IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/spr/circec/v1y2021i1d10.1007_s43615-021-00019-y.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Circular Economy and the Transition to a Sustainable Society: Integrated Assessment Methods for a New Paradigm

Author

Listed:
  • Mariana Oliveira

    (Parthenope University of Napoli)

  • Mécia Miguel

    (University of Sheffield
    Group Sustainability HSE&Q)

  • Sven Kevin Langen

    (Parthenope University of Napoli
    Olympia Electronics)

  • Amos Ncube

    (Parthenope University of Napoli)

  • Amalia Zucaro

    (Portici Research Centre)

  • Gabriella Fiorentino

    (Portici Research Centre)

  • Renato Passaro

    (Parthenope University of Napoli)

  • Remo Santagata

    (Parthenope University of Napoli)

  • Nick Coleman

    (Group Sustainability HSE&Q)

  • Benjamin H. Lowe

    (University of Sheffield)

  • Sergio Ulgiati

    (Parthenope University of Napoli
    Beijing Normal University)

  • Andrea Genovese

    (University of Sheffield)

Abstract

The circular economy concept has recently gained prominence in political debate and corporate discourse around the world as a pathway towards sustainability. The academic debate is characterised by several and sometimes very contrasting definitions of the concept. We claim here that the issue is not finding silver-bullet solutions that will simultaneously support population growth, increasing affluence and environmental resource regeneration. We argue that a clearer definition is needed for the circular economy concept, in terms of strategies, objectives, future states and stakeholders’ needs. Also, assessment methods need to be developed for keeping track of the transition towards a circular economy. Within this context, this paper establishes the need for a multi-stakeholder, multi-dimensional and multi-criteria approach for the evaluation of the transition towards a circular economy across different time and spatial scales, as well as multiple sustainability dimensions.

