The Circular Economy: Recent debates and research trends
Vol 8, Issue 3, 2024
VIEWS - 2348 (Abstract)
Abstract
The Circular Economy is one of the most prominent cross-disciplinary and cross-sectoral concepts to emerge in recent decades. It has permeated academia, policymaking, business, NGOs, and the general public, leading to numerous applications of the concept, some of which only partially overlap. In this article, we review recent debates and research trends in the Circular Economy, outlining the ten most common groups of its conceptualizations using the PRISMA (Preferred Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis) method. We then propose a post disciplinary and transnational research program on the Circular Economy that would not only combine hard and soft sciences in unprecedented ways but also have important practical applications, such as developing tools to embed the Circular Economy in natural, technical, economic, and socio-cultural settings.
Keywords
Full Text:
PDFReferences
- Adam, F. & Rončević, B. (2003) Social Capital: Recent Debates and Research Trends. Social Science Information, 42(2), 155-183. https://doi.org/10.1177/0539018403042002001
- Andersen, M. S. (2007). An introductory note on the environmental economics of the circular economy.
- Audet, R. (2016). Transition as discourse. International Journal of Sustainable Development, 19(4), 365–382. https://doi.org/10.1504/IJSD.2016.080512
- Baxter, W., & Childs, P. (2017). Designing circular possessions. In Routledge Handbook of Sustainable Product Design. Routledge.
- Benyus, J. M. (1997). Biomimicry: Innovation inspired by nature. Available online: https://www.overdrive.com/search?q=D9D9103D-AD2D-41C4-B953-41DC68EF3899 (accessed on 3 June 2023).
- Besednjak Valič, T., Kolar, J., & Lamut, U. (2022). Fighting the big bad wolf of global trends: technology transfer between HPC centres and SMEs. Digital Policy, Regulation and Governance, 24(6), 498-512. https://doi.org/10.1108/DPRG-11-2020-0162
- Besednjak Valič, T., Kolar, J., Lamut, U., & Pandiloska Jurak, A. (2023). Key policy mechanisms supporting the University–Industry collaboration in the Danube region: case study of academic HPC centres and SMEs. European Journal of Management and Business Economics, 32(5), 509-524. https://dx.doi.org 10.1108/EJMBE-09-2022-0283
- Bocken, N. M., Ritala, P., & Huotari, P. (2017). The circular economy: Exploring the introduction of the concept among S&P 500 firms. Journal of Industrial Ecology, 21(3), 487–490. https://doi.org/10.1111/jiec.12605
- Boons, F., & Howard-Grenville, J. A. (2009). The social embeddedness of industrial ecology. Edward Elgar Publishing.
- Boulding, K., & Jarret, H. (1996). The economics of the coming spaceship earth. Environmental quality in a growing economy. Essays from the Sixth RFF Forum.
- Bouton, S., Hannon, E., Rogers, M., Swartz, S., Johnson, R., Gold, A., & Staples, M. (2016). The circular economy: Moving from theory to practice. Available online: https://www.mckinsey.com/~/media/McKinsey/Business%20Functions/Sustainability/Our%20Insights/The%20circular%20economy%20Moving%20from%20theory%20to%20practice/The%20circular%20economy%20Moving%20from%20theory%20to%20practice.ashx (accessed on 3 June 2023).
- Brennan, G., Tennant, M., & Blomsma, F. (2015). 10 Business and production solutions Closing loops and the circular economy. Available online: https://eprints.mdx.ac.uk/21177/ (accessed on 3 June 2023).
- Centobelli, P., Cerchione, R., Chiaroni, D., Del Vecchio, P., & Urbinati, A. (2020). Designing business models in circular economy: A systematic literature review and research agenda. Business Strategy and the Environment, 29(4), 1734–1749. https://doi.org/10.1002/bse.2466
- Chen, L. H., Hung, P., & Ma, H. (2020). Integrating circular business models and development tools in the circular economy transition process: A firm‐level framework. Business Strategy and the Environment, 29(5), 1887–1898. https://doi.org/10.1002/bse.2477
- Cottafava, D., Ascione, G. S., & Ilaria, A. (2019). Circular economy: new paradigm or just relabelling? A quantitative text and social network analysis on Wikipedia webpages. R&D Management Conference 2019, 1–14. https://dx.doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.32576.99843
- Dahlsrud, A. (2006). How corporate social responsibility is defined: An analysis of 37 definitions—Dahlsrud—2008—Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management—Wiley Online Library. Soc. Responsible. Environ. Mgmt, 15, 1–13. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/csr.132
- Denyer, D., & Tranfield, D. (2009). Producing a systematic review. In The Sage handbook of organizational research methods (pp. 671–689). Sage Publications Ltd.
