This study quantitatively investigates the relationship between the implementation of waste-to-resource systems and the economic and environmental performance of circular economy transitions. Using survey data from 350 respondents, the research employs regression analysis to test its hypotheses. The key finding is that adopting waste-to-resource systems has a significant positive correlation with both economic gains and environmental sustainability, with effectiveness being moderated by technological, regulatory, and socio-cultural factors.
References
[1]
Abdelfattah, A., Ali, S. S., Ramadan, H., El-Aswar, E. I., Eltawab, R., Ho, S. et al. (2023). Microalgae-Based Wastewater Treatment: Mechanisms, Challenges, Recent Advances, and Future Prospects. EnvironmentalScienceandEcotechnology,13, Article ID: 100205. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ese.2022.100205
[2]
Amaral, E. T., Bender, L. B. Y. C., Rizzetti, T. M., & Schneider, R. d. C. d. S. (2023). Removal of Organic Contaminants in Water Bodies or Wastewater by Microalgae of the Genus Chlorella: A Review. CaseStudiesinChemicalandEnvironmentalEngineering,8, Article ID: 100476. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cscee.2023.100476
[3]
Arashiro, L. T., Josa, I., Ferrer, I., Van Hulle, S. W. H., Rousseau, D. P. L., & Garfí, M. (2022). Life Cycle Assessment of Microalgae Systems for Wastewater Treatment and Bioproducts Recovery: Natural Pigments, Biofertilizer and Biogas. ScienceoftheTotalEnvironment,847, Article ID: 157615. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.157615
[4]
Atif, S. (2023). Analysing the Alignment between Circular Economy and Industry 4.0 Nexus with Industry 5.0 Era: An Integrative Systematic Literature Review. SustainableDevelopment,31, 2155-2175. https://doi.org/10.1002/sd.2542
[5]
Bandh, S. A., & Malla, F. A. (2023). Valorization of Microalgal Biomass and Wastewater Treatment. Elsevier.
[6]
Bekchanov, M., & Gondhalekar, D. (2022). Business Climate for Energy Regaining and Environmentally Sustainable Waste-to-Resource Technologies. In M. Asif (Ed.), HandbookofEnergyandEnvironmentalSecurity (pp. 501-530). Elsevier. https://doi.org/10.1016/b978-0-12-824084-7.00008-4
[7]
Bellido-Pedraza, C. M., Torres, M. J., & Llamas, A. (2024). The Microalgae Chlamydomonas for Bioremediation and Bioproduct Production. Cells,13, Article No. 1137. https://doi.org/10.3390/cells13131137
[8]
Bhatt, P., Bhandari, G., Bhatt, K., & Simsek, H. (2022). Microalgae-Based Removal of Pollutants from Wastewaters: Occurrence, Toxicity and Circular Economy. Chemosphere,306, Article ID: 135576. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.135576
[9]
Bradley, T., Rajaeifar, M. A., Kenny, A., Hainsworth, C., del Pino, V., del Valle Inclán, Y. et al. (2023). Life Cycle Assessment of Microalgae-Derived Biodiesel. TheInternationalJournalofLifeCycleAssessment,28, 590-609. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11367-023-02140-6
[10]
Braun, J. C. A., & Colla, L. M. (2023). Use of Microalgae for the Development of Biofertilizers and Biostimulants. BioEnergyResearch,16, 289-310. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12155-022-10456-8
[11]
Castro, J. S., Ferreira, J., Magalhães, I. B., Jesus Junior, M. M., Marangon, B. B., Pereira, A. S. A. P. et al. (2023). Life Cycle Assessment and Techno-Economic Analysis for Biofuel and Biofertilizer Recovery as By-Products from Microalgae. RenewableandSustainableEnergyReviews,187, Article ID: 113781. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2023.113781
[12]
Cheirsilp, B., Maneechote, W., Srinuanpan, S., & Angelidaki, I. (2023). Microalgae as Tools for Bio-Circular-Green Economy: Zero-Waste Approaches for Sustainable Production and Biorefineries of Microalgal Biomass. Bioresource Technology, 387, Article ID: 129620. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2023.129620
