Sustainability, circular economy and bioeconomy: A conceptual review and integration into the notion of sustainable circular bioeconomy

Abstract

National legislation and international regulations are pushing societies to become more sustainable while meeting socio-economic demands. People are becoming more aware of their environmental impact and want more sustainable products and processes. However, the terminology around sustainability, circular economy and bioeconomy can be unclear and there is confusion about their boundaries and interpretation. This article aims to contribute to the ongoing discourse within the scientific community by providing a clear and widely accepted definition of a sustainable circular bioeconomy, as well as insights and policy recommendations to facilitate its development into practice. The sustainable circular bioeconomy is combination of circular economy and bioeconomy concepts that can contribute toachieving sustainability. The adoption of this concept can significantly contribute to the achievement of sustainable development goals related to responsible consumption and production, industry, innovation and infrastructure, poverty reduction, social equity and environmental protection.