Cross-country Comparison of Circular Economy Companies and the Latest Innovations in the Field : Waste Management Sector

Abstract

Innovation techniques are essential to achieve sustainability in waste management and protect the environment. This study assesses different technologies in waste management and investigates their impact. Twenty case studies from different countries evaluated how they address environmental and economic effects. Power BI and Excel were used for qualitative analysis, and case studies were categorized according to country, technology, environmental impact and economic impact. Technologies were categorized into five sectors: smart waste management technologies, materials revolution: innovations in recycling, circular packaging solutions, eco-energetics: advancing waste-to-energy solutions, and circular product design for sustainability. The results show that China is the most active country among cases, and eco-energetics: advancing waste-to-energy solutions is the most popular technology. The results emphasize that these innovations create a circular economy by reducing greenhouse gas emissions, use resources more efficiently, and promote sustainable development.