A Novel Framework to Measure Circularity Trade-offs and Synergies in the Global Context

A growing attention has been given to understanding the social, economic and environmental impacts of circular economy (CE) strategies at national and regional levels. However, the potential trade-offs and synergies involved in a CE transition remain underexplored. This paper presents a novel framework designed to measure these trade-offs and synergies through three key dimensions: impact, geography, and sector. This step-wise, multi-dimensional approach enables a detailed analysis of circularity challenges and benefits. To illustrate the framework’s application, a hypothetical scenario was developed on CE strategies within the agriculture sector, focusing on trade-offs and synergies between two regions — the European Union and Latin America & the Caribbean. This framework contributes to a better understanding of potential winners and losers in a global circularity transition, and supports policymakers in interpreting CE scenarios effectively.

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Glenn A. Aguilar-Hernandez^{[1] [2][*]}

[1] Institute of Environmental Sciences (CML), Leiden University, The Netherlands

[2] Academia de Centroamérica, Costa Rica

^[*]Corresponding author: [email protected]