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Regulatory Elements on the Circular Economy: Driving into the Agri-Food System

Author

Listed:
  • Carla Zarbà

    (Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental (Di3A), University of Catania, Via S. Sofia No. 98-100, 95123 Catania, Italy)

  • Gaetano Chinnici

    (Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental (Di3A), University of Catania, Via S. Sofia No. 98-100, 95123 Catania, Italy)

  • Giovanni La Via

    (Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental (Di3A), University of Catania, Via S. Sofia No. 98-100, 95123 Catania, Italy)

  • Salvatore Bracco

    (Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental (Di3A), University of Catania, Via S. Sofia No. 98-100, 95123 Catania, Italy)

  • Biagio Pecorino

    (Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental (Di3A), University of Catania, Via S. Sofia No. 98-100, 95123 Catania, Italy)

  • Mario D’Amico

    (Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental (Di3A), University of Catania, Via S. Sofia No. 98-100, 95123 Catania, Italy)

Abstract

In the transition from linear production systems, unsustainable from the point of view of resources, to a model that finds strength in environmental, social and economic sustainability, the circular economy paradigm is the foundation that facilitates the planetary agro-ecological transition. The European Union has taken a number of steps (including the Circular Economy Package of Directives) shaping circularity as a wide-ranging driver measure involving many sectors. The paper intends to provide a regulatory framework on the current general situation regarding circularity in European Union, in order to extrapolate and give evidence to the aspects that intersect the agri-food sector. This is not only because they are poorly addressed in the literature, but also because there is a lack of regulatory instruments on the circular economy specifically addressing this area of interest. For this purpose, the analysis focuses on waste and residue/scrap management issues, recognized by law as by-products and end-of-waste status, as they are covered by circular economy legislation and as they can be applied to the agri-food sector. The latter allow the implementation of circularity strategies in the agri-food sector and, given the numerousness of production chains and the peculiarities of each of them, various regeneration and/or reuse processes of specific resources may be depicted. The intent is to provide useful knowledge on how to implement sustainable waste management, also proposing a concrete case on a by-product of olive oil processing, through which it is possible to highlight how the correct application of regulations favors the adoption of circular economic and management models in the firms involved, as well as informing the relevant economic operators on the possible profiles of legal liability that may arise from insufficient knowledge. Furthermore, this paper delves into the European Green Deal’s Strategy as it enriches the circular economy paradigm with new facets. NextGenerationEU and the National Recovery and Resilience Plan financially support this strategy in the aftermath of the socioeconomic crisis from COVID-19 in the EU Member States. This is in order to achieve the objective of achieving the agro-ecological transition.

Suggested Citation

  • Carla Zarbà & Gaetano Chinnici & Giovanni La Via & Salvatore Bracco & Biagio Pecorino & Mario D’Amico, 2021. "Regulatory Elements on the Circular Economy: Driving into the Agri-Food System," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(15), pages 1-22, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:15:p:8350-:d:602036
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Iotti, Mattia, 2023. "Financial evaluation and credit access of agricultural firms," Economia agro-alimentare / Food Economy, Italian Society of Agri-food Economics/Società Italiana di Economia Agro-Alimentare (SIEA), vol. 25(2), October.
    2. Carla Zarbà & Salvatore Bracco & Biagio Pecorino & Gioacchino Pappalardo & Gaetano Chinnici & Mario D’Amico, 2022. "Supporting Agri-Food SMEs in Italy in the Post-COVID-19 Context: From Horizon 2020 to Horizon Europe," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(13), pages 1-18, June.
    3. Mattia Iotti, 2023. "Financial evaluation and credit access of agricultural firms," Economia agro-alimentare, FrancoAngeli Editore, vol. 25(2), pages 31-67.
    4. Mattia Iotti & Giuseppe Bonazzi, 2023. "Financial Sustainability in Agri-Food Companies: The Case of Members of the PDO Parma Ham Consortium," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(5), pages 1-31, February.
    5. Marzia Ingrassia & Stefania Chironi & Giuseppe Lo Grasso & Luciano Gristina & Nicola Francesca & Simona Bacarella & Pietro Columba & Luca Altamore, 2022. "Is Environmental Sustainability Also “Economically Efficient”? The Case of the “SOStain” Certification for Sicilian Sparkling Wines," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(12), pages 1-26, June.
    6. Rocío González-Sánchez & Sara Alonso-Muñoz & María Sonia Medina-Salgado, 2023. "Circularity in waste management: a research proposal to achieve the 2030 Agenda," Operations Management Research, Springer, vol. 16(3), pages 1520-1540, September.
    7. Carla Zarb? & Gioacchino Pappalardo & Roberta Selvaggi & Biagio Pecorino, 2023. "The EU agri-food system in the recent crisis scenarios," Economia agro-alimentare, FrancoAngeli Editore, vol. 2023(3), pages 87-107.

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