CIRCULAR ECONOMY CONCEPT: THEORETICAL AND PRACTICAL ASPECTS

Abstract

The article provides an overview of scientific research by scientists from around the world on the formation and implementation of the principles of a circular economy. Attention is also paid to the historical aspect of the formation of the stages of economic development. The characteristics of the agrarian, industrial and post-industrial economies are given. It is shown that the problem of limited resources and the use of consumption and production wastes has always existed. But these problems were solved in different ways in different historical periods. The solution to the accumulated problems is the transition to a circular economy model. Introduction of more advanced technologies allows not only to reduce the negative impact on the environment of current production activities, but also to reduce the volume of accumulated waste over the previous periods of production activities. When studying the Russian experience in the transition to a circular economy model, attention is paid to Russian legislation. The practical application of circular economy principles is shown on the example of a Russian industrial enterprise. The ecological program “Clean City”, which was developed at Magnitogorsk Iron and Steel Works, is considered. It should be implemented in stages until 2025. The ongoing programs require significant financial resources and cannot be implemented in the short term. The graphs show the result of the ongoing program: reduction of emissions of pollutants into the atmosphere, into water bodies, comparative data on specific emissions of sulfur dioxide (SO2) kg/ton of steel at the leading metallurgical plants in the world (2017). The environmental safety of the production processes of the Magnitogorsk Iron and Steel Works is ensured not only by advanced technologies, but also by modern methods of environmental management. The enterprise has implemented an environmental management system in accordance with the requirements of the international standard ISO 14001, which is confirmed by a certificate issued to the enterprise. The independent appraisal of the enterprise in 2018 was carried out by the Living Planet TV channel and the Modern Media Institute (MOMRI); energy rating agency Interfax-Era; World Wildlife Fund (WWF).