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he end-of-life (EOL) tyre recycling industry in Latvia is encountering economic and sustainability challenges, which require solutions by various stakeholders. Improvement of tyre waste management and recycling is important within the context of sustainability and the new streamlining of circular business models. Its importance is also recognized at the European Union level in relation to the further strategic goals and the European Green Deal. In addition, the tyre recycling industry in Latvia demonstrates a relatively unfavourable financial situation, which is one of the most significant factors hindering the introduction of new circular business models. The aim of this research is to clarify the challenges related to the financial viability of tyre recycling companies adopting the new circular business models. The main research methods are literature review, semistructured in-depth interviews, case studies and financial analyses. There are large stocks of EOL tyres and on average just 50 % of them are recycled. The tyre waste management companies are not motivated to supply EOL tyres to recycling companies. On the other hand, due to various reasons, most of the tyre recycling companies are not working with their maximum production capacity. The research results reveal that the tyre recycling companies mostly run traditional and inefficient business models that require large operating costs and ensure comparatively low profitability. In order to enable more efficient and environmentally friendly tyre recycling process, the companies should implement new, investment intensive technologies. Yet, they face critical issues of liquidity and financial returns. Major conclusions are related to the necessity to develop several business models interlinked within one portfolio thus ensuring the manufacturing of various products with higher added value and quality. This may maximise the profits and improve the financial viability of tyre recycling business models [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Circular economy is seen as economy’s development direction expected to lead to a more sustainable development and a harmonious society. It covers at least five different business models, one of which is resource recovery, tackling benefits of industrial symbiosis. In order to achieve a circular economy, there must be a greater understanding of the links between economic activity and waste generation. A consensus exists on the vital role of waste and resource management in achieving transition from a linear model to a circular one where the value of materials and resources are maintained in the supply chain. Waste systematically emerges throughout the supply chain as a result of economic activities and trade. Systemic and transformative change is also reflected in the growing number of case studies analysing innovative solutions based on new systemic thinking like "cradle to cradle" and “industrial symbiosis”. The aim of the research is to analyse existing Circular economy strategies in the European Union, in order to identify main priority areas and objectives. The Authors have also assessed that the three Baltic States currently have not developed circular economy strategies, but nevertheless the authors were able to gather and analyse a range of examples of circular economy companies. In order to achieve this, following methodology has been applied by the authors: critical analysis, case studies, synthesis and comparative analysis. As a result of the research, the authors identify best practices, impact of the municipalities, allowing to identify further necessary steps for the transition to circular economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sharing economy as one of the Circular economy business models has great potential in reducing the need for physical assets whilst at the same time increasing the availability of different services. The Sharing economy does not require giving up the benefits and conveniences of using material assets because of more efficiency, but as a side effect; it also causes an increase in the consumption of goods and services provided. This paper discusses the benefits of the Sharing economy and how problems induced by it can be solved. The aim of the research is to discover drivers and obstacles in developing the Sharing economy and suggest solutions. We use literature study, observations and consumer survey as the research methods. The findings of this research suggest that the main drivers to engage in the Sharing economy are the opportunities to save or earn money. The main obstacles are worries about personal safety and mistreatment by platform members. We suggest building trust between sharing platform members, providing a system of credible reviews about service providers and users, as well as providing more comprehensive information about sharing platforms to enable further development of the Sharing economy. Clear rules should exist for participants in a collaborative economy to separate sharing activities from illegal entrepreneurship and set a fair tax system. The results of the study can help to develop better sharing platforms and for policy makers to work out suitable regulation of the Sharing economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Latvian landfill management within the whole waste management system is currently experiencing an urgent necessity of new managerial approaches that will draw their sustainable development strategies. Main aim of this paper is to provide an oversight of the circular economy and industrial symbiosis - a potential solution for landfill waste management companies. In order to assess business performance of landfill management companies, a survey has been developed, which gathers opinions of Latvian, Estonian, Lithuanian, Russian, Spanish and Malaysian consultants, landfill management companies, state officials, associations, researchers etc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Porter Hypothesis is one of the most controversial views and has received a lot of attention since it was written by M.Porter in 1991. His ideas were strikingly similar to some of the environmental policies developed in Latvia since 1990's. There have been advanced market based environmental regulations implemented in Latvia, and as current data shows, it was quite beneficial to the private enterprises as well as state and municipal entities. As monitoring data for Climate Change Financial Instrument implementation have become more available there were opportunities for analysis of them and also in relation to Porter Hypothesis statements. This research article provides analysis of the benefits to the enterprises participating in the specific environmental programme as well as public sector entities during the programme. Total impact of the programme based on the European Commission guidelines on Cost Benefit Analysis and European Investment Bank value estimates were calculated, and further research was analyzed. In addition to intangible benefits, the results show clear financial benefits to the enterprises and public sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lately, it has become rather popular to change a business so that it is environmentally-friendly and sustainable. There is a plethora of information available to the general public that describes the advantages of such an operating model, but somehow very few sources providing a clear description of how a business can estimate the financial benefit from the transition to a “green” model. This research has the goal of reviewing and summarizing fragmented information to create a comprehensive guide to estimate the benefits and planning for organizations considering turning “green”. The research can be split into three virtual parts. The first part is a critical review of fundamental information sources. The second part is devoted to the public resources that currently exist, which monitor and provide statistics regarding business resource consumption. The third part evaluates which of the existing financial ratios and indications can be used to monitor implemented eco-solution performance and planning. The result of this research is a guideline on estimating the benefits from the implementation of eco-friendly solutions for SMEs that are considering investing their resources into this area. Publicly-available information from Lithuanian and Latvian sources were frequently used. