A new paradigm of Circular Economy (CE) fosters the integration of several EU Policies (EU COM/2015/0614 final) related to environmental risk and resilience. CE addresses production supply chains across diverse industries; consumption patterns; life cycles of products and components; and social, environmental, and economic added value—while enabling a decoupling of economic growth and resource consumption (1). Involving a complex transition for society and industries, the CE will be a key enabler of sustainability and social and environmental justice. CE leads to reduced dependence on finite natural resources; a competitive, efficient and low-carbon economy; "closing the loop" of product and service lifecycles; reducing costs and supply chain risks; and generating economic and social value. (2). Various environmental management systems, such as the ISO 14001:2015 (3) are supporting organizations in the worldwide implementation of integrated actions and programmes with year-to-year progress of CE.
This talk will review recent progress in achieving the CE, with a particular focus on Environmental Management Systems and EU policies for environmental risk and resilience. Best practices and experiences on preventing wastes, using secondary raw materials, renewable energies, Eco-Design (4)(5), environmental and social education and awareness programmes (6), will be described. The talk describes how ISO-certified organizations are underway implementing related environmental legislation for maximizing resource productivity while minimising waste generation and resource extraction. Furthermore, the talk describes that contributions of ISO-certifications to the resilience of organizations that are leading the CE are positive and planned elements of the transformation, making the process less complex and legitimizing and maintaining the commitments of industries to effective adaptation and change. Several recommendations for next steps will be introduced and analyzed, including the roles of ISO management systems in the advancement of the CE and legislative actions with direct impacts to industries (4)(5).