- Dryzek, J. S. (2022). The Politics of the Earth: Environmental Discourses. Oxford University Press.
- Džajić Uršič, E. (2020). Morphogenesis of Industrial Symbiotic Networks. Berlin: Peter Lang. https://doi.org/10.3726/b16330
- Ehrenfeld, J. R. (2000). Industrial ecology: Paradigm shift or normal science? https://doi.org/10.1177/0002764200044002006
- Elkington, J., Lim, J., & Smith, L. (2016). Breakthrough business models: Exponentially more social, lean, integrated and circular. Available online: https://volans.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Volans_Breakthrough-Business-Models_Report_Sep2016.pdf (accessed on 6 June 2023).
- Ellen MacArthur Foundation. (2013). Towards the circular economy Vol. 1: An economic and business rationale for an accelerated transition. Available online: https://ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/towards-the-circular-economy-vol-1-an-economic-and-business-rationale-for-an (accessed on 6 June 2023).
- Ellen MacArthur Foundation. (2017). Circular economy introduction. Available online: https://ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/topics/circular-economy-introduction/overview (accessed on 6 June 2023).
- Ellen MacArthur Foundation. (2021). Completing the picture: How the circular economy tackles climate change. Available online: https://ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/completing-the-picture (accessed on 6 June 2023).
- Ellen MacArthur Foundation. (2023). Circular economy in Africa: Examples and opportunities. Available online: https://ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/circular-economy-in-africa/overview (accessed on 6 June 2023).
- Ellen MacArthur Foundation, & Environment, M. C. for B. and. (2015). Growth within: A circular economy vision for a competitive Europe. Available online: https://www.ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/assets/downloads/circular-economy/Growth-Within-Report.pdf (accessed on 6 June 2023).
- European Commission. (2019a). COM/2019/640 final. Available online: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=COM%3A2019%3A640%3AFIN (accessed on 6 June 2023).
- European Commission. (2019b). Directive (EU) 2019/904 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 5 June 2019 on the reduction of the impact of certain plastic products on the environment. Available online: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dir/2019/904/oj (accessed on 6 June 2023).
- European Commission. (2020a). Communication from the commission to the European parliament, the council, the European economic and social committee and the committee of the regions A new Circular Economy Action Plan For a cleaner and more competitive Europe. Available online: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?qid=1583933814386&uri=COM:2020:98:FIN (accessed on 6 June 2023).
- European Commission. (2019c). Closing the loop: Commission delivers on Circular Economy Action Plan. Available online: https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/IP_19_1480 (accessed on 6 June 2023).
- European Commission. (2020b). Circular economy action plan. Available online: https://ec.europa.eu/environment/strategy/circular-economy-action-plan_en (accessed on 6 June 2023).
- European Parliament and Council. (2009). Directive 2009/125/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21 October 2009 establishing a framework for the setting of ecodesign requirements for energy-related products (recast) (Text with EEA relevance). Available online: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dir/2009/125/oj/eng (accessed on 6 June 2023).
- Friant, M. C., Vermeulen, W. J., & Salomone, R. (2021). Analysing European Union circular economy policies: Words versus actions. Sustainable Production and Consumption, 27, 337–353. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.spc.2020.11.001
- Fric, U., Rončević, B., Gangaliuc, C., Pandiloska Jurak, A., Ursic, E., Besednjak Valič, T., & Cepoi, V. (2023). Development and implementation of the EU grand strategies: sociological, policy, and regional considerations of Agenda 2030 (p. 138). Peter Lang International Academic Publishers
- Frosch, R. A., & Gallopoulos, N. E. (1989). Strategies for Manufacturing. Strategies for Manufacturing. Scientific American, 261(3), 144–153. https://doi.org/10.1038/scientificamerican0989-144
- Geissdoerfer, M., Morioka, S. N., de Carvalho, M. M., & Evans, S. (2018). Business models and supply chains for the circular economy. https://doi.org/10.17863/CAM.27629
- Geissdoerfer, M., Savaget, P., Bocken, N. M. P., & Hultink, E. J. (2017). The Circular Economy – A new sustainability paradigm? Journal of Cleaner Production, 143, 757–768. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2016.12.048
- Geng, Y., & Doberstein, B. (2008). Developing the circular economy in China: Challenges and opportunities for achieving “leapfrog development”: International Journal of Sustainable Development & World Ecology: Vol 15, No 3. International Journal of Sustainable Development & World Ecology, 15(3), 231–239. https://doi.org/10.3843/SusDev.15.3:6
- Ghisellini, P., Cialani, C., & Ulgiati, S. (2016). A review on circular economy: The expected transition to a balanced interplay of environmental and economic systems. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2015.09.007
