PERSONAL REFLECTION: Being an Environmental Science student pursuing a career in sustainability, it is necessary to explore the values of creating more extensive and multipronged circular economy goals. Existing targets are too narrow in their approach to such topics as recycling and efficiency, whereas to promote sustainable systems, targets should be extended to product design, lifespan extension, and system interconnection like the case of industrial symbiosis. The knowledge concerning the development of the new targets and their contribution to the sphere of the city design and resources manageability may have a great influence in my future practice.

DEFINITION: Governance is referred to as a combination of programmatic and decision making practices that directs organizations in achieving the preferred goals and objectives. This implies that governance is a process of coordinated action and decisions in steering organizations to realize certain objectives.

Real world example: This idea connects directly with what we've discussed in our Environmental Governance and Policy class especially the concept of SMART targets (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound) used in sustainability planning. For example, the EU Circular Economy Action Plan sets specific targets like recycling 65% of municipal waste by 2035, illustrating how clearly defined targets guide real-world policy transitions.

A Question to Spark Discussion:Why do you think circular economy targets have received so little attention in research, despite the global push for sustainability? Is it due to the complexity of implementation, lack of standardization, or political hesitance?

A COMMENT ON A KEY WORD This is a powerful observation Targets are not just indicators, but actual drivers of change in circular economy transitions. Without clear, measurable targets, efforts toward circularity may lack direction and accountability.

This is a crucial point. While the circular economy is promoted widely, its real impact is limited without specific goals. It reminds me of how sustainability plans often fail because they stay too general.

This is a crucial point. While the circular economy is promoted widely, its real impact is limited without specific goals. It reminds me of how sustainability plans often fail because they stay too general.

Morseletto, P. (2020). Targets for a circular economy. Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 153(1), 104553. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2019.104553

Summary Targets of a Circular Economy by Paolo Morseletto postulates introducing the benefits of using targets on a step-by-step analysis in order to achieve a circular economy (CE). The objectives that CE does not possess are clear and measurable, like the normal environmental goals. As the author claims, the CE strategies can be divided into three categories, they are: narrowing, slowing, and closing resource loops. Narrowing: also called efficiency reduction of resource inputs, slowing: inner extension of the life of goods (through repair or reuse), and closing: recycling of materials, followed by their introduction into the production process again. According to the article, the two strategies should have their targets to be answerable and guide the flow of progress. Background Materials of the Course The article is specifically relevant to those topics with which we have been working in class, i.e., the problem of municipal waste systems and reverse logistics, and the issue of infrastructure problems. The technical/biological cycles described by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation match with the categorization that Morseletto did on CE actions. That emphasis on designing metrics to measure circularity is also associated with classroom discussion of the difficulty in making a real-world impact on sustainability because systems are being developed in a modular manner, or because no established standards exist. Strengths and Insights Among the strengths of the article, it is possible to note the clarity with which the differences between different CE actions are defined and the necessity to set targets according to each of them. This aids in the avoidance of the over-application of recycling as a remedy for all sizes, and the necessity of life cycle thinking in policymaking and design. Besides, Morseletto is aware of the fact that CE targets are at early stages as compared to climate targets, which are created with years of science and policy in the literature. Limitations and Critique Despite a successful organization of the objectives of CE, relatively little attention is given to social fairness, unofficial labor markets, and other economic inequalities between regions in the article. This is essential, especially in the third world, where the recycling economy is an up-scaled phenomenon carried out in the informal sector. Also, the article is basically focused on Europe, so the given fact can, at the same time, limit the global application of its ideas unless some further modifications are conducted. Personal Reflection Being a student of environmental sciences majoring in waste products and interested in waste products with an ethical angle, this article was very useful in learning how targets can broaden the long-term waste programs. It sort of gave me some perspective that my future path in either municipal planning or sustainability consulting could be to do something to support these quantitative CE goals. I also discovered that accepting the concept of a circular economy is impractical with a lack of adequate and appropriate social/infrastructural planning, which is capable of exposing the groups to increased vulnerability. Conclusion The article by Morseletto is a contemporary, stylish way of discussing the economy of circles. It assists in filling the crack between conceptualization and implementation by proposing that CE should be guided by a monitoring mechanism that consists of positive and attainable objectives. It gives a good backdrop to the waste and resource management systems thinking and decision-making in the future to the students and the policy makers together with the sustainability professionals themselves.