Assessing the Circular Economy in Regions of Chile by Using Multiple-Criteria Decision-Making (MCDM)

Abstract

The circular economy has gained significant global attention, particularly in developed countries, as a novel economic model to reduce waste and optimize resource utilization. This study assesses the capacity of Chilean regions to adopt the circular economy model. Six Chilean regions were selected for this purpose. The research process is carried out and employs a descriptive–analytical approach, conducting a comparative analysis of the six regions based on nine waste-related indicators. The Rank Alternative by Fractional Separation of Ideal Solutions (RAFSI) method, a multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) technique, was used with trapezoidal fuzzy numbers for data analysis. A sensitivity analysis was employed to ensure the robustness of the results and determine the range of variation and flexibility of the model. The findings indicate that the Antofagasta region ranked first based on the research indicators, followed by Coquimbo, Arica y Parinacota, Valparaíso, Atacama, and Tarapacá. These results highlight significant disparities in the performance of Chile’s northern regions, emphasizing the key factors influencing circular economy adoption. This underscores the crucial need for region-specific strategies to enhance sustainability and waste management, as one size does not fit all in this context.