CIRCULAR IMPACTS started in October 2016 and ran for two years. The project achieved the following main results:
• Theoretical structure - The project helped to create a theoretical structure for the circular economy that formed the foundation for the rest of the work to be conducted within CIRCULAR IMPACTS. The main associated markets were identified and a review of definitions, processes and impacts was published.
• Policy integration - The project helped establish better insight into the interplay of the European Semester and the circular economy, which was achieved by identifying and interviewing key stakeholders. The results were incorporated into a study elaborating on the position of the European Semester within the EU’s economic governance framework. Via a policy brief, infographics, various workshops and the final conference, the CIRCULAR IMPACTS team effectively disseminated project results among key audiences.
• Evidence base - The project identified information available on impact assessments for the circular economy and developed an online search tool that makes that information more easily available to policy-makers and other potential users, such as journalists, scientists and NGOs. The database of relevant evidence incorporates reports, indicators, models and other types of evidence and is available online at
http://circular-impacts.eu/library(s’ouvre dans une nouvelle fenêtre).
• Case studies - Four case studies were conducted: car sharing in Germany; recycled concrete in France; lithium-ion batteries in electric vehicles; and phosphorus recycling. The four case studies investigated the different economic process changes that could result from specific circular-economy transitions and identified what the likely economic, social and environmental impacts would be of such changes. The studies provide both policy-makers and the public with a better understanding of not only what the circular economy is, but also what its potential benefits are.
• Future scenarios - The project also looked at the future of the circular economy, and described some of the different types of scenario analysis that have been used to predict the economic, social and environmental impacts of different circular economy opportunities. Examples of such are scenarios based on specific technological measures, scenarios based on resource-efficiency targets and scenarios based on specific policy measures. The project conducted an extensive review of the macroeconomic modelling literature regarding economic, social and environmental impacts of circular-economy transitions, combining quantitative results into an overview for practitioners and policymakers that compares the methods used.
