The circular economy: A broader perspective for rural areas

Journal title RIVISTA DI STUDI SULLA SOSTENIBILITA'
Author/s Rosanna Salvia, Zacharoula S. Andreopoulou, Giovanni Quaranta
Publishing Year 2018 Issue 2018/1
Language English Pages 19 P. 87-105 File size 258 KB
DOI 10.3280/RISS2018-001008
DOI is like a bar code for intellectual property: to have more infomation click here

Below, you can see the article first page

If you want to buy this article in PDF format, you can do it, following the instructions to buy download credits

Article preview

FrancoAngeli is member of Publishers International Linking Association, Inc (PILA), a not-for-profit association which run the CrossRef service enabling links to and from online scholarly content.

The circular economy refers to a development strategy that allows economic growth by optimising the use of natural resources, minimising environmental pressures, transforming supply chains and consumption patterns and redesigning production systems so that they are restorative or regenerative by intention and design. A transition to a more circular economy requires a systemic approach that considers the interconnections that exist within and between sectors, institutions and local actors. The aim of the paper is to reflect on the characteristics of a territorial model for a circular rural economy, which directs its actions through a local lens to promote closer interaction between actors, by optimising the use of resources, and between production processes and social and cultural matrices.

Keywords: Circular economy, rural development, sustainability, open source technology, social platform, social innovation.

