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Circular economy: A new research field?

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  • Julian Kirchherr
  • Andrea Urbinati
  • Kris Hartley

Abstract

Action to pursue the circular economy (CE) transition is burgeoning in the government and the private sector. Does this action signal that CE is a distinct field of research with a unique disciplinary identity? This article argues that CE has reached field status, through its own epistemic communities characterized by increasingly shared methodological perspectives and normative ideals, and through institutionalized knowledge development through research journals and authority structures. The recent growth of CE research points toward more contextualized and nuanced operationalizations of the concept, evidence that the field is approaching a threshold state of maturity. Drawing on observations from academic literature and discussions with researchers and experts, we trace the process by which CE has arrived at the status of a field. The article concludes with reflections on research directions.

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  • Julian Kirchherr & Andrea Urbinati & Kris Hartley, 2023. "Circular economy: A new research field?," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 27(5), pages 1239-1251, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:inecol:v:27:y:2023:i:5:p:1239-1251
    DOI: 10.1111/jiec.13426
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    Cited by:

    1. Marvin Henry & Julian Kirchherr & Rob Raven & Marko Hekkert, 2024. "Bottom‐up dynamics in circular innovation systems: The perspective of circular start‐ups," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 28(2), pages 320-338, April.
    2. Xi Sun & Sophie M. Behr & Merve Kücük, 2024. "Enabling Circular Economy Dynamics in the Plastics and Steel Industries: Perspectives from Multiple Stakeholders," Discussion Papers of DIW Berlin 2093, DIW Berlin, German Institute for Economic Research.

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