Jessika Richter
Associate senior lecturer
Lessons, narratives, and research directions for a sustainable circular economy
Author
Summary, in English
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.
Department/s
- The International Institute for Industrial Environmental Economics
- LTH Profile Area: Circular Building Sector
Publishing year
2023
Language
English
Pages
6-18
Publication/Series
Journal of Industrial Ecology
Volume
27
Issue
1
Document type
Journal article
Publisher
MIT Press
Topic
- Social Sciences Interdisciplinary
Keywords
- industrial ecology
- narratives
- policy relevance
- research agenda
- science policy
- sustainability
Status
Published
ISBN/ISSN/Other
- ISSN: 1088-1980