Suggested Citation

  • Mariana Oliveira & Mécia Miguel & Sven Kevin Langen & Amos Ncube & Amalia Zucaro & Gabriella Fiorentino & Renato Passaro & Remo Santagata & Nick Coleman & Benjamin H. Lowe & Sergio Ulgiati & Andrea Ge, 2021. "Circular Economy and the Transition to a Sustainable Society: Integrated Assessment Methods for a New Paradigm," Circular Economy and Sustainability, Springer, vol. 1(1), pages 99-113, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:circec:v:1:y:2021:i:1:d:10.1007_s43615-021-00019-y
    DOI: 10.1007/s43615-021-00019-y
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s43615-021-00019-y
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1007/s43615-021-00019-y?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Gómez-Baggethun, Erik & de Groot, Rudolf & Lomas, Pedro L. & Montes, Carlos, 2010. "The history of ecosystem services in economic theory and practice: From early notions to markets and payment schemes," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 69(6), pages 1209-1218, April.
    2. Alessandra Zamagni & Pauline Feschet & Anna Irene de Luca & Nathalie Iofrida & Patrizia Buttol, 2015. "Social Life Cycle Assessment," Post-Print hal-01547551, HAL.
    3. Thomas Wiedmann & Manfred Lenzen & Lorenz T. Keyßer & Julia K. Steinberger, 2020. "Scientists’ warning on affluence," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 11(1), pages 1-10, December.
    4. Matthias Deutsch, 2010. "Life Cycle Cost Disclosure, Consumer Behavior, and Business Implications," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 14(1), pages 103-120, January.
    5. Paola Lenzo & Marzia Traverso & Roberta Salomone & Giuseppe Ioppolo, 2017. "Social Life Cycle Assessment in the Textile Sector: An Italian Case Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(11), pages 1-21, November.
    6. A. Lake & A. Acquaye & A. Genovese & N. Kumar & S.C.L. Koh, 2015. "An application of hybrid life cycle assessment as a decision support framework for green supply chains," International Journal of Production Research, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 53(21), pages 6495-6521, November.
    7. Genovese, Andrea & Acquaye, Adolf A. & Figueroa, Alejandro & Koh, S.C. Lenny, 2017. "Sustainable supply chain management and the transition towards a circular economy: Evidence and some applications," Omega, Elsevier, vol. 66(PB), pages 344-357.
    8. Alan Murray & Keith Skene & Kathryn Haynes, 2017. "The Circular Economy: An Interdisciplinary Exploration of the Concept and Application in a Global Context," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 140(3), pages 369-380, February.
    9. Ulgiati, S. & Ascione, M. & Bargigli, S. & Cherubini, F. & Franzese, P.P. & Raugei, M. & Viglia, S. & Zucaro, A., 2011. "Material, energy and environmental performance of technological and social systems under a Life Cycle Assessment perspective," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 222(1), pages 176-189.
    10. Trevor Zink & Roland Geyer, 2017. "Circular Economy Rebound," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 21(3), pages 593-602, June.
    11. Kirchherr, Julian & Reike, Denise & Hekkert, Marko, 2017. "Conceptualizing the circular economy: An analysis of 114 definitions," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 127(C), pages 221-232.
    12. Kallis, Giorgos & Gómez-Baggethun, Erik & Zografos, Christos, 2013. "To value or not to value? That is not the question," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 94(C), pages 97-105.
    13. Brown, Mark T. & Ulgiati, Sergio, 2011. "Understanding the global economic crisis: A biophysical perspective," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 223(1), pages 4-13.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Michael Saidani & François Cluzel & Yann Leroy & Daniela Pigosso & Mariia Kravchenko & Harrison Kim, 2022. "Nexus Between Life Cycle Assessment, Circularity and Sustainability Indicators—Part II: Experimentations," Circular Economy and Sustainability, Springer, vol. 2(4), pages 1399-1424, December.
    2. Seeram Ramakrishna & Wayne Hu & Rajan Jose, 2023. "Sustainability in Numbers by Data Analytics," Circular Economy and Sustainability, Springer, vol. 3(2), pages 643-655, June.
    3. Purvis, Ben & Genovese, Andrea, 2023. "Better or different? A reflection on the suitability of indicator methods for a just transition to a circular economy," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 212(C).
    4. Sudipta Ghosh & Rakesh D. Raut & Naoufel Cheikhrouhou & Sudipta Sinha & Amitava Ray, 2024. "Attaining Sustainable Development Goals through embedding circular economy principles: Evidence from food processing small‐ and medium‐sized enterprises in India," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 33(3), pages 2193-2224, March.
    5. Michael Saidani & Harrison Kim, 2022. "Nexus Between Life Cycle Assessment, Circularity, and Sustainability Indicators—Part I: a Review," Circular Economy and Sustainability, Springer, vol. 2(3), pages 1143-1156, September.
    6. Eirini Kaminioti & Constantina Kottaridi & Claire Economidou, 2022. "Bioeconomy and Corporate GRI Reporting: a Case Study Analysis," Circular Economy and Sustainability, Springer, vol. 2(1), pages 383-399, March.
    7. Maione, A. & Massarotti, N. & Santagata, R. & Ulgiati, S. & Vanoli, L., 2023. "Integrated environmental accounting of a geothermal grid," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 185(C).