- Gregson, N., Crang, M., Fuller, S., & Holmes, H. (2015). Interrogating the circular economy: The moral economy of resource recovery in the EU. Economy and Society, 44(2), 218–243. https://doi.org/10.1080/03085147.2015.1013353
- Greyson, J. (2007). An economic instrument for zero waste, economic growth and sustainability. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2006.07.019
- Haas, W., Krausmann, F., Wiedenhofer, D., & Heinz, M. (2015). How circular is the global economy? An assessment of material flows, waste production, and recycling in the European Union and the world in 2005. Journal of Industrial Ecology, 19(5), 765–777. https://doi.org/10.1111/jiec.12244
- Heshmati, A. (2015). A Review of the Circular Economy and its Implementation. SSRN Electronic Journal. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2713032
- Hoffman, A. J. (2003). Linking social systems analysis to the industrial ecology framework. https://doi.org/10.1177/1086026602250219
- Homrich, A. S., Galvão, G., Abadia, L. G., & Carvalho, M. M. (2018). The circular economy umbrella: Trends and gaps on integrating pathways. Journal of Cleaner Production, 175, 525–543. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2017.11.064
- Jagtap, S., Garcia-Garcia, G., Duong, L., Swainson, M., & Martindale, W. (2021). Codesign of Food System and Circular Economy Approaches for the Development of Livestock Feeds from Insect Larvae. Foods, 10(8), Article 8. https://doi.org/10.3390/foods10081701
- Jessop, B., & Oosterlynck, S. (2008). Cultural political economy: On making the cultural turn without falling into soft economic sociology. Geoforum, 39(3), 1155–1169. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoforum.2006.12.008
- Johnston, K., & Beatson, A. (2005). Managerial conceptualisations of corporate social responsibility: An exploratory study. ANZMAC 2005: Broadening the Boundaries: Conference Proceedings, 41–47.
- Kara, S., Hauschild, M., Sutherland, J., & McAloone, T. (2022). Closed-loop systems to circular economy: A pathway to environmental sustainability? CIRP Annals, 71(2), 505–528. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cirp.2022.05.008
- Khan, O., Daddi, T., & Iraldo, F. (2020). Microfoundations of dynamic capabilities: Insights from circular economy business cases. Business Strategy and the Environment, 29(3), 1479–1493. https://doi.org/10.1002/bse.2447
- Kirchherr, J. (2023). Bullshit in the Sustainability and Transitions Literature: A Provocation. Circular Economy and Sustainability, 3(1), 167–172. https://doi.org/10.1007/s43615-022-00175-9
- Kirchherr, J., Reike, D., & Hekkert, M. P. (2017). Conceptualizing the Circular Economy: An Analysis of 114 Definitions. Accounting, Auditing & Accountability Journal, 6, 523–557. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3037579
- Kourtit, K., Nijkamp, P., & Haas, T. (2021). 13. The city of opportunity: Designing Cities4People. In: Handbook of Cities and Networks (edited by Neal, Zachary P., Rozenblat, Céline, p. 273). Edward Elgar Publishing, 31 Jul 2021.
- Kumar, M., Kumar Choubey, V., Deepak, A., Gedam, V. V., & Raut, R. D. (2021). Life cycle assessment (LCA) of dairy processing industry: A case study of North India. Journal of Cleaner Production, 326, 129331. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2021.129331
- Kumar, M., Raut, R. D., Jagtap, S., & Choubey, V. K. (2023). Circular economy adoption challenges in the food supply chain for sustainable development. Business Strategy and the Environment, 32(4), 1334–1356. https://doi.org/10.1002/bse.3191
- Laurenti, R., Singh, J., Frostell, B., Sinha, R., & Binder, C. R. (2018). The socio-economic embeddedness of the circular economy: An integrative framework. Sustainability, 10(7), 2129. https://doi.org/10.3390/su10072129
- Lewandowski, M. (2016). Designing the Business Models for Circular Economy—Towards the Conceptual Framework. Sustainability, 8(1), Article 1. https://doi.org/10.3390/su8010043
- Lieder, M., & Rashid, A. (2016). Towards circular economy implementation: A comprehensive review in context of manufacturing industry. Journal of Cleaner Production, 115, 36–51. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2015.12.042
- Linder, M., & Williander, M. (2017). Circular business model innovation: Inherent uncertainties. Business Strategy and the Environment, 26, 182–196. https://doi.org/10.1002/bse.1906
- Ma, Y., Rong, K., Luo, Y., Wang, Y., Mangalagiu, D., & Thornton, T. F. (2019). Value Co-creation for sustainable consumption and production in the sharing economy in China. Journal of Cleaner Production, 208, 1148–1158. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2018.10.135
- Mangla, S. K., Luthra, S., Rich, N., Kumar, D., Rana, N. P., & Dwivedi, Y. K. (2018). Enablers to implement sustainable initiatives in agri-food supply chains. International Journal of Production Economics, 203, 379–393. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpe.2018.07.012
- Mansuy, J., Verga, G. C., Pel, B., Messagie, M., Lebeau, P., Achten, W., Khan, A. Z., & Macharis, C. (2022). Transitioning to a circular economy: Changing Business Models and Business Ecosystems. ASP editions-Academic and Scientific Publishers.