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the context of circular economy industrial symbiosis is gaining its popularity as a basis for resource efficiency by saving raw materials and waste prevention. Key concept of industrial symbiosis is to ensure that one industry's waste becomes another industries raw material. It is considered that it can generate the highest environmental, social and economic benefits as well as business opportunities, but at the same time the highest business risks followed by utility sharing and planning and management are to be addressed. Latvia is currently entering the stage of transition towards circular economy. When speaking of circular economy, it has to be stated that it appeared in the literature through recycling, recovery and reuse and is most commonly associated with waste management. The aim of the research is to analyse Latvian municipal waste landfills as starting points for industrial symbiosis, thus fostering regional economic development. The research is based on quantitative and qualitative methods, including data analysis (primary and secondary data), systems dynamics and mathematical modelling. Main results and findings of the study are development of landfill's resource equations, which can be applied to any landfill in order to identify most valuable internal resources that can be offered for industrial symbiosis Theoretical and practical implications of the research are in development of a methodologically justified. The authors develop a set of modules, which can be attracted for industrial symbiosis. Main conclusions of the research are that implementation of industrial symbiosis on a landfill basis allows company to undertake risk diversification, consequently decreasing their current direct dependence from landfilled waste volume. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mobility of society is an essential condition for the development of the regions. Transportation provides access to the labour market, satisfying people's daily needs, encouraging consumption and making a positive impact on the economic development of the regions. An efficient, economical and safe transport infrastructure is an essential precondition for sustainable mobility. Society can be considered as being part of the transport infrastructure, because society's everyday routine directly affects the use of infrastructure and related processes. Driver's behaviour in road traffic is an essential factor for a safe transport infrastructure. Road traffic accident statistics in each country is a significant indicator of transport infrastructure quality and its efficient usage. The problem of the study is the negative influence of drivers driving behaviours to road safety and the necessity to propose the discussion of solutions to change these behaviours. For a solution to the defined problem, the authors put the article's objective: with the aim of determining the essential benefits from a change in driving habits, to identify preventive actions applied in practice, to improve road safety and to reduce the number of road traffic accidents. National economic indicators affect society's behaviour and there is a direct observable correlation to road traffic accident's statistics. Serious accidents are associated with driving a car or being in a car that was involved in a road traffic accident. The issue of traffic safety needs to be addressed at a national level, however, entrepreneurs must engage in solving this problem, whereas road accidents directly affect the profitability of companies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An effective transport system is a necessary part of modern life. Industry and commerce depend on it, and increasing use of the car has shaped today's social and recreational lifestyles. The key sustainable development objective is to strike the right balance between the ability of transport to serve economic development and the ability to protect the environment and sustain quality of life, both now and in the future. The objective of this paper is to study indicators of environmentally friendly transport's purchase and contributing socio-economic factors of its popularity, to identify and recommend fiscal policy instruments for the integration of environmentally friendly solutions into the road sector. Content analysis was used to find available political, economic, infrastructure, and information instruments that facilitate development of transport economy in Latvia. Analysis of statistical data and observation were used to draw conclusions on public benefits from involvement in development of environment friendly solutions. The significant regional and socio-economic differences between countries do not give an opportunity to adopt a uniform policy and, as a result, each country has mainly its own initiative regarding the direction of environmentally friendly decision. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper provides a study focused on the new Member States and their experience in the development of sustainable waste management system and involvement of individuals into it. Almost all countries have achieved the first stage - construction of new infrastructure, and closure and recurvation of old sub-standard landfills. The article provides comparison of different methods used to involve inhabitants into the waste management system; the paper concludes with one important aspect - deposit system which has been discussed a lot lately. The general aim of the paper is to compare the European Union new Member States in terms of their achievements in the field of waste management and, especially, in the implementation of deposit system in the Baltic States. Tasks, undertaken within the research are, as follows: comparison of the EU New Member State achievements in waste management; and a comparative analysis of economic instruments applied in the field and of deposit system, implemented in the Baltic States. The applied methodology includes a quantitative and qualitative comparative analysis. The main conclusions of the paper state that the society education remains one of the most important aspects to achieve goals set for waste management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The authors have analysed the implementation of public activities in several local municipalities in Latvia. The aim of the research is to identify the main driving forces and prerequisites for the development of green economy in local communities. Tasks of the research are to identify the main features of green economy, to study legislation regarding public involvement, to analyse the possibilities of public involvement in developing green economy, to study the current situation in selected local communities, and to suggest ways of tackling problems concerned and share best practices. The study is based upon in-depth interviews; data have been triangulated by the analysis of statistical data and observations. The results of the research demonstrate that public, when engaged in cooperation with local governments, can have a major impact upon development of green economy in local communities. Local governments that are responsive and supportive towards the activities have undergone by the local community experience higher level of public involvement in adapting to green economy principles. Often the initiative comes from small enthusiast groups or even individuals; thus, they may grow considerably, when supported by the local government. In some municipalities, the lack of a balance between business and environmental activist interests impedes the economic development. The discussion with entrepreneurs on cleaner technologies might help reduce environmental impact but still provide jobs for local people. Development of these skills and sharing of the best practices could be undertaken by the Latvian Association of Local and Regional Governments [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]