Circular Economy Relationships in French and Italian NUTS 2 Regions: A Multi-Attribute Analysis

The research question aims to present the current state of the CE in NUTS 2 regions within France and Italy, top circularity performers in the EU, aiming to highlight the relationships and patterns among the reduce, reuse, recycle and socioeconomic indicators used to describe the circular economy, and to identify opportune instruments/policies to keep materials and products in circulation for as long as possible and to ensure sustainable development. This necessitates the definition of new development models and leads to decision problems in the public sector. To achieve this, understanding the socioeconomic and environmental situation of a territorial area is vital. Using Eurostat indicators and considering disposal and recovery facilities' numbers, a composite index (Waste Index) is identified and used as a decision attribute, alongside sustainability indicators as conditional attributes within the Multi-Attribute Analysis framework. This way, relationships and patterns are expressed as decision rules. Specific indicators in the decision rules, especially in the "reduce" analysis, like fertilizers and water-induced soil erosion, are crucial. Surprisingly, in the "reuse" analysis, the number of businesses for repairing computers and vehicles appears infrequently. When considering economic and social aspect, attributes like broadband access and tertiary education play significant roles in decision rules, while the employment rate never appears.