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Critiques of the circular economy

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  • Hervé Corvellec
  • Alison F. Stowell
  • Nils Johansson

Abstract

This paper presents a reasoned account of the critiques addressed to the circular economy and circular business models. These critiques claim that the circular economy has diffused limits, unclear theoretical grounds, and that its implementation faces structural obstacles. Circular economy is based on an ideological agenda dominated by technical and economic accounts, which brings uncertain contributions to sustainability and depoliticizes sustainable growth. Bringing together these critiques demonstrates that the circular economy is far from being as promising as its advocates claim it to be. Circularity emerges instead as a theoretically, practically, and ideologically questionable notion. The paper concludes by proposing critical issues that need to be addressed if the circular economy and its business models are to open routes for more sustainable economic development.

Suggested Citation

  • 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.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:inecol:v:26:y:2022:i:2:p:421-432
    DOI: 10.1111/jiec.13187
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    2. Marinko Skare & Beata Gavurova & Martin Rigelsky, 2024. "Transforming power of research and development on inequality and well-being: a European Union perspective within the circular economy framework," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 11(1), pages 1-16, December.
    3. Miguel Castro Oliveira & Henrique A. Matos, 2023. "Sustainability and Strategic Assessment of Water and Energy Integration Systems: Case Studies of the Process Industry in Portugal," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(1), pages 1, December.
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    5. Miaomei Guo & Weilun Huang, 2023. "Consumer Willingness to Recycle The Wasted Batteries of Electric Vehicles in the Era of Circular Economy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(3), pages 1-20, February.
    6. Anna Maroušková, 2023. "Food Waste Management via Insect Production in the Perspective of Circular Bioeconomy," Economics Working Papers 2023-02, University of South Bohemia in Ceske Budejovice, Faculty of Economics.
    7. Sascha P. Klein & Verena Liszt‐Rohlf & Patrick Spieth, 2023. "Value‐based bricolage: Resource mobilization in the circular economy," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 27(6), pages 1476-1487, December.
    8. Charlotte Ducuing & René Herbert Reich, 2023. "Data governance: Digital product passports as a case study," Competition and Regulation in Network Industries, , vol. 24(1), pages 3-23, March.
    9. 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.
    10. Frank Figge & Andrea Stevenson Thorpe & Siarhei Manzhynski, 2022. "Value creation and the circular economy: A tale of three externalities," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 26(5), pages 1690-1700, October.

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