Implementation of circular economy principles in the use of environmental technologies and climate change mitigation in European Union countries

Nowadays, a new trend consistent with the goals of sustainable development, the main purpose of which is to resolve environmental dilemmas related to the intensive use of natural resources, increasing greenhouse gas emissions, and irrational use of products, is the circular economy. This article aims to identify actions taken by EU countries from the perspective of achieving a sustainable level of management of materials, products, and raw materials for the transformation towards a circular economy. During the research process, data from Eurostat, OECD, and PORDATA databases were compared. The research was carried out using cluster analysis, the EDAS method, and the grouping of linearly ordered objects. The research results show that the European Union countries studied have not yet achieved the strategic goals set in the CEAP1 and 2 action plans. Moreover, specific principles of the circular economy are implemented in different ways. The results of the conducted research provide suggestions for the management of the countries’ economies regarding the course of action aimed at the complete implementation of programmes resulting in the reduction of the amount of waste and raw materials used. Moreover, they may influence decisions to modify the regulations concerning the creation of a new economic model following the 5R principle.