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Sustainability
Volume 18
Issue 10
10.3390/su18105200
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Article

Zero Waste, 100% Resources: From Utopian Vision to Public–Private Opportunity in the Circular Economy

by
Fernando Ferri
1,
Patrizia Grifoni
1,
Noemi Biancone
1,*,
Ester Napoli
1,
Sabine Schubbe
2,
Magalie Michalak
2,
Daniel Gerdes
3,
Rosa Onofre
4,
Sofia Martins
5,
Elsa Ferreira Nunes
5,
Nikoletta Vogli
6,
Theofano Kollatou
7,
Konstantinos Karamarkos
8,
Athina Krestou
9,
Francesco Lembo
10,
Zuzana Bohacova
10,
Gaëlle Colas
10,
Valentina Scavelli
11,
Caterina Praticò
11,
Francesco Niglia
12,
Nina J. Zugic
13,
Ilaria Corsi
13,14 and
Frederic Andres
13,15add Show full author list remove Hide full author list
1
National Research Council—Institute for Research on Population and Social Policies (CNR-IRPPS), 00185 Rome, Italy
2
Senat der Freien und Hansestadt Hamburg, 20095 Hamburg, Germany
3
International Cooperation and Water Innovation Networks at Oldenburgisch-Ostfriesischer Wasserverband, 26913 Brake, Germany
4
Comissão de Coordenação e Desenvolvimento Regional do Alentejo, 7004-514 Évora, Portugal
5
IRRADIARE Investigacao e Desenvolvimento em Engenharia e Ambiente, 1495-091 Algés, Portugal
6
Dimotiki Epixeirisi Tilethernansis Evriteris Perioxis Amyntaiou, 53 200 Amyntaio, Greece
7
Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, University of Western Macedonia, 50 100 Kozani, Greece
8
Kostas Karamarkos Consulting, 50 131 Kozani, Greece
9
Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Western Macedonia, 50 100 Kozani, Greece
10
ACR+, 1210 Brussels, Belgium
11
Officinae Verdi Group Srl, 00198 Rome, Italy
12
Koys Lab, 73100 Lecce, Italy
13
DECISO Advisory Board, 00185 Rome, Italy
14
Lazio Innova, 00184 Rome, Italy
15
National Institute of Informatics, Tokyo 101-8430, Japan
 
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*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Sustainability 2026, 18(10), 5200; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18105200
Submission received: 14 January 2026 / Revised: 15 March 2026 / Accepted: 15 May 2026 / Published: 21 May 2026
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Sustainable Business Development in a Changing Economic Environment)
Versions Notes

Abstract

Adopting a circular economy approach requires new business models, multi-stakeholder engagement, and tailored financial models and mechanisms as core pillars. This paper examines the conditions needed to scale circular economy initiatives in Europe by analysing insights collected from the DECISO project and conducting a comparative analysis of 38 European projects. The study adopts a mixed methods approach that integrates an online stakeholder survey with inputs generated through participatory workshops and discussions of selected use cases. This combined approach is used to identify the main structural barriers limiting the maturity and investment readiness of circular economy projects, such as regulatory complexity, difficulties in accessing funding, and weak stakeholder dialogue mechanisms. The approach was also used for enabling factors that can support development of circular economy. Particular attention is given to the role of project development assistance, modular financing strategies, and de-risking tools, which are highlighted as crucial elements for supporting the technical and economic credibility of projects and attracting public and private investors. The article also identifies and addresses seven unresolved research gaps in the literature, including the lack of interoperable policy instruments, the absence of business models capable of integrating investor expectations, the paucity of integrated methodologies for assessing technical and economic regulatory feasibility, and the need for trust-building procedures. The findings suggest that the transition to a regenerative economy requires a systemic approach based on coherent policies, de-risking financial instruments, collaborative governance, and strategic technical support throughout the project development cycle.
Keywords: circular economy; project development assistance; financing models; stakeholder engagement; policy instruments; investment readiness circular economy; project development assistance; financing models; stakeholder engagement; policy instruments; investment readiness

Share and Cite

MDPI and ACS Style

Ferri, F.; Grifoni, P.; Biancone, N.; Napoli, E.; Schubbe, S.; Michalak, M.; Gerdes, D.; Onofre, R.; Martins, S.; Nunes, E.F.; et al. Zero Waste, 100% Resources: From Utopian Vision to Public–Private Opportunity in the Circular Economy. Sustainability 2026, 18, 5200. https://doi.org/10.3390/su18105200

AMA Style

Ferri F, Grifoni P, Biancone N, Napoli E, Schubbe S, Michalak M, Gerdes D, Onofre R, Martins S, Nunes EF, et al. Zero Waste, 100% Resources: From Utopian Vision to Public–Private Opportunity in the Circular Economy. Sustainability. 2026; 18(10):5200. https://doi.org/10.3390/su18105200

Chicago/Turabian Style

Ferri, Fernando, Patrizia Grifoni, Noemi Biancone, Ester Napoli, Sabine Schubbe, Magalie Michalak, Daniel Gerdes, Rosa Onofre, Sofia Martins, Elsa Ferreira Nunes, and et al. 2026. "Zero Waste, 100% Resources: From Utopian Vision to Public–Private Opportunity in the Circular Economy" Sustainability 18, no. 10: 5200. https://doi.org/10.3390/su18105200

APA Style

Ferri, F., Grifoni, P., Biancone, N., Napoli, E., Schubbe, S., Michalak, M., Gerdes, D., Onofre, R., Martins, S., Nunes, E. F., Vogli, N., Kollatou, T., Karamarkos, K., Krestou, A., Lembo, F., Bohacova, Z., Colas, G., Scavelli, V., Praticò, C., ... Andres, F. (2026). Zero Waste, 100% Resources: From Utopian Vision to Public–Private Opportunity in the Circular Economy. Sustainability, 18(10), 5200. https://doi.org/10.3390/su18105200

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