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The objective of this paper is to analyze the extent to which the system of indicators that is used in the Monitoring Framework for the transition to the circular economy (CE) is efficient and relevant in their contribution to the sustainable development of European communities. The fundaments of the transition framework and the main characteristics of the circularity indicators are presented. A critical review was performed in order to fulfill the objective of analyzing the current indicators. It is concluded that the indicators in the current framework are (as a selection from a very broad range of indicators theoretically proposed and with estimated practical applicability) limited from the perspective of circularity only to waste generation and recycling processes containing recyclable materials, without including important circularity indicators related to the prolonging and extending the life cycle of products and materials. This paper proposes and defines such an indicator, based on the consideration of the fundamental scalars describing economy, mass, energy, time, and value, respectively. The indicator is described and its applicability in all the phases of the economy is estimated.
Roxana Lavinia Pacurariu; Sorin Daniel Vatca; Elena Simina Lakatos; Laura Bacali; Mircea Vlad. A Critical Review of EU Key Indicators for the Transition to the Circular Economy. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 2021, 18, 8840 .
AMA StyleRoxana Lavinia Pacurariu, Sorin Daniel Vatca, Elena Simina Lakatos, Laura Bacali, Mircea Vlad. A Critical Review of EU Key Indicators for the Transition to the Circular Economy. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2021; 18 (16):8840.
Chicago/Turabian StyleRoxana Lavinia Pacurariu; Sorin Daniel Vatca; Elena Simina Lakatos; Laura Bacali; Mircea Vlad. 2021. "A Critical Review of EU Key Indicators for the Transition to the Circular Economy." International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 18, no. 16: 8840.
Currently, there are many different interpretations in the literature of what a circular economy is and how it functions. As cities are still facing challenges to become fully sustainable, the need for a comprehensive analysis of how the circular economy can be implemented in urban areas is increasing. This article aims at outlining circular cities by their key characteristics and to further explore and provide a framework for fostering circularity at the city level. In order to achieve this goal, we performed a systematic review and analyzed key papers published in the field of circular economy to determine how circular economy practices form circular cities. We discovered that cities play a focal role in facilitating the transition towards circularity through the closing of the loops, recirculation, technical innovation, policy elaboration and citizens’ support. However, city policymakers are still uncertain about how a circular city looks like and what its purpose is, as views are ranging from a strategic ambition to a niche concept of a smart city. Such uncertainty brings challenges, especially in the transition phase that many cities are in at the moment. This further implies that circular economy applied at the urban level still needs effort and innovation to successfully pass the transition phase from the linear economy. Therefore, lastly, we developed a framework model that can be adapted in other cities to facilitate their transition to circular cities.
Elena Lakatos; Geng Yong; Andrea Szilagyi; Dan Clinci; Lucian Georgescu; Catalina Iticescu; Lucian-Ionel Cioca. Conceptualizing Core Aspects on Circular Economy in Cities. Sustainability 2021, 13, 7549 .
AMA StyleElena Lakatos, Geng Yong, Andrea Szilagyi, Dan Clinci, Lucian Georgescu, Catalina Iticescu, Lucian-Ionel Cioca. Conceptualizing Core Aspects on Circular Economy in Cities. Sustainability. 2021; 13 (14):7549.
Chicago/Turabian StyleElena Lakatos; Geng Yong; Andrea Szilagyi; Dan Clinci; Lucian Georgescu; Catalina Iticescu; Lucian-Ionel Cioca. 2021. "Conceptualizing Core Aspects on Circular Economy in Cities." Sustainability 13, no. 14: 7549.