Lessons, narratives, and research directions for a sustainable circular economy
Leipold, Sina (Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research. Department of Environmental Politics)
Petit Boix, Anna (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Institut de Ciència i Tecnologia Ambientals)
Luo, Anran (Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research. Department of Environmental Politics)
Helander, Hanna (University of Freiburg. Chair of Societal Transition and Circular Economy)
Simoens, Machteld (University of Freiburg. Chair of Societal Transition and Circular Economy)
Ashton, Weslynne S. (Illinois Institute of Technology)
Babbitt, Callie W. (Rochester Institute of Technology)
Bala Gala, Alba (Universitat Pompeu Fabra)
Bening, Catharina R. (ETH Zurich. Group for Sustainability and Technology)
Birkved, Morten (University of Southern Denmark. Department of Green Technology)
Blomsma, Fenna (University of Hamburg)
Boks, Casper (NTNU Norwegian University of Science and Technology. Department of Design)
Boldrin, Alessio (Technical University of Denmark. Department of Environmental Engineering)
Deutz, Pauline (University of Hull. Department of Geography, Geology and Environment)
Domenech, Teresa (University College London. Institute for Sustainable Resources)
Ferronato, Navarro (University of Insubria. Department of Theoretical and Applied Sciences)
Gallego Schmid, Alejandro (University of Manchester. Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research)
Giurco, Damien (University of Technology Sydney)
Hobson, Kersty (Cardiff University. School of Geography and Planning)
Husgafvel, Roope (Aalto University. Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems)
Isenhour, Cynthia (University of Maine. Department of Anthropology, Climate Change Institute)
Kriipsalu, Mait (Estonian University of Life Sciences. Institute of Forestry and Engineering)
Masi, Donato (Aston University)
Mendoza, Joan Manuel F. (Ikerbasque Basque Foundation for Science)
Milios, Leonidas (Lund University. International Institute for Industrial Environmental Economics)
Niero, Monia (Aalborg Universitet. Department of Planning)
Pant, Deepak (Flemish Institute for Technological Research. Separation and Conversion Technology)
Parajuly, Keshav (University of Limerick. Department of Electronic and Computer Engineering)
Pauliuk, Stefan (University of Freiburg. Chair of Industrial Ecology)
Pieroni, Marina P.P. (Technical University of Denmark. Department of Mechanical Engineering)
Richter, Jessika Luth (Lund University. International Institute for Industrial Environmental Economics)
Saidani, Michael (University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Industrial and Enterprise Systems Engineering)
Smol, Marzena (Polish Academy of Sciences. Mineral and Energy Economy Research Institute)
Talens Peiró, Laura (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Institut de Ciència i Tecnologia Ambientals)
van Ewijk, Stijn (University College London. Department of Civil, Environmental and Geomatic Engineering)
Vermeulen, Walter J.V. (Utrecht University. Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development)
Wiedenhofer, Dominik (University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences. Institute of Social Ecology (Austria))
Xue, Bing (Chinese Academy of Sciences. Institute of Applied Ecology)

Date:	2022
Abstract:	The current enthusiasm for the circular economy (CE) offers a unique opportunity to advance the impact of research on sustainability transitions. Diverse interpretations of CE by scholars, however, produce partly opposing assessments of its potential benefits, which can hinder progress. Here, we synthesize policy-relevant lessons and research directions for a sustainable CE and identify three narratives-optimist, reformist, and skeptical-that underpin the ambiguity in CE assessments. Based on 54 key CE scholars' insights, we identify three research needs: the articulation and discussion of ontologically distinct CE narratives; bridging of technical, managerial, socio-economic, environmental, and political CE perspectives; and critical assessment of opportunities and limits of CE science-policy interactions. Our findings offer practical guidance for scholars to engage reflexively with the rapid expansion of CE knowledge, identify and pursue high-impact research directions, and communicate more effectively withpractitioners and policymakers.
Grants:	European Commission 741950 European Commission 101056810
Note:	Unidad de excelencia María de Maeztu CEX2019-000940-M
Rights:	Aquest document està subjecte a una llicència d'ús Creative Commons. Es permet la reproducció total o parcial, la distribució, i la comunicació pública de l'obra, sempre que no sigui amb finalitats comercials, i sempre que es reconegui l'autoria de l'obra original. No es permet la creació d'obres derivades.
Language:	Anglès
Document:	Article ; recerca ; Versió publicada
Subject:	Industrial ecology ; Narratives ; Policy relevance ; Research agenda ; Science policy ; Sustainability ; SDG 8 - Decent Work and Economic Growth ; SDG 12 - Responsible Consumption and Production
Published in:	Journal of Industrial Ecology, (December 2022), ISSN 1530-9290

DOI: 10.1111/jiec.13346

13 p, 689.8 KB

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Research literature > UAB research groups literature > Research Centres and Groups (research output) > Experimental sciences > Institut de Ciència i Tecnologia Ambientals (ICTA) > Sustainability and Environmental Protection (Sostenipra)
Articles > Research articles
Articles > Published articles