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Climatic changes and increasing needs of resources, in many cases incapable to satisfy the demand, have led to rethink the way of achieving economic growth, the concept of sustainable associated with the development trying to capture the concern that the present economic development does not bring any harm to the development opportunities of future generations. Romania, a member state of the European Union, recognizes the need for such an approach, ensuring a sustainable development and the transition to a green economy or circular economy being more and more frequently circulated or even being the object of assumed strategies. The current paper, based on data provided by the National Institute of Statistics, tries to capture Employment in two economic sectors the evolution of which should be in opposition if we consider the 'Green' criterion: Mining and quarrying - where operating, processing and utilization technologies are carbon-intensive, which is why there is a restriction of the dimensions of this sector; Water supply: sewerage, waste management and remediation activities are considered green activity, providing green jobs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are a "major engine" of economic growth and socioeconomic development and the achievement of numerous sustainable development goals (SDG). They should make SDGs a prominent selling point to demonstrate why consumers should buy from them to reduce waste and enhance recycling. If a consumer sees an SME engaged in the SDGs (goals 8, 9, and 12), it will be motivated to offer further support. Given these facts, the paper compares the Czech and Polish approaches to the circular economy by means of quantitative evaluation based on primary research (Czechia, 210 respondents) and qualitative context comparison in Poland. The research has confirmed that there are differences in both countries in relation to sustainable development goals, with SME decisions in the Czech SME sector being at level 1.0 of business sustainability, and in Poland being below level 1. Additionally, Czech entrepreneurs have more knowledge of and practice in "green" methods than their Polish counterparts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the increasing conflicts among economic growth, environmental deterioration, and resource shortage, as an effective way to achieve the sustainable development and circular economy, the eco-industrial park gradually becomes a critical research issue in the field of recycling economy. In this paper, a hybrid framework for evaluating the comprehensive benefit of eco-industrial parks from the perspective of circular economy was proposed. Firstly, the evaluation index system for eco-industrial parks was constructed by employing the grey-Delphi method according to the opinions provided by experts from relevant fields, which includes economic benefit criteria, social benefit criteria, environmental benefit criteria, ecology industry construction criteria, and management level criteria, consisting of seventeen quantitative sub-criteria and nine qualitative sub-criteria. Secondly, in order to solve complicated, uncertain and ambiguous problems under the fuzzy background, a hybrid multi-criteria decision making (MCDM) approach was put forward on the basis of superiority linguistic ratings and entropy weight method for weight determination as well as fuzzy-VIKOR for ranking alternatives. Finally, the effectiveness and practicality of the proposed hybrid MCDM approach was demonstrated through a case analysis of six representative eco-industrial parks in China, and the comprehensive benefits of six eco-industrial parks were prioritized effectively. The hybrid MCDM approach in this paper presents a great potential in evaluating and ranking the comprehensive benefits of eco-industrial parks through solving complex and ambiguous problems in a fuzzy environment and varying MCDM tools. The evaluation findings by employing the proposed MCDM approach can provide references for the construction and management of eco-industrial parks and relevant policy formulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The textile industry is faced with many problems today. In addition to having to meet customers' changing preferences and expectations, who wish to stay abreast of fashion trends and stand out from the crowd, it also needs to make efforts to change its image of one the biggest polluters in the world it has earned due to production processes consuming large amounts of resources that end up as piles of household waste. The circular economy (CE) model to reduce the environmental footprint seems to be the right solution for textile companies implementing sustainable development strategies. This paper discusses the principles of the CE model and makes an attempt at explaining how textile companies transition to it. It is based on the analysis of 34 textile companies sampled from among the members of the European Circular Economy Stakeholder Platform, which was conducted using a special analytical checklist compiled from the ReSOLVE and BECE frameworks. Because of the proportions and degree of integration between strategic and operational practices they used to achieve circularity, they were divided into integrated, hybrid, and selective organisations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: It is widely acknowledged that China’s economic miracle has been achieved at the expense of its natural capital and environment. In order to deal with this problem, the circular economy (CE) has been chosen as a national policy for sustainable development. National laws and regulations have been enacted to facilitate the implementation of CE and national CE demonstration projects have been initiated such that national benchmarking activities could be completed. China is the first country to release nationally focused CE indicators so that objective and credible information on the status of CE implementation can be recognized. These CE indicators are valuable metrics for policy and decision-makers and can help achieve CE goals and outcomes. This unique indicator system has not been communicated to international communities. This paper aims to more broadly introduce this unique national CE indicator system. China’s CE efforts are first detailed with various provisions of the national indicator system. A critical analysis of such an indicator system is presented. We show that certain benefits can be gained, but substantive revision is also needed due to the lack of a comprehensive set of sustainability indicators which should include social, business indicators, urban/industrial symbiosis, absolute material/energy reduction, and prevention-oriented indicators. Concerns related to barriers on implementation are also presented in this paper. The knowledge gained from Chinese efforts on CE indicators are valuable to both developed and developing nations seeking to implement sustainable development measures within their regulatory policies. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract European countries are attempting to promote sustainable development by transitioning from a linear to a circular economy, where waste is to be prevented and recycling activities are promoted. This paper studies the implementation of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) policies for the packaging waste in two later European adopter countries of waste management policies: Portugal and Spain. The main goal is to evaluate whether EPR policies in both countries have achieved their basic two goals: 1) reduction of waste, and 2) increase recycling activities. Two case-studies were built based on interviews made to main waste management stakeholders. The analysis shows that the implementation of the EPR policies have had a positive impact throughout the years in both countries. Regarding the waste reduction goal, the systems have still not been completely able to detach packaging waste production from economic growth, but they have been able to promote material usage reduction directly through the Green dot fee model adopted. Regarding the increasing of recycling activities, both countries have been able to increase such rates throughout the years, in the direction of the EU targets. Highlights • EPR policies implemented in Spain and Portugal are evaluated. • EPR policies have contributed to packaging waste reduction and increase recycling activities. • EPR policies are having a positive impact throughout the years in both countries. • Some challenges still need to be faced: eco-design promotion and packaging life-cycle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The growing importance of the concept of the circular economy as a way to attain sustainable development has encouraged scholars to propose different ways to understand it. Given the large number of studies done on the circular economy, their differing approaches and their multiple applications, this paper attempts to propose a consensus view of the basic notions of the circular economy framework and highlight its relationship with eco-innovation. To that end, this study carried out a systematic literature review that resulted in four main outputs: a knowledge map of the circular economy, an analysis of the main notions of the concept, principles, and determinants of a circular economy. Finally, this study brings to light some remarkable examples of eco-innovations developed for implementation in the circular economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Circular Economy (CE) has received considerable attention as an approach that promises to reconcile ecological systems and economic growth. In spite of its increased popularity, little is known about the implementation struggles of incumbent firms across industrial sectors. Furthermore, although the notion of circular production systems is at the intersection of different research areas such as sustainable product design, sustainable supply chains, and reverse logistics, knowledge on how these concepts combine to ease or impede firms' transition towards circularity is scarce. To shed light on these gaps, I used multiple case studies from Cradle to Cradle certified companies in the textile industry in Europe. By employing qualitative research, I identified a set of factors along the textile value chain, from product design to take-back and reprocessing, that are crucial in expediting or delaying a firm's aspirations to develop a circular product. The main contribution of this paper is the dynamic understanding of how certain collaborative supplier-buyer innovation factors (i.e., supply chain position, power balance, and a shared vision) coupled with complex aspects in product design, namely in basic materials, architecture, and functionality, combine to determine the output speed and quantity of circular products to be sold, taken back, and ultimately regenerated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the UNEP Food Waste Index Report 2021, approximately 931 million tons of food waste were generated in 2019, with nearly 570 million tons of that waste occurring in households. Hunger affects more than 800 million people worldwide. Furthermore, the non-consumption of food accounts for 8-10% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Therefore, food waste generation has significant environmental, societal, and economic consequences. The circular economy (CE) is an economic model that seeks to reduce waste and extend resource life. The purpose of this study is to examine and present the connections between the CE, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and food waste management. Food waste management is commonly regarded as an environmental issue. Still, it also offers vital economic and social benefits for sustainable development. The first section of the research looks at the function of food waste management in the transition to a circular economy. The second part of this study examines the SDGs in food waste management and circular economy. The findings revealed that the most significant connections and synergies between food waste management, circular economy practices, and SDG targets could be found in SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) and SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production). Both goals have high scores for direct and indirect contributions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The need has arisen to implement a circular economic model that enables economic growth and prosperity in accordance with environmental protection and sustainable development because of the current unsustainable linear means of production in the economy. The aim of this paper is to determine the application of the circular economy concept in member countries of the European Union from 2008 to 2016. The purpose is to analyse whether