Background:The goal of achieving a net-zero emissions European economy by 2050 requires a shift from linear fossil-based to circular bio-based systems. However, this transition relies on societal transformations, cutting-edge technologies, and multi-actor processes, which in turn require new economic frameworks and policy priorities. This study bridges the gap between literature and circular bio-based economy (CBBE) practice by presenting the results of stakeholder engagement activities where the barriers identified in the literature were discussed, ranked and validated. Methods:Adopting a three-step approach, including a focus group, interviews, and a final survey, we present a list of 31 barriers under six different clusters: cultural, economic, environmental, governance, structural, and technical hindering the transition to a CBBE. Results:The literature findings validated through stakeholder engagement underline that the transition requires structural and governance changes to steer the current economic model to a more circular and sustainable one. The most prominent barriers include: Consumer confusion and lack of trust due to generic sustainability claims and the proliferation of certification schemes and labels; High investment costs and risks for establishing circular bio-based industries; Concerns over (local) biomass feedstock availability within the limits of carrying capacity; Regulatory complexities and lack of support for the transition at the government level; Lack of harmonized waste collection systems and infrastructure and Incompatible and/or insufficient infrastructure capacity for EoL product collection, transportation, storage and management. Conclusions:Stakeholder involvement is a critical element of the transition to CBBE, to bridge the gap between scientific advancements and practical implementation. This study aims to identify the most prominent barriers to the CBBE transition with an extensive stakeholder engagement strategy with representatives from the construction, chemicals, plastics, and textile sectors. The findings in this study are expected to feed into the further development of policy recommendations to overcome these barriers in the transition.

The present study examined the impact of risk and ambiguity on environmental donations. Using a dictator game, the research investigated the behavior of student donors in a laboratory experiment in which the recipient was an environmental agency financing sustainable projects. The findings showed that participants used objective risk as a justification to avoid donating, particularly when the risks associated with the donation’s outcome were explicit. This implicitly suggests that, under conditions of uncertainty, individuals tend to prioritize private consumption over collective environmental concerns. Risk- and ambiguity-averse participants tended to place greater weight on the potential benefits of pro-environmental actions over their uncertain drawbacks. Additionally, participants’ perceived level of ambiguity—and the general difficulty they faced in assessing objective probabilities—tended to increase selfish behavior. Finally, regarding the timing of decisions, contributions seemed to be driven by instantaneous and intuitive decisions.

Contemporary environmental challenges necessitate individual engagement in a diverse array of pro-environmental behaviours, contributing to broader social and economic mitigation efforts. The present study examines individual attitudes and behavioural intentions across a wide range of sustainable decisions, including both routine daily actions and more deliberate, occasional choices. Green behaviour-supporting community resilience and sustainability-is conceptualised both as individual action, influenced by perceived and observed risk, and as social action linked to other-regarding preferences, shaped by institutional trust and theories of social capital. The findings reveal considerable heterogeneity in the decision-making process and subsequent actions. Personal experience with natural disasters is more strongly associated with curtailment behaviours and lifestyle downshifting, whereas social proximity bias more effectively predicts the willingness to contribute financially through increased prices, taxes or charitable donations. This economic commitment is further moderated by trust in both formal and informal institutions, as well as by the level of social capital. Moreover, both direct experience and perceived social proximity help to explain many habitual green behaviours. The perceived temporal proximity of climate change impacts is also linked to intentions to undertake occasional and planned green investments. The study concludes that, although the sustainable transition represents a collective goal, it requires nuanced and diversified eco-social and behavioural policy approaches, given that different green behaviours are driven by distinct motivational factors.

In today’s tense geopolitical landscape, marked by strained relations among major powers and deep-rooted dependence on fossil-based economies, the emerging modern bioeconomy can provide resource independence and resilience, in tandem with economic, social, and environmental benefits, and thus has the potential to underpin a sustainable future. The bioeconomy is a vital cross-cutting meta-sector, but it is not inherently circular or sustainable; without intentional design, it risks becoming a linear, unsustainable replacement of the fossil-based economy. Realising its full promise requires purposeful engineering to address climate change, biodiversity loss, strengthen resource independence, support food security and resilience, create jobs, promote social inclusion, boost competitiveness and autonomy, and improve human, animal, and environmental health. The potential is enormous, but so are the challenges society faces in realising the vision for a biobased, nature-positive future.

