Bridging Consumer Perceptions and Circular Economy Efficiency: Evidence from a Post-Transition EU Economy
Despite strong policy commitments to the circular economy (CE) at the European Union level, many post-transition economies continue to exhibit weak implementation outcomes. This paper examines circular economy inefficiency from a consumer-centered perspective, responding directly to the ECO4ALL conference focus on reducing, reusing, repairing, and protecting consumers in circular systems. Drawing on a nationally stratified survey of 629 adults in Bulgaria, the study analyzes seven interrelated domains: awareness, behavioral practices, motivation, institutional trust, social norms, policy understanding, and economic attitudes. The findings reveal that while intrinsic environmental values are relatively strong, consumer understanding of CE remains narrow and predominantly recycling-oriented. Participation in circular practices is uneven, with repair and recycling more common than sharing or second-hand consumption. Structural barriers, weak policy communication, affordability concerns, and low institutional trust significantly constrain consumer engagement. The paper argues that CE inefficiency emerges from the interaction of cognitive, institutional, and economic constraints across micro, meso, and macro levels. It concludes that consumer-oriented policy design, transparent governance, and targeted economic incentives are essential for improving CE performance in post-transition contexts.
Publisert i CONSUMER RIGHTS IN THE AGE OF THE CIRCULAR ECONOMY: TOWARDS SUSTAINABLE AND FAIR PRODUCTION AND CONSUMPTION PRACTICES, 2026
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