Title: Influence of EU circularity indicators through fuzzy AHP approach

Authors: Teodoro Gallucci; Georgi Marinov; Vesselina Dimitrova; Giovanni Lagioia; Antonella Biscione

Addresses: University of Bari Aldo Moro, L.go Abbazia S. Scolastica, 53 – 70124 Bari, Italy ' University of Economics-Varna, 77, Kniaz Boris I Blvd., Varna, 9002, Bulgaria ' University of Economics-Varna, 77, Kniaz Boris I Blvd., Varna, 9002, Bulgaria ' University of Bari Aldo Moro, L.go Abbazia S. Scolastica, 53 – 70124 Bari, Italy ' Catholic University 'Our Lady of the Good Counsel', Rruga Dritan Hoxha, Tiranë 1000 (ALB), Albania

Abstract: In line with the EU's goal of climate neutrality by 2050 set out in the green deal, the European Commission has proposed a new action plan for the circular economy development. The goal is to identify specific indicators able to provide a measure of circularity at a macro level. The objective of this study is to contribute to this effort by determining the most relevant criteria that business and academic experts can use to identify additional sub-criteria for the degree of circularity of the economy at a macro level. To this end, the study considers four macro indicators and 15 sub-indicators taken from the Eurostat circularity indicators database. The fuzzy AHP analysis has been used to rank indicators and sub-indicators. The proposed study highlights that the main criteria, exhibiting a vast potential to influence the circular economy, are the indicators 'competitiveness and innovation' for academic respondents and 'secondary raw materials' for business respondents, while patents related to recycling and secondary raw materials are the most significant sub-indicators.

Keywords: circular economy; fuzzy AHP; environmental indicators; circularity assessment.

DOI: 10.1504/IJSE.2024.135202

International Journal of Sustainable Economy, 2024 Vol.16 No.1, pp.67 - 89

Received: 16 May 2022
Accepted: 10 Aug 2022
Published online: 02 Dec 2023 *