Step-by-step Methodology for Case Studies on the Circular Economy

Publication: Infographic
Citation: Ecologic Institute (2018): Step-by-step Methodology for Case Studies on the Circular Economy. Infographic

This infographic provides guidelines to policy-makers, interest groups and researchers who want to explore the potential of circular-economy transitions by conducting case studies. It visualizes the step-by-by step methodology developed within the CIRCULAR IMPACTS project in an intuitive way. It also highlights the most important aspects to consider when preparing such case studies.

The infographic is licensed under a Creative Commons license CC BY-ND 4.0, i. e. it can be used without any changes if the author is mentioned. The infographic is part of a series of three infographics about the circular-economy in transition in Europe, developed by Ecologic Institute.

Macroeconomic and Societal Impacts of Mainstreaming the Circular Economy

Year 2018

Publication:Report

This report summarizes the results of the case studies in the CIRCULAR IMPACTS project and derives some main lessons from these case studies. The case studies are on concrete recycling, phosphorus recycling, car sharing, and recycling of batteries from electric vehicles.

Insights from the CIRCULAR IMPACTS Case Studies

Year 2018

Publication:Case Study

This case-study paper focuses on concrete recycling in France as a means of understanding circular-economy transitions in the building-materials sector. The EU, including France, produces large volumes of construction and demolition waste (CDW) per year and aims to increase the re-use of these materials, reducing landfilling and negative environmental impacts. Recycling concrete is seen as a way to contribute to these objectives by ensuring that a portion of this waste is turned into a product with value. Currently, France does not recycle CDW as much as some other Member States. This case study paper carries out a scenario analysis comparing two future scenarios for 2030, providing insights into important environmental and economic impacts of an increased concrete recycling rate in France.

Sustainable Building

A Case Study on Concrete Recycling in France

Year 2018

Publication:Case Study

This case-study paper examines future scenarios for car sharing in Germany, analysing drivers and impacts. Enabled by disruptive technological changes, car sharing is an example of a "product as a service" and becoming an increasingly viable alternative to the private ownership of cars. By intensifying the use of vehicles, car sharing has the potential to provide mobility using fewer physical and energy resources.

Car Sharing in Germany

A Case Study on the Circular Economy

Year 2018

Publication:Infographic

This infographic focuses on how the circular economy can be integrated into the European Semester. It illustrates the European Commission's role within the process and identifies obstacles to integration, along with possible suggestions to address these obstacles. Additionally, it provides a checklist for successful integration.

Integrating the Circular Economy into the European Semester

Year 2018

Publication:Infographic

This infographic illustrates the strengths and weaknesses of various methods for measuring the impacts of circular-economy transitions.

Methods for Measuring Impacts of Circular-economy Transitions

Year 2018

Event:Conference

The conference "Impacts of the circular economy transition in Europe" took place in Brussels on 5 September 2018, organised as part of the CIRCULAR IMPACTS project. Around 150 people attended the event, including officials from the European Commission, national ministries, the public sector, industry, and NGOs. Ecologic Institute, as project lead, and the CIRCULAR IMPACTS project partners presented their findings on the impacts of moving towards a more circular economy in Europe, one that uses resources efficiently and maintains the economic value of materials. In addition to discussing their insights regarding the policy frameworks necessary for fostering a resource-efficient economy, team members presented evidence on the impacts and potential benefits of moving towards circular-economy approaches in three sectors: electric-vehicle batteries, car sharing, and building materials.

Impacts of the Circular Economy Transition in Europe – CIRCULAR IMPACTS Final Conference

5 September 2018
Brussels, Belgium

Event:Workshop

The workshop "Car Sharing in Germany" took place on 8 March 2018, hosted in Berlin by Ecologic Institute. In the first part of the workshop experts addressed the current state of affairs of car sharing in Germany, confirming the dynamic nature of the industry and the difficulties involved in assessing its size and effects. In the second portion of the workshop they focused on future developments as well as the importance of policy for a societal transition away from privately owned vehicles. Ecologic Institute co-organized the workshop as part of the CIRCULAR IMPACTS project and in collaboration with Service Innovation Labs.

