European Circular Economy Plan influence on real economy performances: a mixed methods study

Abstract

The issue of sustainability has become increasingly central to political and economic debates since the beginning of this century. The data that emerge regarding the impact of humanity on the environment is sadly dramatic; they are unmistakable signs of how the linear model of development, which has characterized the last century, is unsustainable for a long-term environmental and economic balance. In this complex context, however, we now have a new model of development based on the principle of collaboration, thus reducing competitive relations; a model that values cross-sectoral relations and promotes an economy of dialogue, of harmonization between industries, territory and consumption: The Circular Economy. In this new development model, the European Union is investing a lot in order to convert its productive system and favour more economic integration between the member countries. This dissertation aims to explore how European Circular Economy plans influenced the development of circular practices by four selected Italian companies in different sectors. The methodology that I selected to develop my research is both qualitative and quantitative. The data for this project come from primary and secondary legislative, statistical and reporting sources of European institutions, foundations and universities with a particular focus on data collected since 2015, the year of adoption of the first Plan for the European Circular Economy. In order to present a closer and more precise idea of companies’ perceptions and roles in the circularity transformation, I used the interview method. The final document aims to be a political and economic analysis of how far Europe has managed to implement to constitute a circular development path and how these solutions have been favourable for the development of new business models.