Influence of social factors and environmental behaviour in the knowledge and opinion about circular economy

• Published in: Futures : the journal of policy, planning and futures studies planning and futures studies, 2024-12, Vol.164, p.103490, Article 103490
• Main Authors: Sampedro-Beneyto, Víctor, Agulló-Torres, Asunción, Del_Campo-Gomis, Francisco J., Arias-Navarro, Irene
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Circular Economy; Environmental behaviour; Knowledge; Opinion; Social factors; Spain
• ISSN: 0016-3287
• DOI: 10.1016/j.futures.2024.103490

The United Nations and the European Union, as well as other public institutions, are engaged in significant efforts to advance the promotion of the Circular Economy. The dissemination of messages regarding such initiatives to the citizens is of great importance, as this is expected to serve as a catalyst for the transition from a linear to a Circular Economy. Therefore, the objective is to analyse the knowledge and opinion about the Circular Economy in the province of Alicante (Spain) on a convenience sample and stratified into groups by gender, age, studies and environmental behaviour. This analysis will determine whether the efforts to disseminate knowledge and improve opinion about the Circular Economy are succeeding. The results indicate that there is an accurate knowledge and good opinion about Circular Economy in the scenario analysed in Alicante province (Spain), but a lot of work should be done to improve it both through greater involvement of society and companies, and by publicizing the benefits of the Circular Economy to the society. •Enhance the collective understanding of the knowledge and opinion relative to the circular economy.•Differentiate the knowledge and opinion about the circular economy into groups according to gender, age, studies and environmental behaviour.•Indicate to the competent authorities which group of people they should focus their efforts on to improve knowledge and opinion about the circular economy.