IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/bla/inecol/v29y2025i5p1505-1522.html

Recyclability: Redefining the concept for the circular economy

Author

Listed:
  • Hannes Geist
  • Frank Balle

Abstract

Recyclability is a vital concept for the circular economy (CE). Recycling is an inevitable processing path in the technosphere of the CE, making good recyclability of materials and products a fundamental design requirement. Recyclability concepts in laws and standards are based on a homogeneous, but highly oversimplified, mass‐based and Boolean understanding, potentially stabilizing downcycling in the linear economy. Scientific literature shows heterogeneous concepts, more aligned with the CE but lacking a common terminology and taxonomy. Therefore, a novel improved recyclability concept for the CE was developed, following an integrative research approach for theory recontextualization of a mature topic. The concept comprises a definition, dimensions, and levels of recyclability, as well as types of recyclability investigations and corresponding types of recyclability. It can help structure the discourse across disciplines, create comparable results through a shared language, and ensure consistency with the CE concept. Interoperable operationalizations of recyclability for the CE can be developed or existing ones assessed based on this in future work.

Suggested Citation

  • Hannes Geist & Frank Balle, 2025. "Recyclability: Redefining the concept for the circular economy," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 29(5), pages 1505-1522, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:inecol:v:29:y:2025:i:5:p:1505-1522
    DOI: 10.1111/jiec.70082
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://doi.org/10.1111/jiec.70082
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1111/jiec.70082?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
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Roland Geyer & Brandon Kuczenski & Trevor Zink & Ashley Henderson, 2016. "Common Misconceptions about Recycling," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 20(5), pages 1010-1017, October.
    2. Xin Yang & Xin Huang & Xiaoyan Qiu & Quanquan Guo & Xinxing Zhang, 2024. "Supramolecular metallic foams with ultrahigh specific strength and sustainable recyclability," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-9, December.
    3. Ken Webster, 2021. "A Circular Economy Is About the Economy," Circular Economy and Sustainability, Springer, vol. 1(1), pages 115-126, June.
    4. Dierk Raabe & C. Cem Tasan & Elsa A. Olivetti, 2019. "Strategies for improving the sustainability of structural metals," Nature, Nature, vol. 575(7781), pages 64-74, November.
    5. Yanchao Yuan & Yanxiao Sun & Shijing Yan & Jianqing Zhao & Shumei Liu & Mingqiu Zhang & Xiaoxing Zheng & Lei Jia, 2017. "Multiply fully recyclable carbon fibre reinforced heat-resistant covalent thermosetting advanced composites," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 8(1), pages 1-11, April.
    6. Shu-Meng Hao & Jianxun Zhu & Shuang He & Le Ma & Wenzhen Liu & Yaoyao Zhang & Xiaoxin Xie & Xuan Qin & Xiulin Fan & Hong Li & Liqun Zhang & Weidong Zhou, 2024. "Water-in-polymer electrolyte with a wide electrochemical window and recyclability," Nature Sustainability, Nature, vol. 7(5), pages 661-671, May.
    7. Trevor Zink & Roland Geyer, 2017. "Circular Economy Rebound," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 21(3), pages 593-602, June.
    8. 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.
    9. Zhihan Zhang & Agni K. Biswal & Ankush Nandi & Kali Frost & Jake A. Smith & Bichlien H. Nguyen & Shwetak Patel & Aniruddh Vashisth & Vikram Iyer, 2024. "Recyclable vitrimer-based printed circuit boards for sustainable electronics," Nature Sustainability, Nature, vol. 7(5), pages 616-627, May.
    10. Gaustad, Gabrielle & Olivetti, Elsa & Kirchain, Randolph, 2012. "Improving aluminum recycling: A survey of sorting and impurity removal technologies," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 58(C), pages 79-87.
    11. Henstock, Michael E., 1978. "The conflict between first cost and recyclability in the design of manufactured goods," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 4(3), pages 160-165, September.
    12. Marcel C. Hollander & Conny A. Bakker & Erik Jan Hultink, 2017. "Product Design in a Circular Economy: Development of a Typology of Key Concepts and Terms," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 21(3), pages 517-525, June.
    13. Christoph Helbig & Jonas Huether & Charlotte Joachimsthaler & Christian Lehmann & Simone Raatz & Andrea Thorenz & Martin Faulstich & Axel Tuma, 2022. "A terminology for downcycling," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 26(4), pages 1164-1174, August.
    14. Po-Wei Huang & Hsin-Shu Peng, 2021. "Number of Times Recycled and Its Effect on the Recyclability, Fluidity and Tensile Properties of Polypropylene Injection Molded Parts," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(19), pages 1-13, October.
    15. Coralie Jehanno & Jill W. Alty & Martijn Roosen & Steven Meester & Andrew P. Dove & Eugene Y.-X. Chen & Frank A. Leibfarth & Haritz Sardon, 2022. "Critical advances and future opportunities in upcycling commodity polymers," Nature, Nature, vol. 603(7903), pages 803-814, March.
    16. Nicholas M. Holden & Andrew M. Neill & Jane C. Stout & Derek O’Brien & Michael A. Morris, 2023. "Biocircularity: a Framework to Define Sustainable, Circular Bioeconomy," Circular Economy and Sustainability, Springer, vol. 3(1), pages 77-91, March.
    17. Richard J. Torraco, 2016. "Writing Integrative Reviews of the Literature: Methods and Purposes," International Journal of Adult Vocational Education and Technology (IJAVET), IGI Global Scientific Publishing, vol. 7(3), pages 62-70, July.
    18. Ayah Alassali & Caterina Picuno & Zhi Kai Chong & Jinyang Guo & Roman Maletz & Kerstin Kuchta, 2021. "Towards Higher Quality of Recycled Plastics: Limitations from the Material’s Perspective," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(23), pages 1-22, November.
