IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v16y2024i1p401-d1312077.html

Exploring Circular Economy Practices in the Healthcare Sector: A Systematic Review and Bibliometric Analysis

Author

Listed:
  • Carlotta D’Alessandro

    (Department of Economics, University of Messina, 98121 Messina, Italy)

  • Katarzyna Szopik-Depczyńska

    (Department of Business Management, Institute of Management, University of Szczecin, 71-004 Szczecin, Poland)

  • Małgorzata Tarczyńska-Łuniewska

    (Department of Econometrics and Statistics, Institute of Economics and Finance, University of Szczecin, Mickiewicza 64, 71-101 Szczecin, Poland)

  • Cecilia Silvestri

    (Department of Economics, Engineering, Society and Business Organization, University of “Tuscia” of Viterbo, 01100 Viterbo, Italy)

  • Giuseppe Ioppolo

    (Department of Economics, University of Messina, 98121 Messina, Italy)

Abstract

The healthcare sector produces 2 gigatons of CO 2 . To address this impactful trend and contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the adoption of circular economy (CE) practices could represent a strategic target. In this context, the present article provides a systematic and bibliometric literature review of CE practices applied in the healthcare sector by considering the collected case studies. This study aims to analyze the state of the art in CEs in the healthcare sector in order to identify CE practices in healthcare, examining how they contribute to sustainability goals and the critical issues in their implementation. A final selection of 36 articles from reputable databases, Web of Science and Scopus, was obtained and analyzed using VOSviewer. By systematically examining these papers, the study investigates the key CE practices implemented within the healthcare sector and their respective areas of application, which help the broader mission of achieving SDG 12, and also, to a lesser extent, SDG 9. Although the research criteria impose some limitations, this study offers a comprehensive review of successful circular practices adopted in the healthcare sector while shedding light on existing gaps and providing valuable insights for relevant stakeholders.

Suggested Citation

  • Carlotta D’Alessandro & Katarzyna Szopik-Depczyńska & Małgorzata Tarczyńska-Łuniewska & Cecilia Silvestri & Giuseppe Ioppolo, 2024. "Exploring Circular Economy Practices in the Healthcare Sector: A Systematic Review and Bibliometric Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(1), pages 1-19, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:16:y:2024:i:1:p:401-:d:1312077
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/16/1/401/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/16/1/401/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Donthu, Naveen & Kumar, Satish & Mukherjee, Debmalya & Pandey, Nitesh & Lim, Weng Marc, 2021. "How to conduct a bibliometric analysis: An overview and guidelines," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 133(C), pages 285-296.
    2. Yadav, Dinesh & Garg, Ramesh Kumar & Ahlawat, Akash & Chhabra, Deepak, 2020. "3D printable biomaterials for orthopedic implants: Solution for sustainable and circular economy," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 68(C).
    3. Carina Pasqualotto & Daniela Callegaro-De-Menezes & Cornelius Stephanus Lodewyk Schutte, 2023. "An Overview and Categorization of the Drivers and Barriers to the Adoption of the Circular Economy: A Systematic Literature Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(13), pages 1-24, July.
    4. Petra Hospodková & Vladimír Rogalewicz & Michaela Králíčková, 2023. "Gynecological Speculums in the Context of the Circular Economy," Economies, MDPI, vol. 11(2), pages 1-11, February.
    5. Chauhan, Chetna & Parida, Vinit & Dhir, Amandeep, 2022. "Linking circular economy and digitalisation technologies: A systematic literature review of past achievements and future promises," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 177(C).
    6. Syed Mithun Ali & Andrea Appolloni & Fausto Cavallaro & Idiano D’Adamo & Assunta Di Vaio & Francesco Ferella & Massimo Gastaldi & Muhammad Ikram & Nallapaneni Manoj Kumar & Michael Alan Martin & Abdul, 2023. "Development Goals towards Sustainability," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(12), pages 1-11, June.
    7. Yiğit Kazançoğlu & Muhittin Sağnak & Çisem Lafcı & Sunil Luthra & Anil Kumar & Caner Taçoğlu, 2021. "Big Data-Enabled Solutions Framework to Overcoming the Barriers to Circular Economy Initiatives in Healthcare Sector," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(14), pages 1-21, July.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Antonio Licastro & Carlotta D’Alessandro & Katarzyna Szopik-Depczyńska & Roberta Arbolino & Giuseppe Ioppolo, 2025. "From Data Scarcity to Strategic Action: A Managerial Framework for Circular Economy Implementation in Mediterranean Small Towns," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(14), pages 1-16, July.
    2. Masoomeh Zeinalnezhad & Somaieh Alavi & Seyedmehdi Mirmohammadsadeghi & Angappa Gunasekaran & Golam Kabir, 2025. "Circular economy modelling for healthcare waste management by integrating system dynamics and analytical network process," Operations Management Research, Springer, vol. 18(3), pages 987-1012, September.
    3. Shubham Singh Patel & Aarti Bains & Nemat Ali & Prince Chawla, 2025. "A Review on Integrating the Circular Economy in Diabetic Appliances Manufacture and Management for Sustainable Healthcare," Circular Economy and Sustainability, Springer, vol. 5(5), pages 3865-3886, October.
    4. Anastasios Sepetis & Ioannis Parlavantzas, 2025. "Circular Economy Behavior and Sustainable Healthcare," Circular Economy and Sustainability, Springer, vol. 5(7), pages 6459-6481, December.
    5. Anastasios Sepetis & Konstantinos Georgantas & Ioannis Nikolaou, 2024. "A Proposed Circular Economy Model for Hospital Bio-Waste Management in Municipal Settings," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(1), pages 1-20, December.
    6. Abdullah Alshemari & Liz Breen & Gemma Quinn & Uthayasankar Sivarajah, 2025. "Towards a Sustainable Solution: The Barriers and Enablers in Adopting Circular Economy Principles for Medicines Waste Management in UK and Kuwaiti Hospitals," Circular Economy and Sustainability, Springer, vol. 5(3), pages 2495-2525, June.

