City Based on Ecological Efficiency and C Model

Abstract: Being a developing country, the evaluation of Chinese circular economy should have its particular criterion that suits for specific national conditions. With the growth of economy, Chinese environmental loads should be permitted to increase at an appropriate speed. Based on this concept, this paper divides the process of evaluation into two parts which include evaluation of development level and evaluation of development performance. Firstly, this paper sets up a reference system which includes Zaozhuang City of Shandong Province, Jiaozuo City of Henan province, Shizuishan City of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region and China that is regarded as a region respectively, analyzes the development level of circular economy of coal resource cities based on the evaluation indicator of ecological efficiency, and puts forward the future direction of circular economy of coal resource cities. Secondly, based on C Model of Circular Economy, this paper constructs the measurement model of development performance in...

Evaluation on Circular Economy Development in Provincial Region-Based on Eco-Efficiency Perspective

The core of eco-efficiency is to make maximum use of resources to increase the value of products or services, and to reduce the hazard to the environment as far as possible. The essence of circular economy is to improve eco-efficiency. With reference to related eco-efficiency research at home and abroad, to assess circular economy in provincial region, an eco-efficiency index system is constructed in this paper, linear weighted method is applied to evaluate eco-efficiency of circular economy of central six provinces in 2010. According to the results, the rank of circular economy development level is given in six provinces. Aiming at the shortages of eco-efficiency and developing circular economy, some corresponding policies and suggestions are put forward in six provinces.

Evaluation of the circular economy development level of Chinese chemical enterprises

Abstract It is essential for the Chinese chemical industries to develop circular economy in order to maintain a sustainable development, due to the serious situations of resources shortage encountered with Chinese chemical industries. The evaluation system based on economic development, exploiting resources, reducing effluents, biological efficiency and developmental potential, together with the weighted sum model, has been used to make a comprehensive evaluation on the developing level of the chemical industries. And the execution of the circular economy development in the chemical industries has been checked. Therefore, the successive decisions about the circular economy development can be made accordingly. The analysis on the circular economy development of Beijing Petrochemical New Material Base indicates that the circular economy development in this base is in a transitional stage from the traditional development model to the circular mode. In the future, more importance should be attached to the efficiency of resources-exploiting and its potential development to raise the level of the circular economy development.

Empirical Analysis of Regional Circular Economy Development--Study Based on Jiangsu, Heilongjiang, Qinghai Province

Abstract At present there is the different level in China's circular economy development. To better measure the level of regional circular economy development, this paper builds the evaluation system of regional circular economy development, reflected the characteristic of resources recycling specially, and put forward the Fuzzy Comprehensive Evaluation Method to analysis circular economy development level in single region and Comparison Evaluation Method to analysis circular economy development level in different regions, so that enhance the evaluate ability in evaluation model and evaluation method of circular economy developing level. On this basis, this paper makes the empirical study on regional differences evaluation in circular economy development level through three typical provinces, Jiangsu, Heilongjiang, Qinghai Province.