THE CIRCULAR ECONOMY IN THE EUROPEAN UNION. The corporates responses through innovative strategies

The transformative capacity of the Circular Economy (CE) as a strategic solution to mitigating the current need for sustainability in Europe, is investigated across this research work. This research addresses how circular economic principles can evolve economic and business practices into a systemic shift from linear to regenerative models. It explores the embedding of circular economy in EU policy, policies across sectors that adopt circular business practices, and how new models are challenging traditional value creation paradigms. At the core of the research there is the question of how companies and policymakers can overcome existing barriers and capitalise the CE opportunities to create a sustainable and resilient economic future. Through a multidisciplinary approach, the thesis plots essentials drivers for successful implementation of CE such as regulatory support, technological innovation and collaborative frameworks. The results underscore the importance of further innovation and integrative actions among stakeholders to unlock the full potential of the CE with the aim of fostering economic growth and environmental sustainability.