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Linking Industrial Ecology and Ecological Economics: A Theoretical and Empirical Foundation for the Circular Economy

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  • Aurélien Bruel
  • Jakub Kronenberg
  • Nadège Troussier
  • Bertrand Guillaume

Abstract

The circular economy (CE) is a new model for the production and consumption of goods, which has attracted wide political attention as a strategy toward sustainability. However, the theoretical foundation of CE remains poorly structured and insufficiently explored. Recent studies have shown that the CE model draws on different schools of thought and that its origins are mainly rooted in fields such as industrial ecology (IE) and ecological economics (EE). In this article, we investigate the links between CE, IE, and EE and provide an overview of the similarities and differences between these fields. At the same time, we analyze to what extent the linkages between IE and EE can create a coherent body of knowledge for CE, and be used to identify further research opportunities. This paper shows that, until now, research on CE seems to be mainly rooted in the field of IE and based on concepts and tools that already exist in other fields, rather than inventing new ones. The reconciliation of IE and EE could provide a mechanism to extend beyond such a narrow focus, and increase knowledge of the theoretical and practical framework of CE to benefit sustainability.

Suggested Citation

  • Aurélien Bruel & Jakub Kronenberg & Nadège Troussier & Bertrand Guillaume, 2019. "Linking Industrial Ecology and Ecological Economics: A Theoretical and Empirical Foundation for the Circular Economy," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 23(1), pages 12-21, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:inecol:v:23:y:2019:i:1:p:12-21
    DOI: 10.1111/jiec.12745
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    Cited by:

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    5. Felix Carl Schultz & Robert Jaroslav Reinhardt, 2022. "Facilitating systemic eco‐innovation to pave the way for a circular economy: A qualitative‐empirical study on barriers and drivers in the European polyurethane industry," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 26(5), pages 1646-1675, October.
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    7. Felix Carl Schultz & Ingo Pies, 2024. "The circular economy growth machine: A critical perspective on “post‐growth” and “pro‐growth” circularity approaches," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 28(1), pages 17-24, February.
    8. Jarmo Uusikartano & Hannele Väyrynen & Leena Aarikka-Stenroos, 2020. "Public Agency in Changing Industrial Circular Economy Ecosystems: Roles, Modes and Structures," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(23), pages 1-27, November.
    9. Tatyana Tolstykh & Nadezhda Shmeleva & Leyla Gamidullaeva, 2020. "Evaluation of Circular and Integration Potentials of Innovation Ecosystems for Industrial Sustainability," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(11), pages 1-17, June.
    10. Kamble, Sachin S. & Belhadi, Amine & Gunasekaran, Angappa & Ganapathy, L. & Verma, Surabhi, 2021. "A large multi-group decision-making technique for prioritizing the big data-driven circular economy practices in the automobile component manufacturing industry," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 165(C).
    11. Hélène Cervo & Stéphane Ogé & Amtul Samie Maqbool & Francisco Mendez Alva & Lindsay Lessard & Alexandre Bredimas & Jean-Henry Ferrasse & Greet Van Eetvelde, 2019. "A Case Study of Industrial Symbiosis in the Humber Region Using the EPOS Methodology," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(24), pages 1-32, December.
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    13. Leonidas Milios, 2021. "Towards a Circular Economy Taxation Framework: Expectations and Challenges of Implementation," Circular Economy and Sustainability, Springer, vol. 1(2), pages 477-498, September.
    14. Federico Cuomo, 2022. "Urban Living Lab: An Experimental Co-Production Tool to Foster the Circular Economy," Social Sciences, MDPI, vol. 11(6), pages 1-22, June.
    15. Chembessi Chedrak & Gohoungodji Paulin & Juste Rajaonson, 2023. "“A fine wine, better with age”: Circular economy historical roots and influential publications: A bibliometric analysis using Reference Publication Year Spectroscopy (RPYS)," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 27(6), pages 1593-1612, December.
    16. Frank Figge & Andrea Stevenson Thorpe & Siarhei Manzhynski & Melissa Gutberlet, 2022. "The us in reUSe. Theorizing the how and why of the circular economy," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 31(6), pages 2741-2753, September.
    17. Roberto Louis Forestal & Shih-Ming Pi, 2021. "Using Artificial Neural networks and Optimal Scaling Model to Forecast Agriculture Commodity Price: An Ecological-economic Approach," Advances in Management and Applied Economics, SCIENPRESS Ltd, vol. 11(3), pages 1-3.

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