Digitalisation’s Vital Role in Sustainable Circular Economy

The circular economy has emerged as a concept in the pursuit of achieving sustainable development goals, representing a pivotal paradigm shift toward resource efficiency and environmental sustainability. Current research examines the transformative potential of digitalisation, as a core factor of shifting to an economic environment, shaped by the characteristics of circular economy, therefore fostering the increase in sustainability. By leveraging emerging digital technologies, businesses can optimise resource utilization, minimize waste generation, and enhance their transition to practices with positive outcome over the environment. The current article aims to review and explore the relationship between digitalisation and circular economy, both of the concepts understood by connected variables, such as the DESI score, the investment in adopting and implementing multiple digital technologies, the recycling packaging rate, and WEEE collection. Through data analysis, centred on correlations and two statistical regressions, the present study provides insight of digitalization’s role in recycling and reusing the main resources integrated in adopting and implementing the latest digital technologies in business activities and operations. It concludes by providing a structured answer to the research question. Is digitalisation impacting the circular economy?