[13]
Chen, J., Li, J., Dong, W., Zhang, X., Tyagi, R. D., Drogui, P. et al. (2018). The Potential of Microalgae in Biodiesel Production. RenewableandSustainableEnergyReviews,90, 336-346. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2018.03.073
[14]
Chia, S. R., Ling, J., Chia, W. Y., Nomanbhay, S., Kurniawan, T. A., & Chew, K. W. (2023). Future Bioenergy Source by Microalgae-Bacteria Consortia: A Circular Economy Approach. GreenChemistry,25, 8935-8949. https://doi.org/10.1039/d3gc02228e
[15]
Chong, J. W. R., Khoo, K. S., Chew, K. W., Ting, H., Iwamoto, K., Ruan, R. et al. (2024). Artificial Intelligence-Driven Microalgae Autotrophic Batch Cultivation: A Comparative Study of Machine and Deep Learning-Based Image Classification Models. AlgalResearch,79, Article ID: 103400. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.algal.2024.103400
[16]
Chourasia, S., Tyagi, A., Pandey, S. M., Walia, R. S., & Murtaza, Q. (2022). Sustainability of Industry 6.0 in Global Perspective: Benefits and Challenges. MAPAN,37, 443-452. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12647-022-00541-w
[17]
Corvellec, H., Stowell, A. F., & Johansson, N. (2022). Critiques of the Circular Economy. JournalofIndustrialEcology,26, 421-432. https://doi.org/10.1111/jiec.13187
[18]
Costa, J. A. V., Zaparoli, M., Cassuriaga, A. P. A., Cardias, B. B., Vaz, B. d. S., Morais, M. G. d. et al. (2023). Biochar Production from Microalgae: A New Sustainable Approach to Wastewater Treatment Based on a Circular Economy. EnzymeandMicrobialTechnology,169, Article ID: 110281. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enzmictec.2023.110281
[19]
Diao, Y., Gong, X., Xu, D., Duan, P., Wang, S., & Guo, Y. (2024). From Culture, Harvest to Pretreatment of Microalgae and Its High-Value Utilization. AlgalResearch,78, Article ID: 103405. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.algal.2024.103405
[20]
Dini, I. (2021). Bio Discarded from Waste to Resource. Foods,10, Article No. 2652. https://doi.org/10.3390/foods10112652
[21]
Donkor, D., Tulashie, S. K., Helegah, F., Baidoo, E. B., Alale, E. M., Holdbrook, D. A. et al. (2025). Cocoa Byproduct Utilization in the Bioeconomy: A Review of Waste-to-Resource Strategies. Biofuels, 1-28. https://doi.org/10.1080/17597269.2025.2550911
[22]
Encarnação, T., da Graça Campos, M., & Mateus, A. (2023a). Introduction: Environmental Pollution and Biotechnological Solutions. In T. Encarnação, & A. Canelas Pais (Eds.), Marine Organisms: A Solution to Environmental Pollution? Environmental Challenges and Solutions (pp. 1-4). Springer International Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-17226-7_1
[23]
Encarnação, T., Nicolau, N., Ramos, P., Silvestre, E., Mateus, A., Carvalho, T. A. d. et al. (2023b). Recycling Ophthalmic Lens Wastewater in a Circular Economy Context: A Case Study with Microalgae Integration. Materials,17, Article No. 75. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma17010075
[24]
European Commission (2019). First Circular Economy Action Plan [WWW Document]. https://environment.ec.europa.eu/topics/circular-economy/first-circular-economy-action-plan_en
[25]
European Commission. Directorate General for Communication (2020). Circular Economy Action Plan: For a Cleaner and More Competitive Europe. Publications Office.
[26]
Fehrer, J. A., & Wieland, H. (2021). A Systemic Logic for Circular Business Models. JournalofBusinessResearch,125, 609-620. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2020.02.010
[27]
Fritz, A. (2025). From Waste to Resource: Systems Framework for Unconventional Critical Material Feedstocks. National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL).
