Reumo
The genesis of environmental sustainability and the problem of the exploitation of natural resources are strongly related to the construction of the conventional economic model. Because over the centuries, sustainability has been viewed by society, companies, and governments as something to be achieved by different industrial models and from a linear perspective. However, when it comes to the environmental aspect, it is essential to recognize that any growth is linked to the biophysical environment, local, national, and global, so it affects economic development in several ways, as well as being impacted by it, the more growth increases.
Environmental sustainability is a theme that, as a proposal, seeks to redirect the process of building society to question the logic and premises that support and shape economic growth, which until then ignored ecological processes. Based on these premises, the core objective of any sustainable economy is to find opportunities and alternatives to make the economy work, considering the existence of limits on natural resources so that the market efficiently allocates investments following ecological and social restrictions.
The theme of sustainability naturally questions the current development model in which the environmental, social, and economic systems do not have the same relevance and consideration to generate a balance that would guarantee a viable model of sustainability. The circular economy is a regenerative chain model where care is taken to minimize losses and waste of materials and energy. It starts from the principle of a vision of integrating economic activity with social and environmental elements. In other words, it aims to generate environmental, economic, and social values.
A gap still highlights the need for studies investigating and presenting the barriers and challenges of adopting sustainable practices. Therefore, it is necessary to evaluate the primary studies and compare the evidence to examine which barriers prevent the implementation of a CE. So, what bottlenecks and challenges exist in a circular economy model? Therefore, the article aims to exemplify the main obstacles in implementing the circular economy and demonstrate the challenges of the circular economy model.
However, a brief explanation of its origins is needed before we begin to address the concept of a circular economy. In the same way as environmentalist movements, no date coined the circular economy concept since the concept comprises the sum of thinkers who sought to understand economic and ecological relationships within the premise of obtaining a harmonious balance.
Supported by these sustainable requirements, a new comprehensive business model emerges as a new alternative called the Circular Economy. CE is a proposal to achieve sustainability, intending to reduce waste, gas emissions, and energy expenditure. The circular economy model is based on transforming the linear pattern of take-make-use-dispose into closed cycles of material flows.
CE functions as an umbrella concept in that it brings together a wide range of waste and resource management strategies and focuses on their ability to extend the life of resources while generating value and preventing material loss and destruction. The diversity in the conceptual formation of CE and the scope of existing definitions encompassing all activities carried out in society may explain the need for more consensus among scholars regarding its interpretation.
Although the circular economy presents an unquestionable approach to addressing environmental sustainability, its implementation is not planned. Despite the potential gains, the implementation of CE occurs slowly in practice, and several barriers obstruct its actions.
Globally, the degree of circularity in the economy could be higher, and critics also highlight that current interpretations fail to deliver the promised results about the social dimension of sustainability. Instead, economic growth is elevated above more radical socio-environmental transformations.
Discussing the concept and its definition, which were covered in previous topics, is essential to analyze the barriers. Therefore, when understanding the comprehensive idea of the circular economy, including the macro, meso, and micro levels associated with production and consumption, it can be seen that the barriers to implementing CE strategies are diverse and complex.
It is essential to highlight that the identified barriers to CE may be exhaustive and vary from organization to organization and country to country. In addition to identifying these obstacles to implementation and proposed solutions, it is essential to create support networks between governmental and non-governmental organizations committed to promoting, regulating, and monitoring the implementation of CE.
The demographic increase, combined with the expansion of global consumption and the scarcity of resources available in contemporary times, outlines an unsustainable paradigm that is incapable of sustaining its premises, highlighting the imperative need to transition from the current economic model (extraction-production-disposal) to a more sustainable and resilient system.
Thus, we see that the challenges of CE require significant changes, both in society and companies, as well as in how public bodies plan and prioritize public policies. Therefore, the challenges permeate aspects of the systemic view on entropy and growth, the relationship between materials, energy, and biodiversity, measuring the impact of the circular economy, social and cultural governance, and alternative means of circularity.
The present study lists seven barriers that impact the implementation of CE, categorizing these barriers into four factors according to expert opinion and a detailed review of international literature. It is identified that the obstacles to the implementation of CE are market information, technology, incentives, legislation, management, public awareness, and performance evaluation. A critical analysis of an exemplary nature demonstrates which elements (characteristics) are evident within each of these bottlenecks, in addition to suggesting ways via supply networks to eliminate or mitigate these obstacles upstream and downstream in a production chain.
Research on CE is still in its infancy, and knowledge and practical studies are needed to determine which alternatives are necessary or sufficient for a CE to move forward. Based on the review and critical essay, a context of barriers to the circular economy prevails, and some challenges are highlighted. Therefore, both serve as a warning to develop a CE framework that considers socio-ecological and systemic aspects, so this article concludes that relevant research on CE barriers is an active field.