Drivers and Barriers to the Circular Economy Transition: the Case of Recycled Plastics in the Automotive Sector in the European Union

The circular economy aims to decouple growth from environmental impacts by optimizing resource use, minimizing waste and pollution. European Union (EU) has the ambition lead a transition on global level. Realizing is complex, because it requires substantial interconnected changes in current system. Previous literature identified main drivers barriers economy, categorizing them as technical, economic, regulatory cultural. Despite its relevance, this broad focus, not taking into account characteristics of specific industry sectors. More granular insight essential overcome barriers, while leveraging drivers. To end, research focusing these within sectors emerging. However, date, recent limited, leaving large critical knowledge gap still be addressed. In study, we focus EU automotive sector. Specifically, context on-going review end-of-life vehicles (ELV) directive, are carrying out an investigation for increasing uptake recycled plastics embedded new put market. Through analysis in-depth interviews with key stakeholders (including vehicle manufacturers, suppliers, recyclers, experts associations) outline value chain sector, identifying explaining recycling. paper present some initial results ongoing effort. From practice perspective, contribute better understanding how advance circularity theory illustrate may at sectoral This provide future studies methodological blueprint replicate work other sectors, way continue addressing aforementioned gap.