The present paper analyses current EU legislation governing the production and commercialisation of bio-based products, with a focus on the challenges and regulatory barriers faced by novel bio-based products seeking compliance. The analysis aims to provide a useful tool for manufacturers and/or importers navigating the complex legal landscape associated with the registration of bio-based products derived from various sources and intended for diverse applications. To this end, the analysis is applied to a case study of new bio-based products (NBPs) produced from municipal bio-waste, developed for use in both agricultural and chemical sectors. Although these products are not yet commercially available, they are at an advanced stage of development and nearing market entry. Owing to their multifunctional properties and multipurpose applications, such NBPs may be subject to registration under both the REACH regulation and the Fertilising Products Regulation (FPR). The results show that registration at the EU level provides a significant advantage – namely, market access across all Member States via the CE mark, in line with the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union and EU regulation on the mutual recognition of goods lawfully marketed in another Member State. In contrast, national-level registration within individual Member States remains significantly more complex and time-consuming. The NBPs case study suggests that EU legislation should be updated to include a dedicated category for multifunctional bio-based products. The collection of more data from more case studies would allow assessing the real impact of national regulatory discrepancies on the industrial scalability and cross-border trade of new multifunctional bio-based products as they become available.

Towards a circular bio-based economy, a just transition is critical to guarantee equitable distribution of benefits and prevent the exclusion of certain groups. Transition is inherently complex and requires comprehensive assessments of its multi-dimensional impacts. However, current evaluation frameworks often prioritise economic and environmental factors while neglecting social indicators, including equity, inclusion, and well-being. This gap calls for transdisciplinary approaches, merging insights from social sciences, humanities, and natural sciences to co-develop solutions. Accordingly, this paper aims to understand how socio-cultural dimension influence the transition. Building on a literature review, dynamic modelling, and indicator collection, we investigate more precisely the gender and age aspects of a just transition. The key aspects identified are related to the absence of a gender perspective in public policymaking and research, and the shortcomings in educational frameworks for fostering critical bioeconomy literacy among diverse age groups. Addressing these gaps requires a multi-pronged strategy including the promotion of behavioural change, building knowledge-sharing networks, policy integration with gender and intersectionality perspectives, and inclusive and resilient business models. Finally, adopting a holistic approach to boost the transition in the right direction can foster greater inclusivity and create a more balanced and sustainable bioeconomy landscape, benefiting diverse communities and stakeholders.

This paper refers to interview data collected in six municipalities in the Lecce province of southern Italy, across three waves: 2020, 2021, and 2022. The principal aim of the research was to determine whether compliance with four government-recommended non-pharmaceutical measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 differed over the years and, if so, whether these differences were influenced by personal characteristics. Specifically, we focused on the psychological features of self-control, risk attitude, and fear of contracting COVID-19 and their relationships with indoor and outdoor mask use, and indoor and outdoor physical distancing. The results suggest that virus mortality, the regulations in force, and experience of the pandemic affected compliance with certain preventive measures across all waves. With regard to psychological features, the three factors of interest were found to determine preferences and substitutions across measures.

This systematic literature review examines how Italian small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) integrate Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) criteria to advance sustainability and circular economy transitions. SMEs represent over 99% of EU businesses and driving regional innovation, yet they face uneven ESG adoption due to resource limitations, knowledge gaps, and regulatory complexity. This study analyzes 71 academic and grey literature sources from the period 2015-2025 to address two research questions: Why should SMEs adopt ESG criteria? and What challenges hinder effective implementation? Findings reveal three thematic clusters of action for SMEs: (1) strategic ESG management (e.g., CSR, GRI frameworks), (2) sustainable innovation initiatives, and (3) circular economy transitions. Moreover, successful ESG integration depends on eco-innovation, stakeholder engagement, digitalization, and human capital, yet is constrained by financial limitations, capacity gaps, cultural resistance, and misaligned regulations. Hence, while strategic ESG embedding - beyond mere compliance - enhances financial performance, risk management, and stakeholder trust, it requires SME-tailored policies, simplified reporting tools, and targeted support and guidance. This review synthesizes fragmented literature into an integrated framework, offering actionable insights for researchers, practitioners, and policymakers to transform SMEs into drivers of sustainable development.

