Towards the circular economy implementation in Poland

Abstract

PURPOSE: The circular economy concept has been widely addressed in various research disciplines. It also has a practical dimension because European countries are facing the need to implement such a non-linear model, which is dictated by meeting the requirements of the new EU agenda. Since Poland is still not among the European leaders in this area, the paper aims to identify and analyze the most important problem areas, barriers, and actions conditioning the implementation of the circular economy in Poland.

DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH: The paper is theoretical and cognitive and is based on an in-depth literature review. Using empirical data contained in the EU circular economy monitoring framework in the Member States, the most important problem areas of the country in this respect have been identified. Further, by combining two separate sources of knowledge (academic literature and gray literature), the most critical barriers impeding Poland’s economic transformation towards the circular economy have been identified and described, and measures leading to their limitation have been proposed.

FINDINGS: The analysis carried out in the paper may constitute an essential contribution to the still-developing stream of scientific literature dedicated to the practical aspects of implementing the circular economy concept in EU countries. Although the substantive scope of the paper refers strictly to the Polish economy, it can be a methodological basis for conducting future empirical studies in other national contexts.

PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: The paper's findings provide valuable insights into the methods and strategies for fostering circularity in Poland. This understanding is crucial for developing effective policy guidelines and designing organizational strategies.

ORIGINALITY/VALUE: The paper's key scientific contribution is the development of a holistic conceptual approach that integrates barriers, shows their interrelationships, refers them to the country's identified most essential problem areas, and also considers several practical recommendations for removing barriers to Poland's transition to the circular economy model.