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Papers
61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to The Circular Economy in EU Policy as a Response to Contemporary Ecological Challenges
ClearThe rate of use of the Circular Economy in individual sectors
Not relevant to microplastics — this paper reviews the adoption of circular economy principles across industrial sectors within the European Union policy framework, without specific focus on plastic pollution.
Plastic waste as a challenge for sustainable development and circularity in the European Union
This review examines the plastic waste crisis in the European Union, evaluating gaps between recycling policy ambitions and actual outcomes. It argues that without major improvements in waste management infrastructure and circular economy practices, plastics will continue to fragment into microplastics and contaminate European ecosystems.
The Commitment of Packaging Industry in the Framework of the European Strategy for Plastics in a Circular Economy
This paper reviews how the European packaging industry is responding to the EU's plastics strategy and circular economy goals, outlining commitments to increase recyclability, recycled content, and reduce single-use plastic items. It provides context for understanding how industry-level policy shapes the generation and management of plastic waste that ultimately contributes to microplastic pollution.
Global Plastic Pollution and the Transition Towards a Circular Economy: Lessons from the EU’s Legal Framework on Plastics
This paper reviews the EU legal framework on plastics and the transition toward a circular economy, examining how regulatory instruments including the Single-Use Plastics Directive and extended producer responsibility schemes can reduce the billions of tons of plastic waste generated annually.
European Circular Economy Policy-Making in Sustainability and Resource Management Development
This study analyzed the development of circular economy policy across EU countries using circularity indicators, finding that high circularity scores do not necessarily correlate with lower environmental impact. The EU as a whole consumes the majority of global materials and generates 43% of emissions, highlighting gaps between circularity metrics and actual sustainability.
Current Status of Circular Economy Research in Finland
This review surveys the state of circular economy research in Finland, covering academic, policy, and industry perspectives on transitioning away from the linear 'take-make-dispose' model. Circular economy principles are increasingly relevant to addressing plastic waste and microplastic pollution.
Gateway of Landfilled Plastic Waste Towards Circular Economy in Europe
This paper examines the challenges of recovering plastic from landfills in Europe and how it could contribute to a circular economy. Recovering and recycling landfilled plastics could reduce the environmental plastic burden, including microplastic generation from degrading landfill waste.
Plastic Waste and a Circular Economy in China
This review examines China's plastic waste management challenges and the country's progress toward implementing circular economy principles for plastic recovery and recycling. As one of the world's largest plastic producers and consumers, China's plastic waste policies have major global implications for the amount of plastic that ultimately becomes microplastics.
An Examination of Microplastics: Environmental Impact, Sustainability, and Recyclability Innovation
This paper examined the environmental impact of microplastics, sustainability implications of current plastic use, and recycling options to address the plastic pollution crisis. It called for a transition toward circular economy approaches that reduce primary plastic production and increase recycled content.
Macro and microplastic pollution in Romania: addressing knowledge gaps and potential solutions under the circular economy framework
This paper identifies knowledge gaps in macro- and microplastic pollution research in Romania and proposes solutions within a circular economy framework, covering issues such as littering rates, agricultural plastic, and freshwater contamination. The authors call for improved monitoring and waste management aligned with EU policy.
System innovation and life cycle thinking in packaging value chain: the circularity of plastics.
This paper examines the role of circular economy principles in reducing plastic packaging waste, noting that despite existing recycling systems, plastics remain pervasive environmental contaminants. The authors argue that redesigning packaging systems for recyclability and reducing over-packaging are essential steps to address microplastic pollution at its source.
European environment policy for the circular economy: Implications for business and industry stakeholders
This review evaluates recent European Union circular economy policies and their implications for businesses seeking to reduce environmental impact through sustainable production and supply chain practices. It identifies both opportunities and challenges for companies attempting to implement circular economy principles in compliance with new EU environmental directives.
Circular economy and reduction of micro(nano)plastics contamination
This review argues that transitioning to a circular economy — through better design, recycling infrastructure, and reducing single-use plastics — offers one of the most viable systemic pathways to reducing micro- and nanoplastic contamination of the environment.