    8. S. Karagianni & M. Pempetzoglou, 2022. "The Income Distribution Impact of Decarbonization in Greece: an Initial Approach," Circular Economy and Sustainability, Springer, vol. 2(2), pages 557-567, June.
    9. Pinaki Dasgupta & Vivek Kumar & Anushree Malik & Madan Kumar, 2023. "Wastewater Treatment Systems for City-Based Municipal Drains for Achieving Sustainability," Circular Economy and Sustainability, Springer, vol. 3(1), pages 585-606, March.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. 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.
    2. Andrew Wear, 2023. "Emergent concepts in local economic development," Local Economy, London South Bank University, vol. 38(8), pages 804-826, December.
    3. German Arana‐Landin & Waleska Sigüenza & Beñat Landeta‐Manzano & Iker Laskurain‐Iturbe, 2024. "Circular economy: On the road to ISO 59000 family of standards," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 31(3), pages 1977-2009, May.
    4. Yasanur Kayikci & Yigit Kazancoglu & Nazlican Gozacan‐Chase & Cisem Lafci, 2022. "Analyzing the drivers of smart sustainable circular supply chain for sustainable development goals through stakeholder theory," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 31(7), pages 3335-3353, November.
    5. María Jesús Ávila-Gutiérrez & Alejandro Martín-Gómez & Francisco Aguayo-González & Juan Ramón Lama-Ruiz, 2020. "Eco-Holonic 4.0 Circular Business Model to Conceptualize Sustainable Value Chain towards Digital Transition," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(5), pages 1-32, March.
    6. Georgios Lanaras-Mamounis & Anastasios Kipritsis & Thomas A. Tsalis & Konstantinos Ι. Vatalis & Ioannis E. Nikolaou, 2022. "A Framework for Assessing the Contribution of Firms to Circular Economy: a Triple-Level Approach," Circular Economy and Sustainability, Springer, vol. 2(3), pages 883-902, September.
    7. 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.
    8. Chamari Pamoshika Jayarathna & Duzgun Agdas & Les Dawes, 2023. "Exploring sustainable logistics practices toward a circular economy: A value creation perspective," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 32(1), pages 704-720, January.
    9. Hervé Corvellec & Alison F. Stowell & Nils Johansson, 2022. "Critiques of the circular economy," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 26(2), pages 421-432, April.
    10. Yamoah, Fred A. & Sivarajah, Uthayasankar & Mahroof, Kamran & Peña, Iker González, 2022. "Demystifying corporate inertia towards transition to circular economy: A management frame of reference," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 244(C).
    11. Bhavesh Kumar & Love Kumar & Avinash Kumar & Ramna Kumari & Uroosa Tagar & Claudio Sassanelli, 2024. "Green finance in circular economy: a literature review," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 26(7), pages 16419-16459, July.
    12. Leila Saari & Katri Valkokari & Jorge Tiago Martins & Federica Acerbi, 2024. "Circular Economy Matrix Guiding Manufacturing Industry Companies towards Circularity—A Multiple Case Study Perspective," Circular Economy and Sustainability, Springer, vol. 4(4), pages 2505-2530, December.
    13. Donato Masi & Steven Day & Janet Godsell, 2017. "Supply Chain Configurations in the Circular Economy: A Systematic Literature Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(9), pages 1-22, September.
    14. Sara Alonso-Muñoz & Rocío González-Sánchez & Cristina Siligardi & Fernando Enrique García-Muiña, 2021. "Building Exploitation Routines in the Circular Supply Chain to Obtain Radical Innovations," Resources, MDPI, vol. 10(3), pages 1-18, March.
    15. Lahcen, Bart & Eyckmans, Johan & Rousseau, Sandra & Dams, Yoko & Brusselaers, Jan, 2022. "Modelling the circular economy: Introducing a supply chain equilibrium approach," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 197(C).
    16. Adrian Castro-Lopez & Montserrat Entrialgo & Ching T. Liao & María Leticia Santos-Vijande, 2025. "Towards circular economy through innovation: the role of entrepreneurial orientation and human resource management," International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, Springer, vol. 21(1), pages 1-35, December.
    17. Alexandra Barón Dorado & Gerusa Giménez Leal & Rodolfo de Castro Vila, 2022. "Environmental policy and corporate sustainability: The mediating role of environmental management systems in circular economy adoption," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 29(4), pages 830-842, July.
    18. Roxana Lavinia Pacurariu & Sorin Daniel Vatca & Elena Simina Lakatos & Laura Bacali & Mircea Vlad, 2021. "A Critical Review of EU Key Indicators for the Transition to the Circular Economy," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(16), pages 1-19, August.
    19. Armaghan Chizaryfard & Paolo Trucco & Cali Nuur, 2021. "The transformation to a circular economy: framing an evolutionary view," Journal of Evolutionary Economics, Springer, vol. 31(2), pages 475-504, April.
    20. Manon Eikelenboom & Thomas B. Long, 2023. "Breaking the Cycle of Marginalization: How to Involve Local Communities in Multi-stakeholder Initiatives?," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 186(1), pages 31-62, August.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:spr:circec:v:1:y:2021:i:1:d:10.1007_s43615-021-00019-y. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.springer.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.