Socio-economic Importance of Biomaterials in the Transition to the Circular Economy Model

¹ Cracow University of Economics, College of Management Sciences and Quality, Department of Technology and Ecology of Products, ul. Rakowicka 27, 31-510 Krakow, Poland
² Cracow University of Economics, College of Management Sciences and Quality, Management Process Department, ul. Rakowicka 27, 31-510 Krakow, Poland
³ Jerzy Haber Institute of Catalysis and Surface Chemistry Polish Academy of Sciences, Niezapominajek 8, 30-239 Krakow, Poland

^* Corresponding author: wojnarom@uek.krakow.pl

Abstract

Research background: The adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development obliges individual countries to take actions aimed at achieving the seventeen goals of sustainable development. One of the tasks is to transform the economy into a circular economy. The necessity of transformation results from the growing number of manufactured products and the growing amount of generated waste, especially those made of plastics. Waste management and disposal may also have significant environmental effects. Therefore, EU waste management policy aims to reduce the impact of waste on the environment and health and to improve the efficient use of resources in the EU. The long-term goal of this policy is to reduce the amount of waste generated, and if its generation is unavoidable, to promote its use as resources, to increase recycling and to ensure safe disposal of waste. Hence the need to change the current economic model based on a linear approach to the circular economy. The technological goal of the circular economy is to achieve the highest possible level of waste recovery and recycling, and then reuse it in production. A possible alternative to conventional and petroleum-based materials are biopolymers that are biodegradable in the natural environment, and their degradation products do not endanger human and animal health. Thanks to these properties they not only can replace traditional polymers, but also will find completely new applications in biomedical engineering and medicine.

Purpose of the article: The aim of the article is to analyze the socio-economic consequences of using biomaterials in the transition to the GOZ model.

Methods: A systematic literature review methodology.

Findings & Value added: The main findings relate to the socio-economic consequences of introducing biomaterials for both consumers and businesses.