The challenge of plastics in a circular perspective
This review examines the challenge of transitioning plastics into a circular economy, analyzing Italy as a case study and discussing recycling rates, waste management strategies, and the systemic changes needed to reduce plastic pollution while maintaining plastic's economic utility.
Advancing Circular Economy: Czech perspective
Not relevant to microplastics — this is a policy analysis article reviewing the Czech Republic's legislative and strategic efforts to transition toward a circular economy in line with EU frameworks.
Plastic Waste in Romania: Between European Union Commitments and Actual Realities
This systematic review examines Romania's plastic waste management challenges in meeting European Union circular economy goals. It finds significant gaps between EU recycling targets and actual national performance, with issues in waste collection infrastructure and policy enforcement. The findings highlight how plastic waste mismanagement contributes to environmental pollution, including microplastic contamination of water and soil.
An Integrated Analysis of Plastic Packaging Value Chain: Identifying Barriers and Enablers for a Circular Economy
Researchers analyzed the full plastic packaging value chain to identify barriers and enablers for transitioning to a circular economy, tracing the evolution of circular economy concepts and quantifying the environmental impacts associated with exponential plastic waste growth. The study provides an integrated framework mapping opportunities for intervention across production, use, collection, and recycling stages.
Plastics in the Circular Economy
This book examines the role of plastics in the circular economy, reviewing how the current linear plastics economy generates environmental problems including microplastic pollution from fossil oil use and unmanaged plastic waste. The authors assess circular economy strategies including recycling, biodegradable alternatives, and design for disassembly as pathways to maintain the benefits of plastics while reducing their environmental footprint.
Quantities of Recycled Plastic Waste in the EU and Croatia
This paper is not directly about microplastics research; it reviews plastic recycling quantities in the EU and Croatia, examining mechanical, chemical, and energy recovery methods and the progress of EU member states toward circular economy targets for plastic waste management.
Strategic pathways for sustainable plastic management through a circular economy approach in India
This paper analyzed strategic pathways for sustainable plastic waste management in India through a circular economy lens, examining the environmental and health risks posed by microplastics from inadequate plastic disposal. The authors identify policy, infrastructure, and behavioral interventions needed to reduce India's microplastic burden.
Recycling and Reusing Strategies to Prevent Microplastic Generation: a Review
This review examines recycling and reusing strategies for plastic materials as a means of preventing microplastic generation, grounding the analysis in circular economy principles emphasizing resource efficiency through repair, reuse, and recycling. The authors evaluate current methodologies and propose strategies to reduce plastic waste degradation into microplastics, linking waste management practices to pollution prevention outcomes.
Strategies for efficient management of microplastics to achieve life cycle assessment and circular economy
This review examines strategies for managing microplastic waste through a circular economy and life cycle assessment (LCA) lens, arguing that current recycling practices and waste disposal methods are inadequate given the sheer volume of plastics entering ecosystems. The authors propose a conceptual framework integrating LCA principles into microplastic management to better quantify ecological risks and guide more sustainable plastic use policies.
Regional Regression Correlation Model of Microplastic Water Pollution Control Using Circular Economy Tools
This meta-analysis pools data from European studies to build a model connecting microplastic water pollution to circular economy solutions. The research found that regions with stronger recycling and waste reduction policies tend to have lower levels of microplastic water contamination. This suggests that better plastic waste management through circular economy approaches could meaningfully reduce the microplastics that end up in our drinking water.
Are Reliable and Emerging Technologies Available for Plastic Recycling in a Circular Economy?
This review examines the current landscape of plastic recycling technologies -- including mechanical, thermal, chemical, and biological depolymerization methods such as pyrolysis -- evaluating their readiness for circular economy integration. It concludes that while recycling rates remain below 10% globally, emerging technologies offer pathways toward closed-loop plastic supply chains, though full-scale implementation requires further development and performance assessment.