Article
Circular Economy as a Catalyst for Progress towards the
Sustainable Development Goals: A Positive Relationship
between Two Self-Sufficient Variables
Juan-Manuel Valverde * and Carmen Avilés-Palacios
Citation: Valverde, J.-M.;
Avilés-Palacios, C. Circular Economy
as a Catalyst for Progress towards the
Sustainable Development Goals: A
Positive Relationship between Two
Self-Sufficient Variables. Sustainability
2021, 13, 12652. https://doi.org/
10.3390/su132212652
Academic Editors: Anna Mazzi, João
Carlos de Oliveira Matias and
Paolo Renna
Received: 13 September 2021
Accepted: 11 November 2021
Published: 16 November 2021
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Attribution (CC BY) license (https://
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4.0/).
Escuela Tecnica Superior de Ingenieria de Montes, Forestal y del Medio Natural, Universidad Politecnica de
Madrid, Jose Antonio Novais, 10, 28040 Madrid, Spain; carmen.aviles@upm.es
* Correspondence: jm.valverde@upm.es; Tel.: +34-910671632
Abstract:
Governments, civil society organisations and companies have expressed an interest in
contributing to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, but incorporating these goals
into their strategies and activities is not an easy task. This study aims to provide information on the
role of circular economy as a tool to boost progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals to
assist these different stakeholders in their quest to attain the goals. Using heuristic methodology,
a review of the existing literature was conducted to explore the relationship between the two
terms. Specific attention was paid to the development goals with the highest interdependence with
circular economy: Sustainable Development Goal 6 (Clean Water), 8 (Decent work), 12 (Responsible
consumption and production) and 15 (Life on land). Having identified the reciprocal relationships
between the two variables, the results of the literature review were then analysed to explore their
possible self-sufficiency. The findings of the study are intended to assist stakeholders in incorporating
the SDGs into their corporate sustainability strategies.
Keywords: circular economy; sustainable development goals; sustainability
1. Introduction
Deforestation, energy deficit, biodiversity loss, poverty and inequality are just a few
of the many issues threatening the planet’s sustainability [
1
–
3
]. Natural resources are
limited, and waste produced by increasing consumption of non-renewable energy and raw
materials is jeopardising the ecosystem’s capacity for absorption [
4
], with many studies
pointing to human activity as the cause of these issues [
5
–
7
]. Given that in 2014 the
regenerative capacity of 1.5 planet Earths was required to supply the natural resources we
use annually [
8
] and that the global population and levels of consumption are currently
rising, it is clear that improving the efficiency of our resources use is now a priority [9].
Because human activity is the main cause of the problem, society must seek to resolve
these conflicts by reworking the current production model and market economy in an
intelligent and sensitive manner [
10
]. A number of measures have been taken by insti-
tutions, societies and organisations in an attempt to address the issue and achieve more
sustainable development, defined in the Brundtland report as “development that meets
the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet
their own needs” [
11
]. There are multiple strategies linked to this goal, but only the Sus-
tainable Development Goals (SDGs) and their 2030 Agenda, Transforming our World [
12
],
have the necessary impact to bring about the global changes required. Nevertheless, this
overarching framework must be supplemented by strategies to ensure greater involvement
from organisations in initiatives aimed at achieving sustainable development, as well as
to implement economic and production models that facilitate this form of development.
In this regard, circular economy may be viewed as one of the most relevant models in
achieving systemic change.
Sustainability 2021, 13, 12652. https://doi.org/10.3390/su132212652 https://www.mdpi.com/journal/sustainability
