Circular Economy Regulatory Frameworks as Catalysts for Regional Integration and Sustainable Development in the Andean Community

Abstract

This study examines the regulatory frameworks for reverse logistics and circular economy in the four countries of the Andean Community: Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia. Methodologically, it adopts a mixed descriptive-exploratory approach; it employs content analysis of official sources and a quantitative assessment of compliance indicators, organized into comparative matrices. The official sources come from national legislative repositories, environmental ministries' institutional websites, and regulatory databases in the four countries. The findings highlight a gradient of institutional maturity. Colombia leads with 15 active instruments and full coverage of Extended Producer Responsibility, although it recycles only 16.9% of its municipal waste. Peru is growing rapidly in the area of electronic waste, and Ecuador combines a pioneering constitutional framework with low traceability. Bolivia lags the furthest behind. This research helps demonstrate that an abundance of regulations does not guarantee effective circularity. The results serve to guide regulatory harmonization, the design of verifiable schemes, and regional technical cooperation as pathways to bridge the gap between regulation and results.