The circular economy: a strategy to reconcile economic and environmental objectives?

David Lazarevic and Miguel Brandão

Chapter 2 in Handbook of the Circular Economy, 2020, pp 8-27 from Edward Elgar Publishing

Abstract: At the turn of the 21st century, the ‘circular economy’ was a relatively unknown term. Twenty-five years later, it is hard to find a policy document, at least in Asia or Europe, related to the environment or natural resources that does not mention the circular economy. The circular economy is the linguistic antonym of the ‘linear economy’; it has been presented by some as a solution to reconcile economic growth with the unsustainable use of natural resources and the negative environmental impact of today’s production and consumption systems. This chapter provides a general overview of what this circular economy is and what it aims to achieve. The circular economy is framed by many of its promoters as a strategy to deliver the decoupling of resource use and environmental impact from economic growth. This aim is discussed from an ecological economic and industrial ecology perspectives.

Keywords: Economics and Finance; Environment; Geography; Politics and Public Policy (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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