Promoting circular economy transition: A study about perceptions and awareness by different stakeholders groups

Abstract The interest into Circular Economy (CE), mainly emerged recently in response to climate change, environmental damage, and the limits of a linear economy, requires a deeper investigation on how the concept and its transition process are perceived in the society. In the present explorative study (questionnaire survey), we evaluate the perception and level of awareness of three stakeholder groups with a good knowledge on CE concept and governance of the transition process, specifically: Researchers, Economists, and Administrators. The three samples contain stakeholders from EU and non-EU countries. We developed primarily a comprehensive literature review on CE perceptions and awareness useful for the design of the questionnaire, the comparison of the results and in overall for creating a wider framework of analysis and interpretation of the current CE transition. The questionnaire has been tested on one of the three samples (Researchers) and then replicated on the other two ones (Economists and Administrators). The results of the survey shows that the three groups perceive CE as a "zero waste economy" (Administrators) and in wider terms as a model for re-design our present state of economy and society in a more regenerative manner (Researchers and Economists). Administrators seem more focused on utilizing CE for economic growth and job creation while Researchers and Economists mainly expect receiving environmental benefits from the CE transition. The three groups share a common vision of CE at its initial stage of the transition process in agree with the relevant literature. In that, a more successful advance of CE depends on the governance of the process by key actors and instruments. Researchers emphasize a more holistic top-down approach while Economists and Administrators expect a bottom-up approach guided by the civil society (companies and citizens/consumers). However, these results complement each other's as all the actors are relevant for fostering CE and a mixed set of instruments is needed. Moreover, given that implementation of CE is costly for consumers and companies, the political intervention has a leading role in this initial phase also in disseminating a positive and sustainable image of CE concept and model. At this regard the support of CE research to such intervention is highly important to develop a CE path in line with all the three principles of sustainable development, the desired outcome of the society and capable of facing the current unprecedent environmental challenges

Social and Environmental Assessment of a Solidarity Oriented Energy Community: A Case-Study in San Giovanni a Teduccio, Napoli (IT)

Renewable energy communities (RECs) are alternatives toward sustainable production and consumption pathways. In 2020, Italy implemented the EU Directive 2018/2001, defining a common framework for promoting energy from renewable sources. The “Famiglia di Maria”, a foundation dealing with social issues in San Giovanni a Teduccio, Napoli (Italy), in collaboration with “Legambiente” and “Con il Sud” Foundations, released the first Solidarity Oriented Renewable Energy Community project in Italy. Therefore, by applying social life cycle assessment (s-LCA) and life cycle assessment (LCA) methodologies, this study aims to: (i) promote the dissemination of RECs in the Italian and European contexts, (ii) suggest REC scenarios for the best social and environmental solutions, and (iii) support the policymakers for sustainable local development. Some key results show that the solidarity-oriented project has already produced mature outcomes about community cohesion. In contrast, technical skills and awareness about environmental issues still need to be further developed and shared among the stakeholders. Finally, social and environmental indicators converge on the self-consumption model as a feasible alternative for energy justice, community empowerment, and economic and market competition independence

Evaluating Environmental and Energy Performance Indicators of Food Systems, within Circular Economy and “Farm to Fork” Frameworks

This study proposes a framework of environmental and energy performance indicators identified and critically evaluated within the scientific literature and the Agricultural European Database for the monitoring and evaluation of the Common Agricultural Policy of the European Union. The identified set of performance indicators encompasses the whole life cycle of agri-food systems from primary production stage until end-of-life stage in agreement with the circular economy and EU “farm to fork strategy” frameworks. In particular, the practices/goals/targets suggested in the latter (e.g., organic farming goals, more relevance assigned to plant-based diets, support for the creation of short supply chains, and reduction in food losses and waste) have guided the search for the main topics of interest in our analysis and the associated environmental and energy indicators. The results of this study evidence a proposed set of performance indicators selected from the literature among LCA and non-LCA indicators (midpoint LCA impacts, cumulative energy use, emergy accounting, and material flow accounting, among others) that could be helpful in integrating the EU CAP indicators for monitoring and evaluating efforts and achieved results toward implementing and controlling the effectiveness of the adopted “farm to fork” policy and related legislative measures, as well as the application of the circular economy model

Socioeconomic and Environmental Benefits of Expanding Urban Green Areas: A Joint Application of i-Tree and LCA Approaches

Green infrastructures deliver countless functions for counteracting climate change, air pollution, floods, and heat islands, contributing at the same time to water and carbon recycling as well as to renewable energies and feedstock provisioning. Properly addressing such environmental problems would require huge investments that could be decreased thanks to the further implementation of urban forests. Local administrations are designing participative projects to improve territories and their living conditions. The i-Tree Canopy modelling tool and the life cycle assessment method are jointly applied to evaluate the potential benefits of increasing tree coverage within the boundaries of the Metropolitan City of Naples, Southern Italy. Results highlighted that tree coverage could increase by about 2.4 million trees, thus generating 51% more benefits in pollutants removal, carbon sequestration and stormwater management. The benefits are also explored and confirmed by means of the life cycle assessment method. The potential tree cover is expected to provide a total annual economic benefit of USD 55 million, purchasing power parity value adjusted, representing USD 18 per citizen and USD 99,117 per square kilometre of implemented urban forest. These results can support a potential replication elsewhere and provide a reference for the sustainable improvement of cities by expanding urban green areas