Background The goal of achieving a net-zero emissions European economy by 2050 requires a shift from linear fossil-based to circular bio-based systems. However, this transition relies on societal transformations, cutting-edge technologies, and multi-actor processes, which in turn require new economic frameworks and policy priorities. This study bridges the gap between literature and circular bio-based economy (CBBE) practice by presenting the results of stakeholder engagement activities where the barriers identified in the literature were discussed, ranked and validated. Methods Adopting a three-step approach, including a focus group, interviews, and a final survey, we present a list of 31 barriers under six different clusters: cultural, economic, environmental, governance, structural, and technical hindering the transition to a CBBE. Results The literature findings validated through stakeholder engagement underline that the transition requires structural and governance changes to steer the current economic model to a more circular and sustainable one. The most prominent barriers include: Consumer confusion and lack of trust due to generic sustainability claims and the proliferation of certification schemes and labels; High investment costs and risks for establishing circular bio-based industries; Concerns over (local) biomass feedstock availability within the limits of carrying capacity; Regulatory complexities and lack of support for the transition at the government level; Lack of harmonized waste collection systems and infrastructure and Incompatible and/or insufficient infrastructure capacity for EoL product collection, transportation, storage and management. Conclusions Stakeholder involvement is a critical element of the transition to CBBE, to bridge the gap between scientific advancements and practical implementation. This study aims to identify the most prominent barriers to the CBBE transition with an extensive stakeholder engagement strategy with representatives from the construction, chemicals, plastics, and textile sectors. The findings in this study are expected to feed into the further development of policy recommendations to overcome these barriers in the transition.

This paper explores the impact of risk and ambiguity on wealth redistribution through an experimental dictator game. The findings show that wealth redistribution significantly declined with heightened perceived risk, suggesting that increased risk and ambiguity may reduce altruistic behavior. Gender differences in risk aversion were observed under conditions of risk but disappeared under conditions of ambiguity. This study highlights the importance of risk perception in shaping social preferences and the potential use of ambiguity as a moral justification to avoid engagement in pro-social behaviors and wealth redistribution.

Due to mounting environmental challenges, communities are increasingly prioritising resilience and sustainability. Environmental disasters can be seen as windows of opportunity for collective action, influencing proenvironmental attitudes and engagement. While personal experiences of catastrophe can increase environmental awareness, they can also affect social capital, impacting relationships with peers and institutions. Within this context, a post-disaster community might be encouraged to put more efforts in the local urban sustainable transformation to reduce the impact of climate-change related event. To this end, individuals' daily micromobility choices may offer insight into community engagement with sustainability initiatives, given the link between modes of transportation and long-term urban pollution. Through a survey of Italian citizens, we explored how disaster experiences shaped attitudes towards sustainable modes of mobility, as well as changes in individual and social factors. The analysis employed a structural equation model based on an extended version of the theory of planned behaviour. The results revealed that disaster experiences tended to heighten awareness of climate change risk while also reducing social interaction, thereby affecting pro-environmental behaviour. Trust in local government was not permanently affected, highlighting the difficulty in identifying the direct impacts of environmental disaster experiences on pro-environmental actions. Sustainable consumption choices and proenvironmental attitudes may be influenced by social and psychological factors, including personal experiences, personal well-being and civic engagement.

This paper provides experimental evidence on consumer purchase intention and willingness to pay (WTP) in the context of sustainable consumption. Grounded in the theory of planned behavior, the literature on the intention-behavior gap, and Lancaster's model of product attributes, we examine how social and environmental preferences, alongside perceptions of quality and production costs, shape both purchase intention and revealed WTP. Using three versions of innovative sustainable products with increasing levels of circularity, we show that pro-social and pro-environmental values significantly drive purchase intentions, which are, in turn, positively associated with higher WTP. Moreover, perceptions of higher production costs and improved quality-both material and visual-further reinforce WTP for the most circular product. These findings underscore the importance of integrating behavioral factors, prior consumer experience, and product attributes when analyzing demand for sustainable goods, offering policy insights for the promotion of circular economy strategies.

The fashion industry is associated with significant environmental and social challenges, including excessive waste production, modern slavery, and poor working conditions. The circular economy (CE) presents a sustainable model for this sector, focused on economic and environmental sustainability. However, the social dimensions of circular and sustainable fashion remain underexplored in the literature. The present literature review aimed at analysing how these social dimensions are being addressed, focusing on the differences between research originating from the Global South (GS) versus the Global North (GN). The study employed the PRISMA methodology for systematic literature reviews and integrated both quantitative and qualitative analytical approaches. Quantitative analysis was conducted using Bibliometrix and Biblioshiny to examine the geographical distribution of research and word frequency across thematic clusters, while the qualitative analysis, informed by grounded theory, identified core themes and developed interpretive categories. The reviewed literature was classified across four systemic levels of the CE, highlighting the emerging themes of ‘Social Equity’, ‘Consumer Perspective’, ‘Capability and Labour Practices’, ‘Corporate Social Responsibility’, and the ‘Sustainable Supply Chain’. The findings revealed that discussions on the intersection of the CE, the fashion sector, and social impacts are relatively scarce. Nonetheless, this area is poised for expansion, particularly regarding research examining the experiences of the GS and the dynamics of the GN–GS relationship. A deeper focus on social dimensions through these frameworks will be essential for achieving sustainability in the fashion industry.

