Sustainability for Regions
Insights into Regional Development Open Access
EU
ERC
Enter to SUSTAINABILITY FOR
REGIONS page

Navigation

Membership:

iThenticate

Recommended tools:

Get Mendeley Web Importer: Mendeley

Register for an ORCID iD (for authors and reviewers): ORCID

Join a global community of researchers using Kudos: Kudos

Get Adobe Acrobat Reader

Share: Facebook LinkedIn Twitter Add this article to your Mendeley library
HTML PDF
DOI 10.9770/ird.2023.5.3(6)
Reference to this article should be made as follows:
Zecca, E.; Pronti, A.; Chioatto, E. 2023. Environmental policies, waste and circular convergence in the European context, Insights into Regional Development 5(3): 95-121. https://doi.org/10.9770/ird.2023.5.3(6)
Received: 2023-03-12  |  Accepted: 2023-07-24  |  Published: 2023-09-30

Title

Environmental policies, waste and circular convergence in the European context

Abstract

This work explores the transition process towards a circular economic model in the European context. By placing the role of policies and waste as a focus of the debate, it first examines the possible effects that a stringent policy can generate and, secondly, how much waste and its management can influence the goodness of the transition process. By analyzing European data on major indicators of circularity, waste generation, and management, this paper attempts to provide a snapshot of the European situation and its different speeds along the transition path. In light of the recent development programs established by European institutions in the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic that strained the world economy, the trends show how program resources should be directed towards key sustainability sectors that can stimulate European countries towards a common circular pathway.

Keywords

environmental policy, circular economy, waste management, sustainability transition

JEL classifications

Q53 , F64 , E61

URI

http://jssidoi.org/ird/article/140

DOI

DOI 10.9770/ird.2023.5.3(6)

Pages

95-121

Funding

This is an open access issue and all published articles are licensed under a
Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License

Authors

Zecca, Emy
University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy http://www.unife.it
Sustainability Environmental Economics and Dynamics Studies (SEEDS), Ferrara, Italy http://www.sustainability-seeds.org
Articles by this author in: CrossRef |  Google Scholar
Pronti, Andrea
Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Milano, Italy https://www.unicatt.it
Sustainability Environmental Economics and Dynamics Studies (SEEDS), Ferrara, Italy http://www.sustainability-seeds.org
Articles by this author in: CrossRef |  Google Scholar
Chioatto, Elisa
University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy http://www.unife.it
Sustainability Environmental Economics and Dynamics Studies (SEEDS), Ferrara, Italy http://www.sustainability-seeds.org
Articles by this author in: CrossRef |  Google Scholar

Journal title

Insights into Regional Development

Volume

5

Number

3

Issue date

September 2023

Issue DOI

DOI 10.9770/ird.2023.5.3

ISSN

ISSN 2345-0282 (online)

Publisher

VšĮ Entrepreneurship and Sustainability Center, Vilnius, Lithuania

Cited

Google Scholar

Article views & downloads

HTML views: 730  |  PDF downloads: 310

References

Aghbashlo, M., Tabatabaei, M., Soltanian, S., Ghanavati, H., 2019. Biopower and biofertilizer production from organic municipal solid waste: An exergoenvironmental analysis. Renew. Energy, 143, 64–76. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2019.04.109

Search via ReFindit

Alaerts, L., Van Acker, K., Rousseau, S., De Jaeger, S., Moraga, G., Dewulf, J., De Meester, S., Van Passel, S., Compernolle, T., Bachus, K., Vrancken, K., Eyckmans, J., 2019. Towards a more direct policy feedback in circular economy monitoring via a societal needs perspective. Resour. Conserv. Recycl. 149, 363–371. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2019.06.004

Search via ReFindit

Ambec, S., Cohen, M.A., Elgie, S., Lanoie, P., 2013. The Porter Hypothesis at 20: Can Environmental Regulation Enhance Innovation and Competitiveness? Rev. Environ. Econ. Policy 7, 2–22. https://doi.org/10.1093/reep/res016

Search via ReFindit

Barbieri, N., Ghisetti, C., Gilli, M., Marin, G., Nicolli, F. 2016. A survey of the literature on environmental innovation based on main path analysis: a survey of the literature on environmental innovation. J. Econ. Surv. 30, 596–623. https://doi.org/10.1111/joes.12149

