Environmental Policy of the EU and Eco- innovations: A Comparative Analysis of Reducing the Negative Effects of Production and Consumption on the Environment in Croatia and Germany

Održivi razvoj i proizvodnja jedan su od najvažnijih izazova budućnosti te izazov koji zahtijeva brzu akciju odgovornih proizvođača s obzirom da obrasci europske proizvodnje i potrošnje utječu na europski i svjetski okoliš. Pojam kružnog gospodarstva odgovor je na težnju za održivim rastom u kontekstu sve većeg pritiska proizvodnje i potrošnje na globalne resurse i okoliš. Inicijative politike koje podupiru ciljeve zelenog i kružnog gospodarstva mogu se naći u glavnim strategijama EU-a uključujući strategiju Europa 2020. Usporednom analizom dviju država prikazano je koliko uspjeha Hrvatska i Njemačka imaju u borbi protiv neodrživosti resursa gdje se Njemačka pokazala kao svojevrsni pionir i predvodnik politike zaštite okoliša u EU. S druge strane, Hrvatska kao najmlađa članica EU pokazuje potrebu daljnjeg unaprjeđenja sustava, pri čemu je važno istaknuti nužnost jačanja aktivnosti i mjera u cilju promjene obrasca proizvodnje i potrošnje te percepciju otpada kao resursa budućnosti.Sustainable development and production is one of the most important challenges of the future, and a challenge that requires swift action of responsible manufacturers with regard to European patterns of production and consumption affecting European and world environment. The concept of circular economy is the answer to the quest for sustainable growth in the context of increasing pressure on the production and consumption of the global resources, and the environment. Policy initiatives that support the goals of green and circular economy can be found in the major strategies of the EU strategy including the strategy Europe 2020. A comparative analysis of Croatia and Germany has shown how much success the two countries have in the fight against unsustainable resource; where Germany proved to be a kind of pioneer and leader of environmental policy in the EU. On the other hand, Croatia as the youngest member of the EU, has shown a need for further improvement of the system, where it is important to emphasize the necessity of strengthening the activities and measures in order to change the production and consumption patterns and the perception of waste as a resource of the future