THE CONCEPT, PRINCIPLES AND INNOVATIONS IN CIRCULAR ECONOMY
Keywords:
circular economy, linear production, innovation, reuse, recycling, refurbishment, waste minimizationAbstract
Circular economy (CE) is a relatively new model of production that focuses at achieving savings in energy consumption, raw materials, and other resources in order to optimize the social, environmental, technical and economic effects of used materials and circular products in a given society. As a relatively new framework for waste and resource management, the CE concept takes the place of the traditional linear model of production (the take-make-discard model), emphasizing systemic, planned and rational thinking and action. Today, examples of circular solutions in the contemporary world are numerous and present in many industries such as manufacturing, computing, construction, furniture industry, food industry, design and others. The article discusses in detail the difference between a linear and a circular model of economy, as well as the underlying principles on which this innovative concept is based. The paper also provides an overview of various innovations in the circular economy, pointing out their features and benefits. The article specifically examines product innovations, process innovations, eco-innovations, as well as incremental and radical innovations in this area. Finally, the article analyses the latest trends in the circular economy, with special emphasis on the business sector, the food industry, as well as on textile, pharmaceutical...
References
Blomsma, F., Brennan, G., “The Emergence of Circular Economy – A New Framing Around Prolonging Resource Productivity”, Journal of Industrial Ecology, 2017, 21(3), pp. 603-614. https://doi.org/10.1111/jiec.12603.
Corona, B., Shen, L., Reike, D., Carreón, J. R., Worrell, E., “Towards sustainable development through the circular economy—A review and critical assessment on current circularity metrics“, Resources, Conservation and Recycling, December 2019, Volume 151, pp. 1-15. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2019.104498.
Durocher, Y., “Circular Economy and the Textile Industry”, Forbes, December 1, 2020. Retrieved from https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesagencycouncil/2020/12/01/circular-economy-and-the-textile-industry/?sh=6f4ed78257a9 [access: September 23, 2021]
Ellen MacArthur Foundation, “What is the definition of the circular economy?“, 2011. Retrieved from https://kenniskaarten.hetgroenebrein.nl/en/knowledge-map-circular-economy/what-is-the-definition-a-circular-economy/ [access: February 15, 2020]
Ellen MacArthur Foundation, “Towards the circular economy: Accelerating the scale-up across global supply chains”, Ellen MacArthur Foundation, Cowes, UK, 2014.
Haupt, M., Vadenbo, C., Hellweg, S., (2016), “Do We Have the Right Performance Indicators for the Circular Economy?: Insight into the Swiss Waste Management System“, Journal of Industrial Ecology, 2016, Volume 21, Number 3, pp. 615-627. https://doi.org/10.1111/jiec.12506.
Heyes, G., Sharmina, M., Mendoza, J. M. F., Gallego-Schmid, A., Azapagic, A., “Developing and implementing circular economy business models in service-oriented technology companies”, Journal of Clenaer Production, 2018, Volume 177, pp. 621-632. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2017.12.168.
Hobson, K., “Closing the loop or squaring the circle? Locating generative spaces for the circular economy“, Progress in Human Geography, 2016, 40(I), pp. 88-104. DOI:10.1177/0309132514566342.
Horbach, J., Rammer, C., Employment and performance effects of circular economy innovations, ZEW Discussion Papers, No. 19-016, ZEW-LeibnizZentrum für Europäische Wirtschaftsforschung, Mannheim, 2019.
Norouzi, M., Chàfer, M., Cabeza, L., F., Jiménez, L., Boer, D., “Circular economy in a building and construction sector: A scientific evolution analysis”, Journal of Building Engineering, December 2021, Volume 44, pp. 1-18. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jobe.2021.102704.
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development/Eurostat, Oslo Manual: Guidelines for Collecting and Interpreting Innovation Data, Third edition, OECD/Eurostat, Paris, 2005.
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development/Eurostat, Oslo Manual 2018: Guidelines for Collecting, Reporting and Using Data on Innovation, Fourth edition, OECD/Eurostat, Paris, 2018.
Potting, J., Hekkert, M., Worell, E., Hanemaaijer, A., Circular economy: Measuring innovation in the product chain, Policy Report, January 2017, PBL Netherlands Assessment Agency, The Hague, 2017.
Rommel, Y., “The Circular Economy in the Automotive Sector: How Far can We Introduce It”, Victanis, November 21, 2018. Retrieved from https://www.victanis.com/blog/circular-economy-automotive-industry [access: September 23, 2021]
SB INSIGHT, The Nordic Market for Circular Economy: Attitudes, Behaviours & Business Opportunities, SB Insight, Stockholm, 2019.
Sheppard, M., The Effects of Environmental Innovation on Market Value, Master thesis, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, 2007.
The Waste and Resources Action Programme, WRAP and the circular economy, 2020. Retrieved from https://www.wrap.org.uk/about-us/about/wrap-and-circular-economy/ [access: February 16, 2020]
Tyler, S., “Pharma’s shift towards a circular economy”, Pharma Manufacturing, August 11, 2011. Retrieved from https://www.pharmamanufacturing.com/articles/2021/pharmas-shift-towards-a-circular-economy/ [access: September 23, 2021]
Valavanidis, A. (2018), “Concept and Practice of the Circular Economy“, July 2018. Retrieved from https://www.researchgate.net/publication/326625684_Concept_and_Practice_of_the_Circular_Economy [February 15, 2020]
Velenturf, A., P. M., Purnell, P. “Principles for a sustainable circular economy“, Sustainable Production and Consumption, 2021, Volume 27, July 2021, pp. 1437-1457. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.spc.2021.02.018.
Vidas-Bubanja, M., Madžar, L., “The Importance of Innovation and Knowledge for Economic Development of the Country and the Competitive Business of Companies“, Journal of Social Sciences, 2019, Godina XI, Broj 11, pp. 157-173.
Wautelet, T., Exploring the role of independent retailers in the circular economy: a case study approach, MBA Working Papers, February 2018, Positive Impakt, Luxembourg, 2018. DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.17085.15847.
Wiener-Bronner, D., “How to solve the world’s plastics problem: Bring back the milk man“, CNN Business, January 24, 2019. Retrieved from https://edition.cnn.com/interactive/2019/01/business/loop-reusable-packaging-mission-ahead/index.html [February 18, 2020]
Youmatter, Circular Economy: Definition, Principles, Benefits and Barriers, February 21, 2020. Retrieved from https://youmatter.world/en/definition/definitions-circular-economy-meaning-definition-benefits-barriers/ [September 23, 2021]
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