This study explores the impact of certification on decisions to invest in green bonds. Utilizing a laboratory experiment, we evaluate how different levels of certificate reliability stimulate investments in green bonds, particularly in the context of a green premium. The findings corroborate our hypothesis, showing that reliable certification encourages investors to accept lower returns in exchange for the conservation of natural resources. Importantly, reliable certification may counteract the decline in investments caused by “greenwashing” practices. Consequently, the establishment of a unified and dependable certification system may be crucial to ensure the green attributes sought by investors.

The concept of contagion defines how attitudes, emotions, or behaviors spread within a specific group. Traditional models of social contagion account for network characteristics that define the spread of simple or complex ideas based on the degree of exposure of susceptible agents to their affected “contact neighborhood”. However, these models understate two principal characteristics of real-world dynamics: (i) the competition among ideas of varying degrees of complexity (as observed in voting models) and (ii) the feedback-driven evolution of contagion complexity. Certain network features (e.g., network size, topology, neighborhood size) might favor the diffusion of competing simple or complex ideas, depending on their distinct characteristics. Furthermore, the dominant behavior disseminated may alter the agent’s operational environment, thereby modifying the cost of influencing additional agents. For instance, in co-evolutionary games such as the tragedy of the commons, encouraging agents to collaborate in the context of abundant and untapped resources requires a costly and complex contagion; conversely, in situations of resource depletion, prompting agents to reduce excessive exploitation is less costly—in line with the pathway of simple contagion. In this report, we develop an agent-based model that incorporates all of these aspects.

The transition from a linear, fossil-based economy to a circular, bio-based economy is needed in order to achieve climate neutrality by 2050. However, it is important to ensure that the bio-based economy delivers the expected environmental and social impacts, by respecting and implementing sustainability principles. One effective way to reduce uncertainty regarding bio-based product properties and benefits is through the use of sustainability standards, certification schemes, and ecolabels. These measures can play a significant role in advancing the transition to a sustainable, circular bio-based economy. They provide a solid foundation for assessing sustainability of “green” products and initiatives and contribute greatly to building trust in products among consumers, providing a reliable framework for evaluation. To measure the sustainability of bio-based products, several robust and reliable tools are under development, gathering evidence from research and collaborative efforts of several European projects – including STAR-ProBio, which is the focus of the current paper and which resulted in the development of a pre-standard. The application of these tools represents a path alternative to the more treaded one of mandates issuing from government, bringing to the fore the idea of first convening to build consensus and bringing about the participation that is crucial for every sector, which then helps in the development of standards that will be effective and will be observed. In this paper, we report on the main achievements of the STAR-ProBio project to date and reflect on their societal impacts.

The COVID-19 pandemic has necessitated various unavoidable social restrictions, leading to questions about the effectiveness of public emergency interventions and their impact economic growth. Block et al. (2020) conducted a notably study using an agent-based model to evaluate policies for reducing contact and demonstrated how choices in contact behavior can influence the rate and spread of the virus. However, their approach did not consider the economic consequences of these social restrictions. In response, we propose a set of strategies for governments to plan and evaluate policies during emergencies, aiming to contain infections while minimizing negative economic consequences. Our results indicate that there is no trade-off between containment strategies and economic output loss, making containment measures necessary policy instruments. However, potential trade-offs do emerge when selecting the most effective strategy. In this context, we propose and evaluate various policy alternatives to extreme "social distancing" measures, which can partially restore essential social interactions while preventing economic disasters induced by productivity losses.

Since the late twentieth century, the global fashion industry has been increasingly embracing the business model known as fast fashion. Characterised by rapid production cycles, fleeting trends, low-cost garments and large-scale production, fast fashion seems to meet consumer demand for affordable and trendy clothing. However, its environmental impact as a major polluter poses significant challenges to sustainability and circularity initiatives. This article presents the results of a systematic literature review, exploring the unsustainable consequences of fast fashion, focusing on both demand and supply side, from a geographical perspective. Using a Global North–Global South framework, it explores differences in socio-economic structures, consumption and production patterns, access to resources and environmental impacts. The analysis suggests that a fair and equitable transition towards a sustainable and circular fashion industry will require the links between business, society and nature to be reconsidered, to avoid perpetuating the inequalities associated with the global linear capitalist economy. The findings highlight the importance of both markets and institutions in sustainable growth. In the Global North, the most frequently discussed topics relate to investment and research and development with respect to new technologies or system innovations often with the support of well-structured political guidance. Conversely, in the Global sustainable initiatives tend to be scattered, country-specific and intricately tied to particular socio-economic and cultural contexts.