Circular Economy and the triple bottom line in Norway

Abstract A more circular economy aims to reduce global material consumption, make the most out of our resources, and create a sustainable economic system. In this paper, we analyze how different actions in Norway affect indicators three pillars development: prosperity (measured by value added), social equity employment opportunities), environmental protection greenhouse gas emissions). Based on priorities EU’s Circular Economy Action Plan characteristics Norwegian economy, have selected five chains for analysis: electronics; textiles; construction building; packaging plastics; metal efficiency. The results show that there is substantial potential increased added related transition, while at same time mitigating emissions. For efficiency (plastic packaging, metals), gains can be substantial, imports metals plastics decrease, resulting lower upstream emissions, but higher consumer goods (textiles, electronics), positive effects come about from shifting buy-and-discard model buy-repair/share/use longer model, decreased imports, which potentially leads also globally. re-use/re-purpose recycling building materials, emission-intense extraction processing activities are replaced labour intense activities, has largest decreasing emissions within Norway.