Ecosystem services are an important framework for linking ecological infrastructure to urban social infrastructure, which can benefit people and ecosystems. Designing, planning and managing of complex urban systems for health and wellbeing requires urban ecosystems that are both immune to systemic changes and managed sustainably. Literature review reveals that so far only several researchers have focused on urban ecosystem services (UES). The paper aims at assessing the importance of ecosystem services at the local level with an emphasis on urbanized areas. The basic conditions and barriers to the implementation of the concept of ecosystem services in the EU policy and local development have also been identified. The paper also presents solutions concerning the creation of integrated systems of providing such services by local governments and their monitoring.

StreszczenieRozwój współczesnego rynku wskazuje na wyraźne tendencje w kierunku ekologizacji produkcji, produktów i usług oraz konsumpcji. Wartość sprzedaży na światowym rynku dóbr i usług ekologicznych rośnie w tempie 4% rocznie nawet w okresie recesji gospodarczej co oznacza, że jest to jeden z sektorów o największym potencjale wzrostu. Rynek ten jest zdominowany głównie przez USA, kraje Europy Zachodniej i Japonię, obejmujące 85% całego rynku. Globalne przychody, związane z rynkiem dóbr i usług ekologicznych, osiągnęły w 2010 roku kwotę 506 mld dolarów i wzrosły od 2005 roku o 13%. Konkurencyjność polskich firm tego sektora wypada na tle innych członków Unii Europejskiej całkiem nieźle (rośnie wielkość eksportu dóbr i usług ekologicznych z Polski). Przewiduje się, że w Polsce nastąpi szybki wzrost rynku dóbr i usług ekologicznych, spowodowany nie tylko popytem wewnętrznym, ale i także eksportem.Podstawowymi celami badawczymi artykułu są: analiza wielkości rynku dóbr i usług ekologicznych wraz z opinią na temat zachowań konsumentów na tym rynku oraz próba oceny instrumentów pomocnych w budowaniu rynku dóbr i usług ekologicznych w wymiarze europejskim. Stąd wykorzystano dostępne dane statystyczne i analizy opracowane m.in. przez: Komisję Europejską, United States Trade Commission, Department for Business Innovation and Skills, OECD i firmy consultingowe. Słowa kluczowe: rynek dóbr i usług ekologicznych, zrównoważona produkcja, zrównoważona konsumpcja

Accumulation of Pb, Zn, Cd, Mn, Fe and Mg reaching the selected ecosystem in the dust emitted by a zinc-mill, was estimated in the leaves of <em>Pinus silvestris, Vaccinium myrtillus</em> and <em>Vaccinium vitis-idaea</em>, the main plant components of the system, and in the five upper soil layers. The values of metal concentration were different for the three considered species and showed-for each of them - dependence on the pollution degree of the stand. This regularity concerned Pb, Zn, Cd and Mn but not Fe and Mg. A significant positive correlation exists between the content of Pb, Zn and Cd in the soil and their concentration in leaves, the correlation for Mil is significant but negative. Manganese in leaves proved to be an antagonist in respect to the other metals.

Circular economy was the subject of interest for many researchers and is currently an inherent part of the sustainable growth concept. Shifting the economy to circular will require transformations in the field of competence, development, innovations, and organizational governance, as well as public awareness. Circular economy creates opportunities for achieving benefits in the economy (the efficiency of production processes, innovations, power safety) as well as in the social and environmental fields (shaping ecological safety). In the chapter, the authors describe such issues as theoretical foundations of the circular economy concept; European guidelines in the field of circular economy; problems and benefits associated with the implementation of circular economy, in light of compliance with sustainable development principles; business solution models together with the prospects for further sustainable development of a company, based on assumptions and models of circular economy.

Circular economy was the subject of interest for many researchers and is currently an inherent part of the sustainable growth concept. Shifting the economy to circular will require transformations in the field of competence, development, innovations, and organizational governance, as well as public awareness. Circular economy creates opportunities for achieving benefits in the economy (the efficiency of production processes, innovations, power safety) as well as in the social and environmental fields (shaping ecological safety). In the chapter, the authors describe such issues as theoretical foundations of the circular economy concept; European guidelines in the field of circular economy; problems and benefits associated with the implementation of circular economy, in light of compliance with sustainable development principles; business solution models together with the prospects for further sustainable development of a company, based on assumptions and models of circular economy.