Clusters of EU countries based on sustainable production and consumption indicators

Abstract

In modern times, the transition to a circular economy (CE) has become a priority for EU countries. The difference between the Member States is that they are at different levels of development and have their own independent strategies and indicators. The indicators under SDG 12, Sustainable Consumption and Production, all measure this. The difference between countries is that the indica-tors against which the SDGs are measured are not consistent. These indicators and their corres-ponding values can be found in the statistical systems of the Member States. The following article summarises the relevant information and aims to provide a general picture of the similarities and differences in this respect, and to divide the countries analysed into two distinct clusters using the indicators of the circular economy.