Circular economy as a strategy in European automotive industries to achieve

Hernandez, Monica del Angel; Bakthavatchaalam, Venkat

Abstract

The automotive industry is reported as being one of the main contributors to the global environmental crisis, thus
requiring a radical shift in the way they perform business-as-usual (UNFCCC, 2018). The UN and a growing number of
studies hail Circular Economy as a holistic economic model that is expected to minimise human’s impact on the
environment and the resources (UN, 2021; Desing et al., 2021). This study aims to develop a model and to provide a set
of recommendations for the automotive supply-chain and policy-makers to enable their transition, acceleration and to
boost the adoption of CE. Interviews were conducted with stakeholders and content analysis used to group factors and
form a model. The analysis revealed a range of internal and external roadblocks for the adoption of CE. These include
differences in the generational mindset, measuring circularity, complex logistics and the lack of innovative solutions.
Furthermore, interestingly, the results pointed to a need for redefinition of concepts such as value, design and luxury in
order to boost and accelerate the adoption of CE in the automotive sector. This research addresses SDG 8, 9 and 12.

Citation

Hernandez, M. D. A., & Bakthavatchaalam, V. (2022). Circular economy as a strategy in European automotive industries to achieve. United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs - Forum on Science, Technology and Innovation for the SDGs (STI Forum)

• Report Type: Policy Document
• Publication Date: 2022-05
• Deposit Date: Dec 28, 2022
• Publicly Available Date: Jan 4, 2023
• Series Title: Science Policy Brief for the Multi-Stakeholder Forum on Science, Technology and Innovation for the SDGs (STI Forum)
• Keywords: Circular Economy, Automotive Industries, Sustainability, SDG,
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/10251666
• Publisher URL: https://sdgs.un.org/sites/default/files/2022-05/1.1.10-66-Del%20Angel%20-%20Circular%20Economy%20EU%20Automotive.pdf