The circular economy is a new emerging economic response capable of replacing growth models that are centered on a linear vision, aiming for a reduction of waste and of virgin raw materials and a radical rethinking of products and their use over time. It is an important challenge for both the production system and for society as a whole. The main requirement is the adoption of production and consumption processes that are in line with a sustainable, conscious, efficient, and well-aimed management of the planet’s resources. Moreover, circular economy activities produce positive social value through the creation of new job opportunities, reduction of the environmental impact of production and raising of awareness of the role of business in the ecosystem.
Recently, the theme of sustainability and the Circular Economy has been highlighted due to the empirical data that confirms the environmental emergency is a global issue. People seem increasingly aware of the worsening conditions of our planet and there is a rising desire to become more responsible in our daily actions.
The Paris Agreement of 2015 between the member states of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), regarding greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reductions, and finance, went into effect in 2020 and was signed by 183 members of the UNFCCC. The long-term goal of the Paris Agreement is to contain the global average temperature increase to reduce the risks and effects of climate change. In addition, commitments from EU, UK, China, USA, and other governments to reduce emissions and mitigate climate changes also increased through the actions taken to counter the economic crisis resulting from the Covid-19 pandemic. Keeping the value of a material in the economy as long as possible, using secondary raw materials instead of virgin ones, reducing waste production and improving the eco-efficiency of productive processes can help in the reduction of the GHG emissions generated during the supply chain of virgin materials and waste treatments. Thus, the Circular Economy is one of the most appropriate ways to achieve the ambitious goal of reducing the impact on climate change.
Agriculture is a crucial sector for the green transition and the efficiency and circularity of the agro-food system is one of the prerequisites to achieving sustainability. This collection is therefore focused on finding and developing innovative ideas about the principles of the circular economy in the Agro-Food System (technological innovations, strategies and general knowledge, from production and harvest, to processing, marketing, distribution, consumption, recycling and disposal). Emphasis is placed on contributions that produce a wide-ranging view of the circular economy in the Agro-Food System and its interactions with political, markets and businesses, environmental (particularly climate change) and social justice dimensions. Moreover, this collection will welcome submissions that study the Circular Economy and its effects in different multi-scalar contexts (political, social, economic and environmental) and at different levels (global, regional and local).
The circular economy is a new emerging economic response capable of replacing growth models that are centered on a linear vision, aiming for a reduction of waste and of virgin raw materials and a radical rethinking of products and their use over time. It is an important challenge for both the production system and for society as a whole. The main requirement is the adoption of production and consumption processes that are in line with a sustainable, conscious, efficient, and well-aimed management of the planet’s resources. Moreover, circular economy activities produce positive social value through the creation of new job opportunities, reduction of the environmental impact of production and raising of awareness of the role of business in the ecosystem.
Recently, the theme of sustainability and the Circular Economy has been highlighted due to the empirical data that confirms the environmental emergency is a global issue. People seem increasingly aware of the worsening conditions of our planet and there is a rising desire to become more responsible in our daily actions.
The Paris Agreement of 2015 between the member states of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), regarding greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reductions, and finance, went into effect in 2020 and was signed by 183 members of the UNFCCC. The long-term goal of the Paris Agreement is to contain the global average temperature increase to reduce the risks and effects of climate change. In addition, commitments from EU, UK, China, USA, and other governments to reduce emissions and mitigate climate changes also increased through the actions taken to counter the economic crisis resulting from the Covid-19 pandemic. Keeping the value of a material in the economy as long as possible, using secondary raw materials instead of virgin ones, reducing waste production and improving the eco-efficiency of productive processes can help in the reduction of the GHG emissions generated during the supply chain of virgin materials and waste treatments. Thus, the Circular Economy is one of the most appropriate ways to achieve the ambitious goal of reducing the impact on climate change.
Agriculture is a crucial sector for the green transition and the efficiency and circularity of the agro-food system is one of the prerequisites to achieving sustainability. This collection is therefore focused on finding and developing innovative ideas about the principles of the circular economy in the Agro-Food System (technological innovations, strategies and general knowledge, from production and harvest, to processing, marketing, distribution, consumption, recycling and disposal). Emphasis is placed on contributions that produce a wide-ranging view of the circular economy in the Agro-Food System and its interactions with political, markets and businesses, environmental (particularly climate change) and social justice dimensions. Moreover, this collection will welcome submissions that study the Circular Economy and its effects in different multi-scalar contexts (political, social, economic and environmental) and at different levels (global, regional and local).