1. Lessons, narratives, and research directions for a sustainable circular economy
- Author
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Leipold, Sina, Petit-Boix, Anna, Luo, Anran, Helander, Hanna, Simoens, Machteld, Ashton, Weslynne S., Babbitt, Callie W., Bala, Alba, Bening, Catharina R., Birkved, Morten, Blomsma, Fenna, Boks, Casper, Boldrin, Alessio, Deutz, Pauline, Domenech, Teresa, Ferronato, Navarro, Gallego-Schmid, Alejandro, Giurco, Damien, Hobson, Kersty, Husgafvel, Roope, Isenhour, Cynthia, Kriipsalu, Mait, Masi, Donato, Mendoza, Joan Manuel F., Milios, Leonidas, Niero, Monia, Pant, Deepak, Parajuly, Keshav, Pauliuk, Stefan, Pieroni, Marina P.P., Richter, Jessika Luth, Saidani, Michael, Smol, Marzena, Peiró, Laura Talens, van Ewijk, Stijn, Vermeulen, Walter J.V., Wiedenhofer, Dominik, Xue, Bing, Environmental Governance, Environmental Governance, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, Autonomous University of Barcelona, University of Freiburg, Illinois Institute of Technology, Rochester Institute of Technology, Pompeu Fabra University, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich, University of Southern Denmark, University of Hamburg, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Technical University of Denmark, University of Hull, University College London, University of Insubria, University of Manchester, University of Technology Sydney, Cardiff University, Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems, University of Maine, Estonian University of Life Sciences, Aston University, Ikerbasque Basque Foundation for Science, Lund University, Aalborg University, Flemish Institute for Technological Research, University of Limerick, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Polish Academy of Sciences, Utrecht University, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Technical University of Berlin, Aalto-yliopisto, and Aalto University
- Subjects
Circular economy ,research agenda ,General Social Sciences ,Social Sciences(all) ,SDG 8 - Decent Work and Economic Growth ,500 Naturwissenschaften und Mathematik::570 Biowissenschaften ,Biologie::570 Biowissenschaften ,Biologie ,industrial ecology, narratives, policy relevance, research agenda, science policy, sustainability ,sustainability ,industrial ecology ,narratives ,policy relevance ,science policy ,Economy ,Sustainability ,Environmental Science(all) ,Political science ,Narrative ,SDG 12 - Responsible Consumption and Production ,General Environmental Science - 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 with practitioners and policymakers., Journal of Industrial Ecology, 27 (1), ISSN:1088-1980, ISSN:1530-9290
- Published
- 2023