Circular Economy towards Sustainable Development: A Review of U.S., E.U., and China’s Polices

Abstract

The “circular economy” is a concept embraced by policymakers in the European Union and China. It represents a recognition of growing global environmental challenges, including climate change, and the externalities costs of waste. In this review paper, the authors compare the nascent policy efforts to define and operationalize the circular economy in the EU, China, and the United States (US), the major global economies. We begin by comparing how each entity defines circular economy, finding widely varying and ambiguous concepts, then turn to macro-level or economy-wide policies. Here we find notable efforts to spread principles. In the EU, such efforts are taking the form of new global standards and regulations, while in China they are in the form of goals for industrial waste reduction at the provincial level. The US is notable for its lack of action at the national level. The real activity in the US around circular economy transformation appears to be happening at the meso - or industry-level. The authors compared policies and strategies of circular economy and challenges, we find out that the E.U. has adopted the circular economy since 1950 and are way ahead the U.S. and China. I therefore, suggest recommendations for international cooperation among U.S, E.U. and China to promote circular economy in these regions and; spreading circular concepts to ensure adequate societal support to accept the consumption changes required.