Socioeconomic and Environmental Benefits of Expanding Urban Green Areas: A Joint Application of i-Tree and LCA Approaches

Green infrastructures deliver countless functions for counteracting climate change, air pollution, floods, and heat islands, contributing at the same time to water and carbon recycling as well as to renewable energies and feedstock provisioning. Properly addressing such environmental problems would require huge investments that could be decreased thanks to the further implementation of urban forests. Local administrations are designing participative projects to improve territories and their living conditions. The i-Tree Canopy modelling tool and the life cycle assessment method are jointly applied to evaluate the potential benefits of increasing tree coverage within the boundaries of the Metropolitan City of Naples, Southern Italy. Results highlighted that tree coverage could increase by about 2.4 million trees, thus generating 51% more benefits in pollutants removal, carbon sequestration and stormwater management. The benefits are also explored and confirmed by means of the life cycle assessment method. The potential tree cover is expected to provide a total annual economic benefit of USD 55 million, purchasing power parity value adjusted, representing USD 18 per citizen and USD 99,117 per square kilometre of implemented urban forest. These results can support a potential replication elsewhere and provide a reference for the sustainable improvement of cities by expanding urban green areas

Perception and awareness of circular economy options within sectors related to agriculture in Argentina

European Commission via the Horizon 2020-MSCA-RISE-2018 Program, under Project Nº 823967 named “Promoting circular economy in the supply chain” (ProCEedS). -- European Commission’s research program Horizon 2020-SC5-2020-2 scheme, Grant Agreement 101003491 (JUST Transition to the Circular Economy project).The current socio-economic model based on a linear approach is being challenged by resource scarcity, negative environmental impacts and socio-economic constraints. Consequently, cycling approaches or circular economy (CE) paradigm is gaining attention. Business as usual is no longer possible and the model and criteria proposed by circular economy are a sustainable alternative that effectively couples natural with human-made systems. A model in which citizens in each of their social roles have a lot to say and do. However, implementation in Argentina is very slow and it is only applied at some level by companies or in urban residues recycling in a small number of cities. Additionally, social skepticism and lack of information about what circular economy embraces is still perceived. The objective of this exploratory paper is to identify the present level of awareness, the current situation and the expectations regarding the transition towards a circular economy approach within Argentina's agricultural sectors based on an opinion and perception survey. The aim of the study is to establish a baseline understanding and an interpretative framework to aid researchers and policymakers in promoting and increasingly implementing circular economy criteria in specific sectors. The study analyzes by a descriptive statistic a survey (n = 534) of selected actors related to the agricultural sector, i.e., farmers, agronomists (including agricultural engineers, veterinarians, and biologists), agrifood companies, and also directly related sectors, such as education and public administration. The anonymous questionnaire was divided into three parts: i) demographic characterization, ii) general awareness about transition towards circular economy (concept, current situation, features, advantages, drivers, obstacles and governance) within the region where the respondent operates, and iii) specific aspects within each selected sector. Results showed that the selected sectors perceived a common vision about the concept of CE “as a more sustainable production and consumption model”, and with some differences, they have mainly sensed that the transformation process is still both not initiated and at its initial steps. Respondents selected to focus on recycling/reusing as well as on the integration between productive units. Political, economic and environmental awareness as well as technological skills have been chosen as barriers. Consequently, they chose to invest on education and research, noticing the citizens/society as the main agent of transformation. Since the challenge is to find organized and progressive steps to build interactions, programs, actions and legislation to favor the integral (between sectors) and internal (within a sector) transition, indicators for monitoring as well as policies, priorities and perspectives have been highlighted to contribute to boost the transformation towards a circularity approach.EEA OliverosFil: Rotolo, Gloria Claudia. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Oliveros; ArgentinaFil: Vassillo, C. University of Naples Federico II. Department of Agriculture; ItaliaFil: Rodriguez Aranza, Ailén. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Oliveros; ArgentinaFil: Rodriguez, A.A. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Magnano, Luciana. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Oliveros; ArgentinaFil: Milo Vaccaro, Marcelo. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Oliveros; ArgentinaFil: Civit, Bárbara. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Civit, Bárbara. Universidad Tecnológica Nacional. Sede Mendoza; ArgentinaFil: Covacevich, Melina Soledad. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Oliveros; ArgentinaFil: Arena, Alejandro Pablo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Arena, Alejandro Pablo. Universidad Tecnológica Nacional. Sede Mendoza; ArgentinaFil: Ulgiati, Sergio. Parthenope University of Naples. Department of Science and Technology; Itali