Circular economy and technological innovation: strategies for sustainability

This book explores the connections between the circular economy, Industry 4.0, and regulatory frameworks, examining how these areas influence each other and how they can contribute to building a sustainable economic future.

This book also examines the role of critical materials, essential to the development and implementation of the circular economy and Industry 4.0. These materials, which include rare metals and other scarce resources, are fundamental to the production of advanced technologies such as batteries for electric vehicles, solar panels, and smart electronic devices. Due to the increasing demands for these resources, their efficient management is becoming a global priority, and regulations on the exploitation, recycling and reuse of critical materials are essential to reduce dependence on primary sources and prevent their depletion.

In addition, the properties of these materials and their importance in a robust regulatory framework that ensures both security of supply and environmental protection are discussed. Regulations aimed at the management of critical resources are essential to stimulate the development of sustainable technological solutions that support the transition to a circular economy. Therefore, the analysis of current legislation and the need for new rules to respond to current challenges constitutes an important part of the discussions addressed in this book.