Circular Economy Practices in the European Union (EU): Lessons for Global Sustainable Development
Circular Economy Practices in the European Union (EU): Lessons for Global Sustainable Development

Author(s): Minh Huy Chu, Tue Anh Nguyen, Minh Anh Nguyen
Subject(s): Politics / Political Sciences, Politics, Economy, Energy and Environmental Studies, Governance, Economic policy, EU-Approach / EU-Accession / EU-Development, Socio-Economic Research, Green Transformation
Published by: Университет за национално и световно стопанство (УНСС)
Keywords: Circular economy; European Union; sustainability; global development; SDGs
Summary/Abstract: The European Union (EU) has emerged as a pioneer in embedding Circular Economy (CE) principles into economic and environmental policy, aiming to decouple growth from resource depletion. This paper examines the EU’s circular economy strategies through an analysis of regulatory frameworks, industry-specific initiatives, and cross-border cooperation. Methodologically, it employs a comparative case study approach, focusing on sectors such as manufacturing, packaging, and renewable energy, to assess how CE practices contribute to waste reduction, resource efficiency, and low-carbon development. The findings demonstrate that the EU’s integrated model – anchored in the Circular Economy Action Plan and aligned with the European Green Deal – provides valuable insights into governance, innovation, and stakeholder collaboration. The study further discusses the scalability of EU experiences to non-European contexts, considering institutional, cultural, and economic differences. The paper concludes that EU’s CE practices offer both a blueprint and a set of adaptable lessons for global sustainable development, particularly in advancing the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

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