The final paper discusses a circular economy that represents a new economic model at all levels: global, European and national. The principal objective of the circular economy model is the concept of sustainable development that represents coexistence with nature, enabling economic development which meets the needs of today, without jeopardizing the ability of future generations to meet their needs. The United Nations is the main global body for creating sustainable development guidelines, while at the European Union level, the legal frameworks that state members have to implement in the form of national strategies and plans, are to be adopted. The concept of the circular economy appears as a substitute for the economic model of the linear economy. The premise of transition from a linear economy model to a circular economy model is a link that allows the collection and recycling of waste that enters the manufacturing process as valuable raw material, while the linear model assumes resource exploitation, production process, consumption of finished products and waste disposal, without the possibility of using same in the new production process. The model of the circular economy is conceived through three dimensions: economic, social and ecological. The economic dimension assumes sustainable growth and development; the main concept is product sharing rather than product ownership. The social dimension presupposes better education, creating new and sustainable jobs, and reducing social inequalities and fair distribution of income. The ecological dimension assumes efficient management of resources, environmental protection and the fight against climate change. From the previously mentioned dimensions, it can be concluded that the implementation of the circular economy model within the concept of sustainable development, represents a genuine need of modern society on a global scale.