Circular Economy and Sustainability as a Basis for Economic Recovery Post-COVID-19

Abstract

The global COVID-19 crisis has led to a reduction in productive and commercial activity, as well as in the use of transport, which has led to a notable decrease in pollution levels. The paralysis of economic activity requires the commitment of government policies to impose economic recovery laws based on sustainability. The aim of this paper is to briefly review the situation that COVID-19 has caused in the environment and sustainability. In addition, a critical view of it is provided, and possible solutions for a sustainable economic reconstruction are offered. The coronavirus is revealing the fragility of the current economic system, based on profit and continuous consumption of resources. This model generates many problems such as pollution, contribution to climate change, loss of biodiversity or unfair distribution of wealth. This must be an opportunity to redefine the social purpose of business and help generate a sustainable world through economic policies. For economic recovery, a plan oriented towards energy and ecological transition and based on the circular economy must be followed.

A Critical Appraisal of Review Studies in Circular Economy: a Tertiary Study

“…AM has been used to recycle materials like plastic, metal, and organic materials [40]. The digital transformation in this context is fundamental to economic recovery [32].…”

“…CE is an economic strategy with environmental benefits [30], which focuses on slowing closing, narrowing, and regenerating resource loops to address problems whose impacts have been provoked by humankind: climate change, biodiversity, and resource strains [27,31]. CE aims to care and preserve the environment by implementing sustainable strategies in the economy and our society [32].…”

“…CE adoption brings several benefits to organizations and the society. It can increase the capacity to adapt to crises and changes, making the economy more sustainable and competitive, minimizing dependence on external suppliers, and reducing the need for and impact of industrial transport [32]. CE models have been considered as economically attractive to increase energy efficiency, use renewable energies, preserve biodiversity, and ensure the climate change agenda [24].…”

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Analysis of the Environmental Corporate Social Responsibility of Hungarian Small and Mediumsized Enterprises in the Era of Coronavirus

“…The coronavirus first appeared as a health problem and then soon proved to have a significant impact on the economy as well. Today, we are talking about the coronavirus as a socioeconomic crisis that is having a significant impact not only on our lives now but also on our future lives (Cifuentes-Faura, 2021;Soni, 2020). As a result of the coronavirus, several sectors of the economy have been transformed, some of which have been significantly hit by the coronavirus, such as tourism, and some of which have been less negatively affected by e.g., agriculture and there were some sectors which positively affected, e.g., online commerce.…”