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

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

• Circular Economy
• European Union
• European Environment Agency
• Sustainable Development
• Recycling

AVRUPA DÖNGÜSEL EKONOMİSİNİN KAPSAMLI BİR ANALİZİ: AVRUPA ÜLKELERİ NE KADAR DÖNGÜSEL?

Abstract

Ekonomik ve ticari faaliyetlerin sürdürülmesi, üretim ve tüketimin küresel ekonominin vazgeçilmez ve temel süreçleri olması nedeniyle, dünya çapında üretilen atıkların toplamı endişe verici bir sorun haline gelmektedir. Doğrusal ekonominin artan tehdit edici sonuçlarının farkında olan Avrupa Birliği (AB), hammadde çıkarımını azaltmak ve birincil malzemelerin geri dönüşümünü artırmak için Döngüsel Ekonomi (CE) modelini genişletme eğilimindedir. Bu makale, Döngüsel Ekonomi modelinin Avrupa’daki kapsamını ve gelişimini incelemektedir. Araştırma sorularımız şunlardır: AB ülkeleri ne kadar döngüseldir? Avrupa toplamında ve her AB üye ülkesinde döngüsellik oranı nedir? Döngüsel ekonomi modelini uygulamada hangi ülkeler daha başarılıdır ve geri dönüşüm ve yeniden kullanım için en önemli ve uygun sektörler hangileridir? Çalışmamızda öncelikle AB’deki politikaların analizi yapılmış olup, ilgili belge ve dokümanlar ile yasal çerçeve sunularak AB politika verileri incelenmiştir. Çalışmamızın nicel araştırma kısmında ise 2004 ile 2022 yılları arasında Avrupa genelindeki ve her AB ülkesindeki döngüsellik oranları değerlendirilmiş olup, döngüsel ekonominin Avrupa'daki başarıları sektörel bazda incelenmiştir. Neticede, Avrupa’da son yıllardaki nispeten yüksek ve yükselen döngüsellik seviyesine rağmen döngüsel ekonomideki büyüme oranının, AB'nin 2030 hedeflerine ulaşmak için yeterli olmadığı sonucuna varılmıştır.

Keywords

• Döngüsel Ekonomi
• Avrupa Birliği
• Avrupa Çevre Ajansı
• Sürdürülebilir Kalkınma
• Geri Dönüşüm

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