Search via ReFindit

Bianchi, M., Tapia, C., del Valle, I., 2020. Monitoring domestic material consumption at lower territorial levels: A novel data downscaling method. J. Ind. Ecol. 24, 1074–1087. https://doi.org/10.1111/jiec.13000

Search via ReFindit

Castillo-Giménez, J., Montañés, A., Picazo-Tadeo, A.J., 2019a. Performance in the treatment of municipal waste: Are European Union member states so different? Sci. Total Environ. 687, 1305–1314. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.06.016

Search via ReFindit

Castillo-Giménez, J., Montañés, A., Picazo-Tadeo, A.J., 2019b. Performance and convergence in municipal waste treatment in the European Union. Waste Manag. 85, 222–231. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wasman.2018.12.025

Search via ReFindit

Chioatto, E., Sospiro, P., 2022. Transition from waste management to circular economy: the European Union roadmap. Environ. Dev. Sustain. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10668-021-02050-3

Search via ReFindit

Costantini, V., Mazzanti, M., 2012. On the green and innovative side of trade competitiveness? The impact of environmental policies and innovation on EU exports. Res. Policy 41, 132–153. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.respol.2011.08.004

Search via ReFindit

Dasgupta, P., 2021. The Economics of Biodiversity: The Dasgupta Review (Abridged Version), London: HM Treasury.

Search via ReFindit

de Jesus, A., Antunes, P., Santos, R., Mendonça, S., 2018. Eco-innovation in the transition to a circular economy: An analytical literature review. J. Clean. Prod. 172, 2999–3018. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2017.11.111

Search via ReFindit

de Jesus, A., Lammi, M., Domenech, T., Vanhuyse, F., Mendonça, S., 2021. Eco-Innovation Diversity in a Circular Economy: Towards Circular Innovation Studies. Sustainability 13, 10974. https://doi.org/10.3390/su131910974

Search via ReFindit

de Jesus, A., Mendonça, S., 2018. Lost in Transition? Drivers and Barriers in the Eco-innovation Road to the Circular Economy. Ecol. Econ. 145, 75–89. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolecon.2017.08.001

Search via ReFindit

EC, 2019. Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the European Council, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions ‘The European Green Deal,' COM (2019)640 final. European Commission.

Search via ReFindit

EC, 2020. Shaping Europe's digital future. European Commission.

Search via ReFindit

EC, 2021. Europe's Digital Decade: digital targets for 2030. European Commission.

Search via ReFindit

EC, 2022a. Recovery and Resilience Facility. European Commission.

Search via ReFindit

EC, 2022b. Resource Efficiency Scoreboard [WWW Document]. Eur. Comm. URL https://ec.europa.eu/environment/resource_efficiency/targets_indicators/scoreboard/index_en.htm

Search via ReFindit

EEA, 2019a. The European environment state and outlook 2020: knowledge for transition to a sustainable Europe. European Environment Agency.

Search via ReFindit

EEA, 2019b. The sustainability transition in Europe in an age of demographic and technological change an exploration of implications for fiscal and financial strategies. European Environment Agency.

Search via ReFindit

EEA, 2021. Sustainability transition and the European Green Deal: A macro-dynamic perspective (Eionet Report - ETC/WMGE 2021/8). European Environment Agency, European Topic Centre on Waste and Circular Economy.

Search via ReFindit

EGD, 2022. A European Green Deal. European Commission.

Search via ReFindit

Ellen MacArthur Foundation, 2013. Towards the Circular Economy: Economic and business rationale for accelerated transition.

Search via ReFindit

Eurostat, 2022a. Glossary:Purchasing power standard (PPS) [WWW Document]. URL https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php?title=Glossary:Purchasing_power_standard_(PPS)

Search via ReFindit

Eurostat, 2022b. Environmental statistics and accounts. The Circular Material Use rate [WWW Document]. URL https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/databrowser/view/cei_srm030/default/table?lang=en

Search via ReFindit

Eurostat, 2022c. Waste Database [WWW Document]. URL https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/web/waste/data/database

Search via ReFindit

Eurostat, 2022d. Generation of waste excluding major mineral wastes [WWW Document]. URL https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/cache/metadata/en/t2020_rt100_esmsip2.htm

Search via ReFindit

EW-MFA, 2022. Material flow accounts, Metadata [WWW Document]. EUROSTAT. URL https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/cache/metadata/en/sdg_12_20_esmsip2.htm

Search via ReFindit

Executive Agency for Small and Medium sized Enterprises., LE Europe., CARSA., PwC., DIW econ., 2021. Annual report on European SMEs 2020/2021: digitalization of SMEs. Publications Office, LU.