[28]
Greene, J. M., Quiroz, D., Limb, B. J., & Quinn, J. C. (2025). Geographically-Resolved Techno-Economic and Life Cycle Assessment Comparing Microalgae-Based Renewable Diesel and Sustainable Aviation Fuel in the United States. Environmental Science & Technology,59, 3472-3483. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.4c06742
[29]
Imamoglu, E. (2024). Artificial Intelligence and/or Machine Learning Algorithms in Microalgae Bioprocesses. Bioengineering,11, Article No. 1143. https://doi.org/10.3390/bioengineering11111143
[30]
Johansson, N., Velis, C., & Corvellec, H. (2020). Towards Clean Material Cycles: Is There a Policy Conflict between Circular Economy and Non-Toxic Environment? WasteManagement&Research:TheJournalforaSustainableCircularEconomy,38, 705-707. https://doi.org/10.1177/0734242x20934251
[31]
Kholssi, R., Ramos, P. V., Marks, E. A. N., Montero, O., & Rad, C. (2021). 2biotechnological Uses of Microalgae: A Review on the State of the Art and Challenges for the Circular Economy. BiocatalysisandAgriculturalBiotechnology,36, Article ID: 102114. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bcab.2021.102114
[32]
Kirchherr, J., Reike, D., & Hekkert, M. (2017). Conceptualizing the Circular Economy: An Analysis of 114 Definitions. Resources,ConservationandRecycling,127, 221-232. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2017.09.005
[33]
Kirchherr, J., Yang, N. N., Schulze-Spüntrup, F., Heerink, M. J., & Hartley, K. (2023). Conceptualizing the Circular Economy (Revisited): An Analysis of 221 Definitions. Resources,ConservationandRecycling,194, Article ID: 107001. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2023.107001
[34]
Kristensen, H. S., & Mosgaard, M. A. (2020). A Review of Micro Level Indicators for a Circular Economy—Moving Away from the Three Dimensions of Sustainability? JournalofCleanerProduction,243, Article ID: 118531. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2019.118531
[35]
Kuech, A., Breuer, M., & Popescu, I. (2023). Research for PECH Committee—The Future of the EU Algae Sector. Policy Department for Structural and Cohesion Policies. European Parliament.
[36]
Kumari, S., Jamwal, R. A., Singh, N., Mishra, D. K., & Singh, D. K. (2020). Recent Developments in Environmental Mercury Bioremediation and Its Toxicity: A Review. EnvironmentalNanotechnology,Monitoring&Management,13, Article ID: 100283. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enmm.2020.100283
[37]
Lamba, H. K., Kumar, N. S., & Dhir, S. (2023). Circular Economy and Sustainable Development: A Review and Research Agenda. InternationalJournalofProductivityandPerformanceManagement,73, 497-522. https://doi.org/10.1108/ijppm-06-2022-0314
[38]
Leong, W. H., Lim, J. W., Rawindran, H., Liew, C. S., Lam, M. K., Ho, Y. C. et al. (2023). Energy Balance and Life Cycle Assessments in Producing Microalgae Biodiesel via a Continuous Microalgal-Bacterial Photobioreactor Loaded with Wastewater. Chemosphere, 341, Article ID: 139953. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.139953
[39]
Ng, T. S. A., Mah, A. X. Y., & Zhao, K. (2024). Towards a Circular Economy with Waste‐to‐Resource System Optimization. NavalResearchLogistics(NRL),71, 553-574. https://doi.org/10.1002/nav.22163
[40]
Pacheco-Lopez, A., Somoza-Tornos, A., Graells, M., & Espuña, A. (2022). Integrated Synthesis, Modeling, and Assessment of Waste-to-Resource Alternatives. In Computer Aided Chemical Engineering (Vol. 51, pp. 787-792). Elsevier.
[41]
Pacheco-López, A., Somoza-Tornos, A., Graells, M., & Espuña, A. (2021). Synthesis and Assessment of Waste-to-Resource Routes for Circular Economy. Computers&ChemicalEngineering,153, Article ID: 107439. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compchemeng.2021.107439
[42]
Santos, B., Freitas, F., Sobral, A. J. F. N., & Encarnação, T. (2025). Microalgae and Circular Economy: Unlocking Waste to Resource Pathways for Sustainable Development. InternationalJournalofSustainableEngineering,18, Article ID: 2501488.
[43]
Shah, H. H., Amin, M., Pepe, F., & Tregambi, C. (2024). Sustainable Waste Management and Waste-to-Energy in the Context of a Circular Economy through Various Waste Management Technologies. EnvironmentalScienceandPollutionResearch,32, 27503-27522. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-024-33223-y
[44]
Tathavadekar, V. P., & Mahankale, N. R. (2025). Mycelial Network-Inspired Urban Waste-to-Resource Networks: Biomimetic Circular Economy Design for Indian Metro-Satellite Cities. JournalofEnvironmentalEcology,1, 8-15. https://doi.org/10.64229/qc4vq347
[45]
You, S. (2022). Waste-to-Resource System Design for Low-Carbon Circular Economy. Elsevier.