Opportunities and Challenges for Data-Driven and Circular Economy

The circular economy aims to decouple economic growth from resource consumption by promoting the reuse, recycling, and regeneration of materials and products. This chapter discusses how data-driven technologies, such as the Internet of Things (IoT), big data analytics, and machine learning, can enable the optimization of resource flows, facilitate the tracking and tracing of materials, and support decision-making for sustainable production and consumption. The chapter explores the role of policy and regulatory frameworks in promoting data-driven and circular economy practices. It discusses the need for supportive policies that incentivize data sharing, promote eco-design, and encourage collaboration among businesses, governments, and civil society.