The Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB) has published Economía circular. El camino hacia la sostenibilidad, by Joan Rieradevall Pons and Carles Gasol Martínez, a book that presents the circular economy as one of the key strategies for achieving sustainable development.
The current economic system is unsustainable: only 5% of products and services are circular, and all projections indicate that the socio-environmental impact of consumption will continue to increase in the coming years. In response to this issue, the circular economy (CE) is becoming not only a necessity but also an emerging reality, thanks to greater consumer awareness and a stricter environmental regulatory framework. The CE seeks to establish more efficient and resilient systems of production and consumption, preserving resources within a continuous cycle that optimizes their value and minimizes waste generation. In this context, public and private entities play a fundamental role in promoting CE through the implementation of policies and standards and by raising public awareness.
The Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB) has just released the book Economía circular. El camino hacia la sostenibilidad, written by professors of Chemical, Biological and Environmental Engineering Joan Rieradevall Pons and Carles Gasol Martínez. The book aims to introduce readers to the concept of the circular economy, proposing it as one of the decisive strategies of the 21st century to foster sustainable development, and questioning whether it will become a short-term reality or remain a mere aspiration, by analyzing political, economic, social and environmental factors.
In the book, the authors present case studies, indicators, tools, and strategies for innovation, resource prevention and minimization, as well as examples of circular ecodesign and overall improvement of products and services, in order to demonstrate that a fully circular future is possible.
The UAB Publications Service has been responsible for editing the book, which is available in paid print format and free open-access electronic format.
About the authors
Joan Rieradevall Pons holds a PhD in Chemical Sciences, is a scientific advisor to the Sostenipra group at ICTA, and a founding partner of Inèdit Innovació and Tectum Garden. He coordinates national and international research and development projects related to environmental improvement. He is a professor of environmental technology and circular economy at Spanish and Latin American universities. His awards include: Best EU LIFE Project (2015), Design for Recycling (2001 and 2013), Sustainable Projects of the City of Barcelona (2004), and the City of Barcelona Award for Applied Environmental Technology (1991).
Carles Gasol Martínez holds a degree in Environmental Sciences from the University of Girona (2003) and a PhD (2009) and Master's (2006) in Environmental Sciences from the UAB. He is a founding partner of Inèdit Innovació, a knowledge transfer company in circular economy affiliated with the UAB research park. He is also a professor of industrial ecology in the master’s programs of Environmental Studies and Environmental Studies – Cities & Sustainability at the UAB. He participates in various postgraduate and master's programs at universities such as UPC and UB.
Booktrailer
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