Circular economy: advancement of European Union countries

Abstract Background Circular economy (CE) is a development priority of the European Union and it part EU industrial strategy. The transition to more circular an essential contribution EU’s efforts develop sustainable, low carbon, resource-efficient competitive economy. author focuses her CE-related reflections research in this paper on macro-level (research subjects: 28 countries), level which least represented scholarly publications addressing CE (as follows from analysis literature Scopus database). This study aims fill gap partially. aim identify group EU-28 countries according their advancement towards indicators proposed by Commission were used for analysis. Given subjects after they concluded be most adequate. theoretical was based literature, whereas empirical work principal components analysis, hierarchical k-means clustering grade correspondence-cluster Results On basis research, existence “two-speed Europe” identified terms countries’ CE. Leading countries, those advanced pursuing operation principles, include Germany, Belgium, Spain, France, Italy, Netherlands United Kingdom. second pole accommodates transformation happening at slowest pace. includes mainly Central Eastern Europe south Europe. Conclusions Differentiated levels individual result inter alia adoption some latter different strategies economies’ transitioning (according recommendations ministers Environment Council June 2016) also differences occurring social economic (it mostly noticeable between EU-15 EU-13 countries). Unfortunately, as can effects obtained so far, only few adopted may considered effective meeting challenges Union’s standards.