Implementing the Circular Economy for Sustainable Development

Implementing the Circular Economy for Sustainable Development presents the concept of the circular economy with the goal of understanding its present status and how to better implement it, particularly through environmental policies. It first tackles the definition of a circular economy in the context of sustainability and the differences in defining the concept across disciplines, including its fallibilities and practical examples. It then goes on to discuss the implementation of a circular economy, including the increasing variety of technological, mechanical, and chemical procedures to contend with and the need for stakeholder support in addition to improved business models.

The second half of the book, therefore, presents tools, approaches, and practical examples of how to shape environmental policy to successfully implement a circular economy. It analyzes deficiencies of current regulations and lays the groundwork for the design of integrated environmental policies for a circular economy.

Authored by an expert in environmental economics with decades of experience, Implementing the Circular Economy for Sustainable Development is a timely, practical guide for sustainability researchers and policymakers alike to move more efficiently toward a circular economy and sustainable development.

Presents a clear view of the critical components, features, and issues of a circular economyDiscusses a variety of practical examples from current policies in the context of a circular economy to better understand the challenges associated with its implementationAnalyzes strengths and weaknesses of current environmental policies and their interactions with innovations in engineering and science

1. Introduction

Part I: The Circular Economy – Concept and Facts 2. The Circular Economy – Understanding the Concept 3. The Circular Economy in Literature and Practice 4. Circular Economy – A Hierarchy of Leaders and Followers 5. Environmental Regulations with a View on the Circular Economy Part II: Integrating the Economy and the Environment 6. Economic Foundation of a Circular Economy 7. Allocating Environmental Commodities 8. Behavioural Environmental Economics 9. The Economics of Implementing a Circular Economy Part III: The Circular Economy in a Technological Context 10. The Technological Environment of a Circular Economy 11. Technology and Information 12. The Rebound Effect and Path Dependencies 13. The Digital Transformation – An Ongoing Process

Part IV: Features of Environmental Policies 14. Environmental Policies for Implementing a Circular Economy 15. Environmental Standards 16. Market-Oriented Policy Tools 17. Holistic Policy Approaches 18. The Economics of the Waste Hierarchy Part V: Implementing a Circular Economy 19. Where are We on the Road to a Circular Economy? 20. Packaging Waste in a Circular Economy 21. WEEE and ELV in a Circular Economy 22. Climate Change Mitigation in a Circular Economy 23. Plastics in a Circular Economy 24. Textiles in a Circular Economy

Part VI: Concluding Remarks 25. Circular Economy - A Summary in Times of Corona