Circular Economy Status in Italy

Circular Economy Status in Austria

Short overview of the current situation, developed byUniversita Degli Studi Della Basilicata

Italy – the fourth largest user of recycled materials in Europe, with an estimated rate of re-use of around 35% – has established several important regulations and incentives to encourage the transition to a Circular Economy.  

According to a recent study, the Italian circular economy market is estimated to be worth around €84 billion, or 3.2% of the country’s GDP. Italy has a strong focus on waste prevention and reuse, with a well-developed network of waste collection and reuse initiatives. Italy has also a number of initiatives to promote the use of recycled materials in industry, such as the National Plan for the Promotion of the Use of Recycled Materials.  

The Italian government has taken steps to encourage the development of green and circular economy initiatives, such as the “Green Bond” scheme and the “National Strategy for the Circular Economy“. This recent (June 2022) Strategy, is a programmatic document providing actions, objectives and measures that are intended to be pursued as institutional policies, with the purpose to ensure an effective transition towards a circular economy.  

In this framework, some specific projects have been implemented at the national level, focused on the prevention of food waste at various levels, from household waste – which accounts for more than 50% of the national and international waste chain – to losses in the field, to food dispersion in the steps preceding the purchase, management and consumption of food in the home. Some of these Projects are also implemented by Italian Universities, through the Network of Universities for Sustainable Development (RUS) and the Italian Alliance for Sustainable development (ASviS). The University of Basilicata is contributing to this effort through the I.CE.A. Project, aimed to the introduction of the Circular Economy and raising awareness among the adult public.