- Mazur-Wierzbicka, E. (2021). Circular economy: Advancement of European Union countries. Environmental Sciences Europe, 33(1), 111. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12302-021-00549-0
- Merli, R., Preziosi, M., & Acampora, A. (2018). How do scholars approach the circular economy? A systematic literature review. Journal of Cleaner Production, 178, 703–722. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2017.12.112
- Mohamed Sultan, A. A., & Mativenga, P. T. (2019). Sustainable Location Identification Decision Protocol (SuLIDeP) for determining the location of recycling centres in a circular economy. Journal of Cleaner Production, 223, 508–521. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2019.03.104
- O’Brien, M. (2008). A crisis of waste? Understanding the rubbish society. Routledge.
- O’Dwyer, B. (2003). Conceptions of corporate social responsibility: the nature of managerial capture. Accounting, Auditing & Accountability Journal, 16(4), 523–557. https://doi.org/10.1108/09513570310492290
- Page, M. J., McKenzie, J. E., Bossuyt, P. M., et al. (2021). The PRISMA 2020 statement: an updated guideline for reporting systematic reviews. Research Methods & Reporting, 2021, 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.n71
- Park, J., Sarkis, J., & Wu, Z. (2010). Creating integrated business and environmental value within the context of China’s circular economy and ecological modernization. Journal of Cleaner Production, 18(15), 1494–1501. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2010.06.001
- Pearce, D. W., & Turner, R. K. (1989). Economics of Natural Resources and the Environment. Johns Hopkins University Press.
- Pinyol Alberich, J. (2020). Exploring the Extent of Political Discourse Change in the Circular Economy (SSRN Scholarly Paper 3728913). https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3728913
- Pinyol Alberich, J., Pansera, M., & Hartley, S. (2023). Understanding the EU’s circular economy policies through futures of circularity. Journal of Cleaner Production, 385, 135723. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2022.135723
- Prieto-Sandoval, V., Jaca García, C., & Ormazabal Goenaga, M. (2016). Circular Economy: An economic and industrial model to achieve the sustainability of society. Proceedings of the 22nd Annual International Sustainable Development Research Society Conference. Rethinking Sustainability Models and Practices: Challenges for the New and Old World Contexts, 2, 504–520.
- Purser, R. E., Park, C., & Montuori, A. (1995). Limits to Anthropocentrism: Toward an Ecocentric Organization Paradigm? The Academy of Management Review, 20(4), 1053–1089. https://doi.org/10.2307/258965
- Rizos, V., Behrens, A., Van der Gaast, W., Hofman, E., Ioannou, A., Kafyeke, T., Flamos, A., Rinaldi, R., Papadelis, S., & Hirschnitz-Garbers, M. (2016). Implementation of circular economy business models by small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs): Barriers and enablers. Sustainability, 8(11), 1212. https://doi.org/10.3390/su8111212
- Rodríguez-Antón, J. M., Rubio-Andrada, L., Celemín-Pedroche, M. S., & Ruíz-Peñalver, S. M. (2022). From the circular economy to the sustainable development goals in the European Union: An empirical comparison. International Environmental Agreements: Politics, Law and Economics, 22(1), 67–95. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10784-021-09553-4
- Rončević, B., & Fric, U. (2015). Researching industrial Symbiosis: Challenges and dilemmas. Frankfurt Am Main: Peter Lang, 35–49.
- Rosa, P., Sassanelli, C., & Terzi, S. (2019). Towards Circular Business Models: A systematic literature review on classification frameworks and archetypes. Journal of Cleaner Production, 236, 117696. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2019.117696
- Rovanto, S., & Finne, M. (2023). What Motivates Entrepreneurs into Circular Economy Action? Evidence from Japan and Finland. Journal of Business Ethics, 184(1), 71–91. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-022-05122-0
- Sauvé, S., Bernard, S., Sloan, P., Sauvé, S., Bernard, S., & Sloan, P. (2016). Environmental sciences, sustainable development and circular economy: Alternative concepts for trans-disciplinary research. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envdev.2015.09.002
- Schwarz, M., & Thompson, M. (1990). Divided We Stand: Redefining Politics, Technology, and Social Choice. University of Pennsylvania Press.
