Towards a Sustainable Circular Economy (SCE) for Nepal: Current Realities and Perspectives

Nepal, like its South Asian neighbours, is exploring Circular Economy (CE) as a pathway to Green Economy and Net Zero commitments. Current studies focus primarily on sector-specific 3R (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle) waste management strategies. However, these approaches overlook the broader sustainability transformation implied by a Sustainable Circular Economy (SCE). This study examines whether a locally relevant SCE model is feasible for Nepal. We conducted thematic analysis of interviews with thirteen representatives from nine CE organizations, supplemented by a literature review. Our findings reveal that while most SCE elements exist individually in Nepal’s context, integration into a comprehensive socially inclusive framework remains underdeveloped. We propose a Nepal-specific SCE framework that could challenge conventional industrial development trajectories focused solely on growth. The authors believe that this Nepal case study has valuable lessons for other developing countries pursuing CE as a strategy, as it suggests that a wider SCE scope is necessary to achieve inclusive development.