  1. Andreopoulou Z. (2017). Internet of Things and food circular economy: A new tool for Sustainable Development Goals. Rivista di studi sulla sostenibilità, 2: 43-49, DOI: 10.3280/RISS2017-002004
  2. Barca F. (2009). An Agenda for a reformed Cohesion Policy. European Commission, Brussels, Belgio.
  3. Barca F., Casavola P., and Lucatelli S. (2014). Strategia nazionale per le Aree interne: definizione, obiettivi, strumenti e governance. Materiali Uval, 31, Roma Italia -- Available online: http://www.agenziacoesione.gov.it/opencms/export/sites/dps/it/documentazione/servizi/materiali_uval/Documenti/MUVAL_31_Aree_interne_ENG.pdf [Accessed on 8 September 2017].
  4. Benvenuti B. (1975). General systems theory and entrepreneurial autonomy in farming: towards a new feudalism or towards democratic planning? Sociologia Ruralis, 15: 1-2
  5. Bock B.B. (2016). Rural Marginalisation and the Role of Social Innovation. A Turn Towards Nexogenous Development and Rural Reconnection. Sociologia Ruralis, 56(4): 552-573. -- Available at: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/soru.2016.56.issue-4/issuetoc [Accessed on 11 May 2017].
  6. Carlucci C., Guerrizio A., and Lucatelli S. (2013). Nota Metodologica per la definizione delle Aree Interne, Dps. -- Available online: http://www.agenziacoesione.gov.it/opencms/export/sites/dps/it/documentazione/Aree_interne/Nota_metodologica_Aree_interne.pdf [Accessed on 22 September 2017].
  7. Dps (2014). Accordo di partenariato 2014-2020. Dipartimento per lo Sviluppo e la Coesione Economica, Roma, Italia. -- Available online: http://www.agenziacoesione.gov.it/it/AccordoPartenariato/ [Accessed on 22 September 2017].
  8. Ellen MacArthur Foundation (2016). Intelligent Assets: Unlocking the circular economy potential. -- https://www.ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/assets/downloads/publications/EllenMacArthurFoundation_Intelligent_Assets_080216.pdf [Accessed on 3 September 2017].
  9. Ellen MacArthur Foundation (2013). Towards the circular economy: Economic and business rationale for an accelerated transition, Volume 1. -- Available online: http://www.ellenmacarthurfoundation.org./downloads/publications/Ellen-MacArthur-Foundation-Towards-the-Circular-Economy-vol.1.pdf [Accessed on 15 June 2017].
  10. Ellen MacArthur Foundation (2015). Growth within: A circular economy vision for a competitive Europe, p. 97. -- Available online: https://www.ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/assets/downloads/publications/EllenMacArthurFoundation_Growth-Within_July15.pdf [Accessed on 12 June 2017].
  11. European Commission (2010). The CAP towards 2020: Meeting the Food, Natural Resources and Territorial Challenges of the Future COM, Brussels (2010) 672 final.
  12. European Commission (2011). Sustainable Food Consumption and Production in a Resource-constrained World. Standing Committee on Agricultural Research (SCAR), Brussels (2011).
  13. European Commission (2012).Communication on Innovating for sustainable growth: A bio-economy for Europe. SWD, 11m FINAL, COM(2012) 60 final, 13 February.
  14. European Commission (2013). Decision of the European Parliament and of The Council on a General Union Environment Action Programme to 2020 “Living well, within the limits of our planet”. -- Available online: http://ec.europa.eu/environment/action-programme/ [Accessed on 12 June 2017].
  15. European Commission (2014). Towards a circular economy: A zero waste programme for Europe, (COM 2014, 398). -- Available online: http://ec.europa.eu/environment/circular-economy/ [Accessed on 12 June 2017].
  16. European Commission (2017). Reflection Paper on the Social Dimension of Europe. COM(2017) 206, 26 April 2017.
  17. Geels F. (2002). Technological Transitions as Evolutionary Reconfiguration Processes: A Multi-level Perspective and a Case Study. Research Policy, 31(8/9): 1257-1274. -- Available on line: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0048-7333(02)00062-8 [Accessed on 12 May 2017].
  18. Gregson N., Crang M., Fuller S., and Holmes H. (2015). Interrogating the Circular Economy: The Moral Economy of Resource Recovery in the EU. Economy and Society, 44(2): 218-243, -- Available online: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/03085147.2015.1013353 [Accessed on 17 May 2017].
  19. Hislop, H., and Hill J. (2011). Reinventing the wheel: A circular economy for resource security. London: Green Alliance. -- Available online: http://www.green-alliance.org.uk/page_77.php [Accessed on 8 June 2017].
  20. Horlings L.G., and Marsden T.K. (2014). Exploring the ‘New Rural Paradigm’ in Europe: Eco-economic Strategies as a Counterforce to the Global Competitiveness Agenda. European Urban and Regional Studies, 21(1): 4-20. -- Available online: http://doi.org/10.1177/0969776412441934 [Accessed on 8 June 2017].
  21. Jurgilevich A., Birge T., Kentala-Lehtonen J., KaisaKorhonen-Kurki K., Pietikäinen J., Saikku L., and Schösler H. (2016). Transition Towards Circular Economy in the Food System. Sustainability, 8(1): 69. -- Available online: http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/su8010069 [Accessed on 8 June 2017].
  22. Keesde R., Ferrari P., and Knickel K. (2017). Specialisation and economies of scale or diversification and economies of scope? Assessing different agricultural development pathways. Journal of Rural Studies, -- Available online 15 July 2017. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrurstud.2017.04.013 [Accessed on 8 September 2017].
  23. Kitchen L., and Marsden T. (2009). Creating Sustainable Rural Development through Stimulating the Eco-economy: Beyond the Eco-economic Paradox? Sociologia Ruralis, 49(3): 273-294. -- Available online http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9523.2009.00489.x [Accessed on 12 May 2017].
  24. Knickel K., Redman M., Darnhofer I., Ashkenazy A., Calvão Chebach T., Šūmane S., Tisenkopfs T., Zemeckis R., Atkočiūnienė V., Rivera M., Strauss A., Søderkvist Kristensen L., Schiller S., Koopmans M. and Rogge E. (2017). Between aspirations and reality: Making farming, food systems and rural areas more resilient, sustainable and equitable. Journal of Rural Studies. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrurstud.2017.04.012 [Accessed on 8 September 2017].
  25. Knickel K., Zemeckis R., and Tisenkopfs T. (2013). A critical reflection of the meaning of agricultural modernization in a world of increasing demands and finite resources. Proceedings, vol. 6, ASU Publishing Center, Kaunas, Akademija (2013), pp. 561-567 [Accessed on 11 May 2017].
  26. Kristensen D.K., Kjeldsen C., and Thorsøe M.H.J. (2016). Enabling Sustainable Agro-Food Futures: Exploring Fault Lines and Synergies Between the Integrated Territorial Paradigm, Rural Eco-Economy and Circular Economy. Journal of Agricultural and Environmental Ethics, 29: 749. -- Available online: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10806-016-9632-9 [Accessed on 12 May 2017].
  27. Leal Filho W., Mandel M., Al-Amin A.Q., Feher A., and Jabbour C.J.C. (2016). An Assessment of the Causes and Consequences of Agricultural Land Abandonment in Europe. International Journal of Sustainable Development and World Ecology. -- Available on line: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13504509.2016.1240113 [Accessed on 12 May 2017].
  28. Lucatelli S. (2016). Strategia Nazionale per le Aree Interne: un punto a due anni dal lancio della Strategia. Agriregionieuropa, 12(45), Giu.
  29. Lucatelli S., and Salez P. (2012). La dimensione territoriale nel prossimo periodo di programmazione. Agrireregionieuropa, 8(11).
  30. Marsden T. (2013). From Post-productivism to Reflexive Governance: Contested Transitions in Securing More Sustainable Food Futures. Journal of Rural Studies, 29(2): 123-134. -- Available online: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrurstud.2011.10.001 [Accessed on 12 May 2017].
  31. Marsden T. (2017). Agri-Food and Rural Development: Sustainable Place-Making. Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
  32. Marsden T., and Farioli F. (2015). Natural powers: From the Bio-Economy to the Eco-Economy and Sustainable Place-Making. Sustainability Science, 10(2): 331-344. -- Available online: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11625-014-0287-z [Accessed on 12 May 2017].
  33. Misso R. and Andreopoulou Z. (2017). Wine and Health: A sustainable governance for a responsible communication. Rivista di Studi sulla Sostenibilità, 1: 91-105, DOI: 10.3280/RISS2017-001007
  34. Moore J.W. (2017). Antropocene o capitalocene?. Ombre Corte Editore.
  35. Murray A, Skene K., and Haynes K. (2017). The Circular Economy: An Interdisciplinary Exploration of the Concept and Application in a Global Context. Journal of Business Ethics, 140(3): 369-380. -- Available online: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10551-015-2693-2 [Accessed on 17 May 2017].
  36. OECD (2011). A green growth strategy for food and agriculture. Preliminary report, May. Paris: OECD.
  37. Pearce D.W., and Turner R.K. (1989). Economics of Natural Resources and the Environment. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press.
  38. Quaranta G., and Salvia R. (2017). Participatory approach to a place-based sustainable rural development: E-market platform for a resilient Agri-food chain. Journal of Environmental Protection and Ecology, 18(2): 616-622.
  39. Quaranta G., Citro E., and Salvia R. (2016). Economic and Social Sustainable Synergies to Promote Innovations in Rural Tourism and Local Development. Sustainability, 8: 668. -- Available online:
  40. Raworth K. (2017). L’economia della ciambella. Sette mosse per pensare come un economista del XXI secolo. EdizioniAmbiente.
  41. Salvia R., and Quaranta G. (2015). Adaptive Cycle as a Tool to Select Resilient Patterns of Rural Development. Sustainability, 7(8): 11114-11138. -- Available online:
  42. Salvia R., and Quaranta G. (2017). Place-Based Rural Development and Resilience: A Lesson from a Small Community. Sustainability, 9(6): 889. -- Available online:
  43. Steffen W., Broadgate W., Deutsch L., Gaffney O., and Ludwig C. (2015). The Trajectory of the Anthropocene: The Great Acceleration. The Anthropocene Review, 2(1): 81-98. -- Available online: https://doi.org/10.1177/2053019614564785 [Accessed on 17 May 2017].
  44. Wiskerke J.S.C. (2009). On Places Lost and Places Regained: Reflections on the Alternative Food Geography and Sustainable Regional Development. International Planning Studies, 14(4): 369-387. -- Available online: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13563471003642803 [Accessed on 12 May 2017].

