Sustainable Development & Circular Economy
In recent decades, humanity has faced a variety of environmental, social, and economic challenges. On an international level, governments, numerous international organizations, and private entities are encountering significant difficulties. The effects of climate change and resource scarcity are increasingly intensifying, while the impact of industrial production is no longer confined within the narrow borders of a single country but is instead spreading across the globe. This borderless nature of environmental issues has turned social and economic problems into collective concerns that require joint efforts to find solutions, or at least to mitigate the problems themselves or their impacts.
In the past, various approaches have been proposed for the successful management of these issues. Most of these approaches lead to collaborative efforts, which in turn require a specific framework to enable the implementation of constructive policies aimed at finding solutions. One such relevant—and highly successful—approach is the framework directive for sustainable development. According to the Brundtland Commission, sustainable development is defined as "development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs." Sustainable development is primarily a concern for states and businesses, but it also involves citizens and the improvement of quality of life for everyone. Recently, the "2030 Agenda" was adopted by Heads of State, establishing 17 goals aimed at achieving sustainable development (Sustainable Development Goals – SDGs).
Achieving the aforementioned goals by 2030 requires a radically different approach to sustainable development at both the international and national levels. This approach must be more comprehensive and strategic compared to those adopted in the past, as the issue has become a top priority globally. The ultimate aim is the meaningful and simultaneous integration of all three dimensions of sustainable development—social, environmental, and economic—into all implemented policies, whether they pertain to public or private organizations. The effort focuses on addressing social, economic, and environmental challenges in an integrated manner, enhancing policy coherence, ensuring good governance, and promoting mutual accountability. Additionally, environmental protection becomes a "center of competitive advantage" for businesses through the reduction of energy, water, and natural resource consumption, the minimization of waste and corresponding management costs, and the increase in market share due to an improved company profile (branding).
At the same time, efforts have intensified recently towards the adoption of a new circular economyproduction model, The focus of which is on the reuse, repair, and renewal of existing materials and products, as opposed to the linear model that dominated in the past. The term "circular economy" refers to the gradual creation of a new production and consumption model that allows materials to be used for much longer while minimizing the use of natural resources. This is a development model where all waste is either reused or recycled. Essentially, the circular economy represents a shift from a linear "produce-consume-dispose" model to a closed-loop system where products can be disassembled and reused with minimal processing. On this basis, what was previously considered waste can be transformed into raw materials and reintroduced into the supply chain. The productive restructuring based on a circular economy model requires not only a strategic shift by businesses and organizations but also collaboration among all links in a supply chain, as well as cross-sectoral cooperation among entities operating in different business areas, within the framework of "industrial symbiosis." The concept of the circular economy addresses the ambition for sustainable development, as the two concepts are complementary and respond to critical issues related to the increasing pressure from the production and consumption of natural resources and the degradation of the environment on a global scale.
In the direction of the circular economy, the European Commission has approved a new, ambitious package of measures aimed at helping businesses, local governments, and consumers transition to a stronger and more circular economy, where resources are used in a more sustainable way. The proposed measures will contribute to a more complete product life cycle through increased recycling and reuse, and are expected to bring benefits both to the environment and the economy. These plans aim to extract the maximum value and use from all raw materials, products, and waste, promoting energy savings and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. A key component of the circular economy model is that the proposals cover the entire life cycle of products, from production and consumption to waste management and the market for secondary raw materials.