Car Sharing in Germany – Expert Workshop

8 March 2018
Berlin, Germany

Publication:Web Application

The CIRCULAR IMPACTS project website has been updated with an evidence library on the circular economy. The Circular Impacts online library created by Ecologic Institute centralized information related to the circular economy transition. The library helped policy professionals in conducting impact assessments on the transition to a circular economy. It was a useful resource for policy-makers, journalists, scientists, NGOs and anybody else interested in increasing their knowledge of circular-economy concepts. The library formed an integral part of the website and was an important project outcome.

CIRCULAR IMPACTS Online Library

Year 2016

Language: English
Credits: Concept: Aaron Best and Laurentius Duin (Ecologic Institute)
Graphic design: Arif Jensen (Ecologic Institute)
Funding: European Commission, Executive Agency for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (EASME), International
Year: 2018
Project: Measuring the IMPACTS of the Transition to the CIRCULAR Economy (CIRCULAR IMPACTS)
Project ID: 2809
Keywords: Communication

Indicators

Resource Conservation + Circular Economy

circular economy

Europe

design, layout, infographic, guideline, guidance

Further Links

PublicationInfographicIntegrating the Circular Economy into the European Semester

Ecologic Institute (2018): Integrating the Circular Economy into the European Semester. Infographic

PublicationInfographicMethods for Measuring Impacts of Circular-economy Transitions

This infographic illustrates the strengths and weaknesses of various methods for measuring the impacts of circular-economy transitions. The infographic is licensed under a Creative Commons license CC BY-ND 4.0, i. e. it can be used without any changes if the author... Read more

Ecologic Institute (2018): Methods for Measuring Impacts of Circular-economy Transitions. Infographic

PublicationWeb ApplicationCIRCULAR IMPACTS Online Library

Ecologic Institute 2016: CIRCULAR IMPACTS Online Library. URL: https://circular-impacts.eu/library

PublicationPolicy BriefCreating Networks for the Transition to a Bio-based and Circular Economy

BioSTEP-Politikpapier

After two years of research and stakeholder consultation, the BioSTEP consortium, led by Ecologic Institute, finalized the BioSTEP policy paper. This paper concludes five recommendations, aiming to support the revision of the European Bioeconomy Strategy. These... Read more

BioSTEP consortium (2017): Creating Networks for the Transition to a Bio-based and Circular Economy. BioSTEP Policy Paper.

PublicationReportThe Circular Economy

Transforming the linear economy, which has remained the dominant model since the onset of the Industrial Revolution, into a circular one is by no means an easy task. Such a radical change entails a major transformation of our current production and consumption patterns,... Read more

Rizos, Vasileios et. al. 2017: The Circular Economy. A Review of Definitions, Processes and Impacts.

PublicationPolicy BriefSelling Solar Services as a Contribution to a Circular Economy

The solar services sector sells the service of providing the use of solar electricity to its customer instead of selling solar PV systems (the product). This new business model can be seen as a radical innovation for the solar sector – as it is in other sectors. It is... Read more

Svatikova, K., I. Artola, S. Slingerland and S. Fischer (2015). Selling Solar Services as a Contribution to a Circular Economy. RECREATE Project Policy Brief No. 1.

EventConferenceImpacts of the Circular Economy Transition in Europe – CIRCULAR IMPACTS Final Conference

The conference 'Impacts of the circular economy transition in Europe' took place in Brussels on 5 September 2018, organised as part of the CIRCULAR IMPACTS project. Around 150 people attended the event, including officials from the European Commission, national... Read more

Conference:Impacts of the Circular Economy Transition in Europe – CIRCULAR IMPACTS Final Conference

Date: 5 September 2018
Location: Brussels, Belgium