Search via ReFindit

FEEM, 2019. Towards an Innovation intensive Circular Economy. Integrating research, industry, and policies. Fondazione Enrico Mattei, Report.

Search via ReFindit

FEEM, 2020. Energy and the Circular Economy: Filling the gap through new business models within the EGD. Fondazione Enrico Mattei, Report.

Search via ReFindit

Fellner, J., Lederer, J., Scharff, C., Laner, D., 2017. Present Potentials and Limitations of a Circular Economy with Respect to Primary Raw Material Demand. J. Ind. Ecol. Yale Univ. 21, 494–496. https://doi.org/10.1111/jiec.12582

Search via ReFindit

Fischer‐Kowalski, M., Krausmann, F., Giljum, S., Lutter, S., Mayer, A., Bringezu, S., Moriguchi, Y., Schütz, H., Schandl, H., Weisz, H., 2011. Methodology and Indicators of Economy‐wide Material Flow Accounting: State of the Art and Reliability Across Sources. J. Ind. Ecol. 15, 855–876. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1530-9290.2011.00366.x

Search via ReFindit

Frosch, R.A., Gallopoulos, N.E., 1989. Strategies for Manufacturing. Sci. Am. 261, 144–153. https://doi.org/10.1038/scientificamerican0989-144

Search via ReFindit

Fusillo, F., Quatraro, F., Usai, S., 2020. Going green: the dynamics of green technological alliances. Econ. Innov. New Technol. 1–25. https://doi.org/10.1080/10438599.2020.1799143

Search via ReFindit

Grossman, G.M., Krueger, A.B., 1995. Economic Growth and the Environment. Q. J. Econ. 110, 353–377. https://doi.org/10.2307/2118443

Search via ReFindit

Iacovidou, E., Velis, C.A., Purnell, P., Zwirner, O., Brown, A., Hahladakis, J., Millward-Hopkins, J., Williams, P.T., 2017. Metrics for optimizing the multidimensional value of resources recovered from waste in a circular economy: A critical review. J. Clean. Prod. 166, 910–938. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2017.07.100

Search via ReFindit

Jaffe, A.B., Palmer, K., 1997. Environmental Regulation and Innovation: A Panel Data Study. Rev. Econ. Stat. 79, 610–619. https://doi.org/10.1162/003465397557196

Search via ReFindit

Kalmykova, Y., Sadagopan, M., Rosado, L., 2018. Circular economy – From review of theories and practices to development of implementation tools. Sustain. Resour. Manag. Circ. Econ. 135, 190–201. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2017.10.034

Search via ReFindit

Kirchherr, J., Reike, D., Hekkert, M., 2017. Conceptualizing the circular economy: An analysis of 114 definitions. Resour. Conserv. Recycl. 127, 221–232. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2017.09.005

Search via ReFindit

Krausmann, F., Fischer-Kowalski, M., Schandl, H., Eisenmenger, N., 2008. The Global Sociometabolic Transition: Past and Present Metabolic Profiles and Their Future Trajectories. J. Ind. Ecol. 12, 637–656. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1530-9290.2008.00065.x

Search via ReFindit

Lodi, C., Mazzanti, M., Zecca, E., 2020. Innovazione e transizione verso una nuova economia. Ecoscienza 5.

Search via ReFindit

Marin, G., Marzucchi, A., Zoboli, R., 2015. SMEs and barriers to Eco-innovation in the EU: exploring different firm profiles. J. Evol. Econ. 25, 671–705. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00191-015-0407-7

Search via ReFindit

Marin, G., Nicolli, F., Zecca, E., 2017. Drivers of international shipments of hazardous waste: the role of policy and technology endowment.

Search via ReFindit

Mazzanti, M., Mazzarano, M., Zecca, E., 2022. A selection bias approach in the circular economy context: The case of organic municipal solid waste in Italy. J. Clean. Prod. 348, 131266. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2022.131266

Search via ReFindit

Mazzanti, M., Pronti, A., 2021. L'uso di Namea per la verifica del disaccoppiamento. ECOSCIENZA 41.