economic development measured by GDP (gross domestic product) affects the analysed circular economy variables. Based on the hypotheses set, an econometric model was formed where GDP was identified as an independent variable, while the dependent variables were the production of municipal waste per capita, the recycling rate of municipal waste, the recycling rate of packaging waste by type of packaging, the recycling of bio-waste, and the recycling rate of e-waste. The first part of the statistical analysis conducted using the Stata software package shows the Pearson correlation between the abovestated variables, while the second part explores the univariate regression model. The results point towards the conclusion that the application of the circular economy concept can ensure economic growth and GDP growth while reducing the use of natural resources and ensuring greater environmental protection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the findings of the economic studies on the implications of industrialization in the case of growing economies, this study aims to present the economic factors that are at the basis of the development of circular economy at the European Union level. Starting with the model of economic growth based on the recycling rate of municipal waste, human capital, productivity of the resources, and green energy use, three statistical hypotheses were validated through a panel data model with the use of EViews 10 statistical software. The analysis was conducted for 27 European Union countries during the time frame 2008–2017. The paper highlights that the circular economy model is determined by resource productivity, labor employed in environmental protection, recycling rate of municipal waste, and renewable energy use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: With the world’s largest population and consistently rapid rates of economic growth, China faces a choice of whether it will move towards a more sustainable development trajectory. This paper identifies the different factors driving innovation in the fields of green chemistry and green engineering in China, which we find to be largely driven by energy efficiency policy, increasingly strict enforcement of pollution regulations, and national attention to cleaner production concepts, such as “circular economy.” We also identify seven key barriers to the development and implementation of green chemistry and engineering in China. They are (1) competition between economic growth and environmental agendas, (2) regulatory and bureaucratic barriers, (3) availability of research funding, (4) technical barriers, (5) workforce training, (6) industrial engineering capacity, and (7) economic and financial barriers. Our analysis reveals that the most crucial barriers to green chemistry and engineering innovations in China appear to be those that arise from competing priorities of economic growth and environmental protection as well as the technical challenges that arise from possessing a smaller base of experienced human capital. We find that there is a great deal of potential for both the development of the underlying science, as well as its implementation throughout the chemical enterprise, especially if investment occurs before problems of technological lock-in and sunk costs emerge. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The importance for sustainable development is increasingly being recognized by the world, and the looking for ways to implement sustainable development has become the focus in domestic and foreign academics. As an effective means of sustainable development, circular economy has been obtained the attention of academics and government. In this study, with the system analysis of development and principle of circular economy, based on the input-output analysis tools, this paper builds an input-output analysis table and the basic evaluation model of circular economy in enterprise. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: With the strategy of sustainable development is generally accepted, developed countries are harmonious developing oil and gas and ecological environment by developing circular economy and building cyclic ecological society. Circular economy has a successful practice in the oil and gas industry in some developed countries and has formed the varied and practicable development modes. In this paper, circular economy strategies of oil and gas exploitation in China have been analyzed. The author believes that would be helpful to “low extraction, high use and low emissions”. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

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The circular economy model has recently gained a lot of attention worldwide from scientists, business people and authorities. The importance of the transition towards a more circular economy has also been noticed in the European Union. The new regulations provide the enabling framework for the circular economy to flourish. At the same time, although there is no standardized approach to creating a circular economy, while defining appropriate policies, care must be taken that they are suitable for particular industries. The limits of the present linear economy model (take-make-waste) are extremely apparent when examining the textile and clothing industry. The transition to a circular economy requires significant changes in both production and consumption models. This article uses a literature review and industry examples to identify and evaluate challenges faced by the clothing and textile industry in adapting to the circular economy model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Knowledge and application of circular economy principles can help move faster to an economy that provides a high level of environmental protection with major economic benefits, thus contributing to job creation and economic growth. The study aims to analyze the perception of young consumers regarding the application of the principles of the circular economy in Romania. The methodology of the research was based on a systematic review of the literature, complemented by information collected through an online survey among 130 young consumers. The results showed that the application of the principles of the circular economy must take into account the impact on costs and consumers, supporting the development of innovative environmental projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]