- Sikdar, S. (2019). Circular economy: Is there anything new in this concept? Clean Technologies and Environmental Policy, 21(6), 1173–1175. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10098-019-01722-z
- Singer, T. (2017). Business Transformation and the Circular Economy—A Candid Look at Risks and Rewards (Research Report 1628-17-RR, 55). Available online: https://www.stern.nyu.edu/sites/default/files/assets/documents/TCB-Business-Transformation-and-the-Circular-Economy-RR.PDF (accessed on 7 April 2022).
- Stål, H. I., & Corvellec, H. (2018). A decoupling perspective on circular business model implementation: Illustrations from Swedish apparel. Journal of Cleaner Production, 171, 630–643. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2017.09.249
- Stegeman, H. (2015). The potential of the circular economy. Available online: https://www.rabobank.com/knowledge/d011315542-the-potential-of-the-circular-economy (accessed on 7 April 2022).
- Su, B., Heshmati, A., Geng, Y., & Yu, X. (2013). A review of the circular economy in China: Moving from rhetoric to implementation. Journal of Cleaner Production, 42, 215–227. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2012.11.020
- Teece, D. J., Pisano, G., & Shuen, A. (1997). Dynamic capabilities and strategic management. Strategic Management Journal, 18(7), 509–533. https://doi.org/10.1002/(SICI)1097-0266(199708)18:7<509::AID-SMJ882>3.0.CO;2-Z
- Trollman, H., Colwill, J., & Jagtap, S. (2021). A Circularity Indicator Tool for Measuring the Ecological Embeddedness of Manufacturing. Sustainability, 13(16), Article 16. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13168773
- Tuenge, J. R., Hollomon, B., Dillon, H. E., & Snowden-Swan, L. J. (2013). Life-Cycle Assessment of Energy and Environmental Impacts of LED Lighting Products, Part 3: LED Environmental Testing (No. PNNL-22346). Pacific Northwest National Lab.(PNNL), Richland, WA (United States). https://doi.org/10.2172/1074312; PNNL-22346
- Turner, R. K., Pearce, D. W., & Bateman, I. (1993). Environmental economics: An elementary introduction. Johns Hopkins University Press.
- Ünal, E., Urbinati, A., & Chiaroni, D. (2018). Managerial practices for designing circular economy business models: The case of an Italian SME in the office supply industry. Journal of Manufacturing Technology Management, 30(3), 561–589. https://doi.org/10.1108/JMTM-02-2018-0061
- Valavanidis, A. (2018). Concept and practice of the circular economy. Scientific Reviews, 1–30.
- van Egmond, N. D., & de Vries, H. J. M. (2011). Sustainability: The search for the integral worldview. Futures, 43(8), 853–867. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.futures.2011.05.027
- Velte, C. J., Scheller, K., & Steinhilper, R. (2018). Circular Economy through Objectives—Development of a Proceeding to Understand and Shape a Circular Economy Using Value-focused Thinking. Procedia CIRP 2018, 69, 775–780. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.procir.2017.11.031
- Vishwakarma, A., Dangayach, G. S., Meena, M. L., Gupta, S., Joshi, D., & Jagtap, S. (2022). Can circular healthcare economy be achieved through implementation of sustainable healthcare supply chain practices? Empirical evidence from Indian healthcare sector. Journal of Global Operations and Strategic Sourcing, ahead-of-print(ahead-of-print). https://doi.org/10.1108/JGOSS-07-2022-0084
- Wang, P., Che, F., Fan, S., & Gu, C. (2014). Ownership governance, institutional pressures and circular economy accounting information disclosure an institutional theory and corporate governance theory perspective. Chinese Management Studies, 8, 487–501. https://doi.org/10.1108/CMS-10-2013-0192
- Winans, K., Kendall, A., & Deng, H. (2017). The history and current applications of the circular economy concept. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2016.09.123
- Yuan, Z., Bi, J., & Moriguichi, Y. (2006). The circular economy: A new development strategy in China. Journal of Industrial Ecology, 10(1‐2), 4–8. http://dx.doi.org/10.1162/108819806775545321
DOI: https://doi.org/10.24294/jipd.v8i3.2855
Refbacks
- There are currently no refbacks.
Copyright (c) 2024 Erika Džajić Uršič, Urška Fric, Borut Rončević
License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
This site is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.