Search via ReFindit

Mazzarano, M., De Jaeger, S., Rousseau, S., 2021. Non-constant income elasticities of waste generation. J. Clean. Prod. 297, 126611. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2021.126611

Search via ReFindit

McDonough, W., Braungart, M., 2002. Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the Way We Make Things. North Point Press, New York.

Search via ReFindit

McDonough, W., Braungart, M., 2009. Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the Way We Make Things, Vintage. ed. London.

Search via ReFindit

NGEU, 2022. Recovery plan for Europe. European Commission.

Search via ReFindit

Periathamby, A., 2011. Municipal Waste Management, in: Waste. Elsevier, pp. 109–125. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-381475-3.10008-7

Search via ReFindit

Pires, A., Martinho, G., 2019. Waste hierarchy index for circular economy in waste management. Waste Manag. 95, 298–305. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wasman.2019.06.014

Search via ReFindit

Popp, D., Newell, R.G., Jaffe, A.B., 2010. Energy, the Environment, and Technological Change, in: Handbook of the Economics of Innovation. Elsevier, pp. 873–937. 02005-8 https://doi.org/10.1016/S0169-7218(10)

Search via ReFindit

Porter, M.E., Linde, C. van der, 1995. Toward a New Conception of the Environment-Competitiveness Relationship. J. Econ. Perspect. 9, 97–118. https://doi.org/10.1257/jep.9.4.97

Search via ReFindit

Ranjbari, M., Saidani, M., Shams Esfandabadi, Z., Peng, W., Lam, S.S., Aghbashlo, M., Quatraro, F., Tabatabaei, M., 2021. Two decades of research on waste management in the circular economy: Insights from bibliometric, text mining, and content analyses. J. Clean. Prod. 314, 128009. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2021.128009

Search via ReFindit

Rashid, A., Asif, F.M.A., Krajnik, P., Nicolescu, C.M., 2013. Resource Conservative Manufacturing: an essential change in business and technology paradigm for sustainable manufacturing. J. Clean. Prod. 57, 166–177. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2013.06.012

Search via ReFindit

René Kemp, 2010. Eco-innovation: Definition, Measurement and Open Research Issues. Econ. Polit. 397–420. https://doi.org/10.1428/33131

Search via ReFindit

Speck, S., Zoboli, R., 2017. The Green Economy in Europe: In Search for a Successful Transition, in: Shmelev, S. (Ed.), Green Economy Reader, Studies in Ecological Economics. Springer International Publishing, Cham, pp. 141–160. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-38919-6_7

Search via ReFindit

Stahel, W.R., 1982. The product life factor. An Inquiry into the Nature of Sustainable Societies: The Role of the Private Sector (Houston Area Research Center).

Search via ReFindit

Stahel, W.R., 2016. The circular economy. Nature 531, 435–438. https://doi.org/10.1038/531435a

Search via ReFindit

Stern, D.I., 2004. The Rise and Fall of the Environmental Kuznets Curve. World Dev. 32, 1419–1439. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2004.03.004

Search via ReFindit

Suchek, N., Fernandes, C.I., Kraus, S., Filser, M., Sjögrén, H., 2021. Innovation and the circular economy: A systematic literature review. Bus. Strategy Environ. 30, 3686–3702. https://doi.org/10.1002/bse.2834

Search via ReFindit

UNEP, 2011. Decoupling natural resource use and environmental impacts from economic growth (A Report of the Working Group on Decoupling to the International Resource Panel). United Nation Development Programme.

Search via ReFindit

Van Ewijk, S., Stegemann, J.A., 2016. Limitations of the waste hierarchy for achieving absolute reductions in material throughput. Absol. Reduct. Mater. Throughput Energy Use Emiss. 132, 122–128. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2014.11.051

Search via ReFindit

Zeller, V., Towa, E., Degrez, M., Achten, W.M.J., 2019. Urban waste flows and their potential for a circular economy model at city-region level. Waste Manag. 83, 83–94. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wasman.2018.10.034

Search via ReFindit

SUBMIT YOUR ARTICLE

RSS FEEDS


Archived in:

CLOCKSS


Flag Counter

qr code