A COMPREHENSIVE ANALYSIS OF THE EUROPEAN CIRCULAR ECONOMY: HOW CIRCULAR EUROPEAN COUNTRIES ARE?

Authors : Dilara Sülün

Pages : 203-226

View : 42 | Download : 16

Publication Date : 2025-02-20

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :As the pursuit of economic and commercial activities, production and consumption are fundamental and indispensable processes of the global economy, the total waste generated becomes an alarming issue worldwide. The European Union (EU), aware of the increasingly threatening consequences of the linear economy, tends to expand the Circular Economy (CE) model to reduce raw material extraction and increase the recycling of primary materials. This article explores the scope and evolution of the Circular Economy model in Europe. Our research questions are as follows: How circular are EU member states? What is the circularity rate in Europe and each EU member state? Which countries are more successful in implementing the circular economy model and what are the most important and suitable sectors for recycling and reuse? We examine the policy data through the EU, first by evaluating the policy analysis in the EU, presenting the relevant documents and regulatory framework in the EU. Then we use quantitative data to assess the circularity rate in Europe and each EU country between 2004 and 2022 and explore the achievements of CE in Europe by sectorial materials. Our findings indicate that despite the relatively high and rising circularity level in Europe, the current growth rate in the circular economy is not sufficient to reach the EU’s 2030 objectives.
Keywords : Döngüsel Ekonomi, Avrupa Birliği, Avrupa Çevre Ajansı, Sürdürülebilir Kalkınma, Geri Dönüşüm

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