    19. Ainara Sangroniz & Jian-Bo Zhu & Xiaoyan Tang & Agustin Etxeberria & Eugene Y.-X. Chen & Haritz Sardon, 2019. "Packaging materials with desired mechanical and barrier properties and full chemical recyclability," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 10(1), pages 1-7, December.
    20. Figge, Frank & Thorpe, Andrea Stevenson & Gutberlet, Melissa, 2023. "Definitions of the circular economy: Circularity matters," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 208(C).
    21. Elina Jaakkola, 2020. "Designing conceptual articles: four approaches," AMS Review, Springer;Academy of Marketing Science, vol. 10(1), pages 18-26, June.
    22. Allwood, Julian M. & Ashby, Michael F. & Gutowski, Timothy G. & Worrell, Ernst, 2011. "Material efficiency: A white paper," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 55(3), pages 362-381.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    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. 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).
    2. Leonidas Milios, 2021. "Towards a Circular Economy Taxation Framework: Expectations and Challenges of Implementation," Circular Economy and Sustainability, Springer, vol. 1(2), pages 477-498, September.
    3. 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.
    4. Thanh Luu & Felicita Chromjaková, 2025. "Knowledge-based circular economics model for sustainable competitiveness: framework development and analysis," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 27(6), pages 12563-12582, June.
    5. R. Basuhi & Karan Bhuwalka & Richard Roth & Elsa A. Olivetti, 2024. "Evaluating strategies to increase PET bottle recycling in the United States," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 28(4), pages 916-927, August.
    6. Erik G. Hansen & Ferdinand Revellio, 2020. "Circular value creation architectures: Make, ally, buy, or laissez‐faire," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 24(6), pages 1250-1273, December.
    7. Svenja Anja Klose & Magnus Fröhling, 2025. "A new circular economy conception for sustainable product design," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 29(2), pages 546-560, April.
    8. Rolf Findsrud & Martin Hanssen & David Sörhammar, 2025. "Toward a theory of sustainable resource integration," AMS Review, Springer;Academy of Marketing Science, vol. 15(1), pages 142-156, June.
    9. Renske van den Berge & Lise Magnier & Ruth Mugge, 2023. "Until death do us part? In‐depth insights into Dutch consumers’ considerations about product lifetimes and lifetime extension," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 27(3), pages 908-922, June.
    10. Ionela-Corina Chersan & Mirela Paunescu & Elena-Mirela Nichita & Valentin Florentin Dumitru & Cristina Lidia Manea, 2023. "Circular Economy Practices in the Electrical and Electronic Equipment Sector in the European Union," The AMFITEATRU ECONOMIC journal, Academy of Economic Studies - Bucharest, Romania, vol. 25(62), pages 1-80, February.
    11. Schultz, Felix Carl & Valentinov, Vladislav & Pies, Ingo, 2025. "The Business Case for Circular Economy: A Co‐Evolutionary Perspective for Integrating Moral Cases Into Circular Economy Business Cases," EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, vol. 32(4), pages 4329-4342.
    12. Lima, Ana T. & Kirkelund, Gunvor M. & Lu, Zheng & Mao, Ruichang & Kunther, Wolfgang & Rode, Carsten & Slabik, Simon & Hafner, Annette & Sameer, Husam & Dürr, Hans H. & Flörke, Martina & Lowe, Benjamin, 2024. "Mapping circular economy practices for steel, cement, glass, brick, insulation, and wood – A review for climate mitigation modeling," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 202(C).
    13. Andrew Wear, 2023. "Emergent concepts in local economic development," Local Economy, London South Bank University, vol. 38(8), pages 804-826, December.
    14. Julian Kirchherr & Mitchell P. Jones & Martin Geissdoerfer & Matthew Coffay, 2025. "A defense of the circular economy," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 29(6), pages 1959-1976, December.
    15. Andreas Mayer & Willi Haas & Dominik Wiedenhofer & Fridolin Krausmann & Philip Nuss & Gian Andrea Blengini, 2019. "Measuring Progress towards a Circular Economy: A Monitoring Framework for Economy‐wide Material Loop Closing in the EU28," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 23(1), pages 62-76, February.
    16. 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.
    17. Monia Niero & Charlotte L. Jensen & Chiara Farné Fratini & Jens Dorland & Michael S. Jørgensen & Susse Georg, 2021. "Is life cycle assessment enough to address unintended side effects from Circular Economy initiatives?," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 25(5), pages 1111-1120, October.
    18. Risa Arai & Martin Calisto Friant & Walter J. V. Vermeulen, 2024. "The Japanese Circular Economy and Sound Material-Cycle Society Policies: Discourse and Policy Analysis," Circular Economy and Sustainability, Springer, vol. 4(1), pages 619-650, March.
    19. Naila Erum & Kazi Musa & Saira Tufail & Jamaliah Said & Nor Balkish Zakaria, 2025. "Impact of the circular economy on human development: evidence from Germany," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 27(12), pages 30385-30410, December.
    20. Nikolas Neumann & Aline Mangold & Julia Schneider & Christian Wölfel, 2025. "Driving a Circular Economy: Nudging and Innovative Strategies for Promoting Post-Consumer Recycled Plastic Home-Appliances," Circular Economy and Sustainability, Springer, vol. 5(3), pages 1607-1629, June.

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    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:bla:inecol:v:29:y:2025:i:5:p:1505-1522. 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: Wiley Content Delivery (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.blackwellpublishing.com/journal.asp?ref=1088-1980 .

    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.