Circular Economy as a Catalyst for Progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals: A Positive Relationship between Two Self-Sufficient Variables

Juan-Manuel Valverde and Carmen Avilés-Palacios
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Juan-Manuel Valverde: Escuela Tecnica Superior de Ingenieria de Montes, Forestal y del Medio Natural, Universidad Politecnica de Madrid, Jose Antonio Novais, 10, 28040 Madrid, Spain
Carmen Avilés-Palacios: Escuela Tecnica Superior de Ingenieria de Montes, Forestal y del Medio Natural, Universidad Politecnica de Madrid, Jose Antonio Novais, 10, 28040 Madrid, Spain

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 22, 1-16

Abstract: Governments, civil society organisations and companies have expressed an interest in contributing to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, but incorporating these goals into their strategies and activities is not an easy task. This study aims to provide information on the role of circular economy as a tool to boost progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals to assist these different stakeholders in their quest to attain the goals. Using heuristic methodology, a review of the existing literature was conducted to explore the relationship between the two terms. Specific attention was paid to the development goals with the highest interdependence with circular economy: Sustainable Development Goal 6 (Clean Water), 8 (Decent work), 12 (Responsible consumption and production) and 15 (Life on land). Having identified the reciprocal relationships between the two variables, the results of the literature review were then analysed to explore their possible self-sufficiency. The findings of the study are intended to assist stakeholders in incorporating the SDGs into their corporate sustainability strategies.

Keywords: circular economy; sustainable development goals; sustainability (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (11)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:22:p:12652-:d:680211

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