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Three Propositions to Unify Circular Economy Research: A Review

Author

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  • Massimiliano Borrello

    (Department of Agricultural Sciences, Agricultural Economics and Policy Group, University of Naples Federico II, 80055 Portici (Naples), Italy)

  • Stefano Pascucci

    (Business School, University of Exeter, Penryn Campus, G16 The SERSF Building, Penryn, Cornwall TR10 9EZ, UK)

  • Luigi Cembalo

    (Department of Agricultural Sciences, Agricultural Economics and Policy Group, University of Naples Federico II, 80055 Portici (Naples), Italy)

Abstract

Transitioning into a circular economy (CE) has been recently proposed as an agenda for reconciling global industrial systems with natural equilibria, but the current understanding of CE is ambiguous among scholars. Informed by recent growing CE literature, this study summarizes through three key propositions a set of indisputable insights emerging from the CE debate. In particular, the paper: remarks how CE takes stock of concepts of other schools of thought to drive policy interventions; depicts CE as a systemic transition of global industrial systems; and highlights the role of eco-effectiveness to upgrade business-centered approaches to sustainability. The proposed propositions are expected to contribute to reducing ambiguities in the CE debate and to convey coherence to future research.

Suggested Citation

  • Massimiliano Borrello & Stefano Pascucci & Luigi Cembalo, 2020. "Three Propositions to Unify Circular Economy Research: A Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(10), pages 1-22, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:10:p:4069-:d:358777
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    8. Appolloni, Andrea & Chiappetta Jabbour, Charbel Jose & D'Adamo, Idiano & Gastaldi, Massimo & Settembre-Blundo, Davide, 2022. "Green recovery in the mature manufacturing industry: The role of the green-circular premium and sustainability certification in innovative efforts," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 193(C).
    9. Brunella Arru & Roberto Furesi & Pietro Pulina & Paola Sau & Fabio A. Madau, 2022. "The Circular Economy in the Agri-food system: A Performance Measurement of European Countries," Economia agro-alimentare, FrancoAngeli Editore, vol. 24(2), pages 1-35.
    10. Alejandro Padilla-Rivera & Sara Russo-Garrido & Nicolas Merveille, 2020. "Addressing the Social Aspects of a Circular Economy: A Systematic Literature Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(19), pages 1-17, September.
    11. 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).
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    14. Federico Zilia & Jacopo Bacenetti & Michela Sugni & Agata Matarazzo & Luigi Orsi, 2021. "From Waste to Product: Circular Economy Applications from Sea Urchin," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(10), pages 1-18, May.
    15. Jim Hart & Francesco Pomponi, 2021. "A Circular Economy: Where Will It Take Us?," Circular Economy and Sustainability,, Springer.
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    17. Angelo Belliggiano & Eugenio Cejudo Garcia & Marilena Labianca & Francisco Navarro Valverde & Stefano De Rubertis, 2020. "The “Eco-Effectiveness” of Agritourism Dynamics in Italy and Spain: A Tool for Evaluating Regional Sustainability," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(17), pages 1-25, August.
    18. Luigi Aldieri & Mohsen Brahmi & Bruna Bruno & Concetto Paolo Vinci, 2021. "Circular Economy Business Models: The Complementarities with Sharing Economy and Eco-Innovations Investments," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(22), pages 1-13, November.
    19. Roberta Angelis, 2022. "Circular Economy Business Models: a Repertoire of Theoretical Relationships and a Research Agenda," Circular Economy and Sustainability,, Springer.
    20. Ken Webster, 2021. "A Circular Economy Is About the Economy," Circular Economy and Sustainability,, Springer.
    21. Arru, Brunella & Furesi, Roberto & Pulina, Pietro & Sau, Paola & Madau, Fabio A., 2022. "The Circular Economy in the Agri-food system: A Performance Measurement of European Countries," Economia agro-alimentare / Food Economy, Italian Society of Agri-food Economics/Società Italiana di Economia Agro-Alimentare (SIEA), vol. 24(2), September.
    22. Letizia Bindi & Angelo Belliggiano, 2023. "A Highly Condensed Social Fact: Food Citizenship, Individual Responsibility, and Social Commitment," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(8), pages 1-22, April.
    23. Miha Dominko & Kaja Primc & Renata Slabe-Erker & Barbara Kalar, 2023. "A bibliometric analysis of circular economy in the fields of business and economics: towards more action-oriented research," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 25(7), pages 5797-5830, July.

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