A review of the circular economy and its implementation

Abstract

Circular economy (CE) is a sustainable development strategy that is being proposed to tackle urgent problems of environmental degradation and resource scarcity. CE's 3R principles are to reduce, reuse and recycle materials. The principles account for a circular system where all materials are recycled, all energy is derived from renewables; activities support and rebuild the ecosystem and support human health and a healthy society and resources are used to generate value. This study is a review of the rapidly growing literature on CE covering its concept and current practices and assessing its implementation. The review also serves as an assessment of the design, implementation and effectiveness of CE related policies. It first presents the concept of CE and compares it with the current linear economy of taking materials, producing goods and disposing waste. It explains why it is imperative to move away from a linear economy towards regenerative sustainable industrial development with a closed loop. The paper then introduces current practices that have been introduced and discusses standards for the assessment of CE's development and performance. The main focus here is on providing a summary of the data analysis of key CE indicators to give a picture of CE practices. Third, based on an analysis of literature, the paper identifies the underlying problems and challenges to CE in an entrepreneurial perspective. Finally, the review provides a conclusion on CE's current development and gives policy suggestions for its future development as part of an entrepreneurial and innovative national level development strategy.

Sustainability and Quality Management in the Italian Luxury Furniture Sector: A Circular Economy Perspective

“…Several conditions are required for implementing the above Circular Economy principles. In detail, economic and financial resources are needed [15] for allowing the use of advanced technology, sustaining the energy consumption required to carry out recycle activities [62] and for promoting adequate waste disposal [63]. Geng and Doberstein [8] further stressed the role of an efficient information system for planning and managing all activities related to resource reduction, reuse and recycle.…”

Metal markets and recycling policies: impacts and challenges

“…For this reason, rather than regulating emissions and waste generation and disposal as close to damage done as possible, the environmental authorities may support specific activities-i.e., material recycling-that can be assumed to correlate with reduced environmental load. This could involve various policy efforts that more directly aim at closing the material cycles and promote a circular economy in which the value of products, materials, and resources are maintained, not least through the recycling and re-use of primary materials (Heshmati 2017). As noted below, this approach may require a mix of policy instruments that affect both the supply and the demand side of the materials market.…”

Zero Waste Management Index – Sebuah Tinjauan

“…Semenjak era 1970-an, para ahli sudah mulai memikirkan suatu pendekatan pembangunan ekonomi baru yang beralih dari model searah menjadi sirkular (from linear to circular economy), yang mana baru-baru ini mulai menarik perhatian dari berbagai negara, termasuk para pengambil kebijakan dan korporasi internasional (Ellen MacArthur Foundation, 2012). Circular Economy itu mulai diperkenalkan oleh ekonom lingkungan, Pearce dan Turner, yang membangun kerangka teori berdasarkan hasil studi sebelumnya oleh seorang ekonom ekologi bernama Kenneth Boulding (Andersen, 2006, Ghisellini et al, 2016, Greyson, 2007, Heshmati, 2015, Murray et al, 2017, Su et al, 2013. Namun demikian, belakangan ini para ekonom lingkungan dan ekologi tersebut tidak dianggap sebagai satusatunya pembangun konsep tersebut.…”