  • Environmental assessment of waste handling in rural Brazil: Improvements towards circular economy Priscila de Morias Lima, Mariane Franca de Morais, Michel Angelo Constantino, Paula Loureiro Paulo, Fernando Jorge Corrêa Magralhães Filho, in Cleaner Environmental Systems 100013/2021 pp.100013
    DOI: 10.1016/j.cesys.2021.100013
  • Introduction to the special issue on the contested realities of the circular economy Hervé Corvellec, Steffen Böhm, Alison Stowell, Francisco Valenzuela, in Culture and Organization /2020 pp.97
    DOI: 10.1080/14759551.2020.1717733
  • Circularities in territories: opportunities & challenges Sebastien Bourdin, Danielle Galliano, Amélie Gonçalves, in European Planning Studies /2022 pp.1183
    DOI: 10.1080/09654313.2021.1973174
  • Enablers of Managerial Practices for Circular Business Model Design: An Empirical Investigation of an Agro-Energy Company in a Rural Area Pasquale Del Vecchio, Andrea Urbinati, Julian Kirchherr, in IEEE Transactions on Engineering Management /2024 pp.873
    DOI: 10.1109/TEM.2021.3138327
  • CiaBOT: the circular design of an experimental microarchitecture between material and immaterial values Elena Montacchini, Silvia Tedesco, Nicolò Di Prima, in VITRUVIO - International Journal of Architectural Technology and Sustainability /2024 pp.44
    DOI: 10.4995/vitruvio-ijats.2024.21492
  • The Energy System of an Ecovillage: Barriers and Enablers Zita Szabó, Viola Prohászka, Ágnes Sallay, in Land /2021 pp.682
    DOI: 10.3390/land10070682

Rosanna Salvia, Zacharoula S. Andreopoulou, Giovanni Quaranta, The circular economy: A broader perspective for rural areas in "RIVISTA DI STUDI SULLA SOSTENIBILITA'" 1/2018, pp 87-105, DOI: 10.3280/RISS2018-001008