Abstract:

The circular economy model has gained popularity in the literature in recent years. Significant contributions have been made to the development of the model in many areas by using the sub-components of the circular economy. This model attracts more attention from the scientific community. In the research, the measurement of environmental quality is estimated using recyclable waste trade, which is one of the components of the circular economy. This study will contribute to this gap in the literature. Recyclable waste trade, ecological footprint (environmental quality), economic growth and renewable energy consumption variables were used in the model. By including 16 EU member countries in the model, annual data for the period 2008-2021 were estimated with the extended mean group estimator (AGM) method. According to the findings, circular economy, economic growth and renewable energy consumption were found to be statistically significant on ecological footprint (environmental quality) in the economies of Germany, the Netherlands, Poland, Finland, Denmark, Portugal, Switzerland, Greece, Spain, France, Croatia and Italy. These results show that circular economy is used more effectively in countries such as Germany, Netherlands, Poland, Finland, Denmark, Portugal, Switzerland, Greece, Spain, France, Croatia and Italy. On the other hand, circular economy, economic growth and renewable energy consumption were not found to be statistically significant on ecological footprint (environmental quality) in countries such as Ireland, Slovenia, Bulgaria and Hungary.

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