    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. Ernesto D. R. Santibanez Gonzalez & Vinay Kandpal & Marcio Machado & Mauro Luiz Martens & Sushobhan Majumdar, 2023. "A Bibliometric Analysis of Circular Economies through Sustainable Smart Cities," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(22), pages 1-22, November.
    2. Laurențiu-Stelian Mihai & Valeri Viorel Sitnikov & Mirela Sichigea & Laura Vasilescu & Anca Băndoi & Cătălina Sitnikov & Leonardo-Geo Mănescu, 2025. "A Bibliometric Analysis of the Role of Digitalization in Achieving Sustainability-Oriented Innovation," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(13), pages 1-33, June.
    3. Miray Baybars & Fatma Demircan Keskin & İpek Kazançoğlu & Yiğit Kazançoğlu, 2024. "Decoding the Nexus: A Bibliometric Review on Sustainability, Circular Economy, and Consumer Food Waste," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(11), pages 1-16, May.
    4. repec:ers:journl:v:xxviii:y:2025:i:1:p:761-782 is not listed on IDEAS
    5. Jan Wiers & Didier Chabaud, 2022. "Bibliometric analysis of immigrant entrepreneurship research 2009–2019," Journal of Global Entrepreneurship Research, Springer;UNESCO Chair in Entrepreneurship, vol. 12(1), pages 441-464, December.
    6. Ewa Puzio & Lei Lei Zhang, 2025. "The Role οf the Internet of Things and Artificial Intelligence in the Development of Intelligent Transport," European Research Studies Journal, European Research Studies Journal, vol. 0(3), pages 1393-1407.
    7. Ana Filipa Fonseca & Fabíola Polita & Lívia Madureira, 2024. "How Agroecological Transition Frameworks Are Reshaping Agroecology: A Review," Land, MDPI, vol. 13(11), pages 1-15, November.
    8. Katherin Carrera-Silva & Olga Maritza Rodríguez Ulcuango & Paula Abdo-Peralta & Ángel Gerardo Castelo Salazar & Carmen Amelia Samaniego Erazo & Diego Haro Ávalos, 2024. "Beyond the Financial Horizon: A Critical Review of Social Responsibility in Latin American Credit Unions," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(18), pages 1-23, September.
    9. Rishika Khetan & Varda Sardana & Shubham Singhania & Jagvinder Singh, 2025. "Financial stability through a global perspective: an in-depth integrative review," International Journal of System Assurance Engineering and Management, Springer;The Society for Reliability, Engineering Quality and Operations Management (SREQOM),India, and Division of Operation and Maintenance, Lulea University of Technology, Sweden, vol. 16(8), pages 2912-2929, August.
    10. Yucheng Zhang & Zhiling Wang & Lin Xiao & Lijun Wang & Pei Huang, 2023. "Discovering the evolution of online reviews: A bibliometric review," Electronic Markets, Springer;IIM University of St. Gallen, vol. 33(1), pages 1-22, December.
    11. Shobhit Kakaria & Aline Simonetti & Enrique Bigne, 2024. "Interaction between extrinsic and intrinsic online review cues: perspectives from cue utilization theory," Electronic Commerce Research, Springer, vol. 24(4), pages 2469-2497, December.
    12. Tajana Čop & Mario Njavro, 2022. "Application of Discrete Choice Experiment in Agricultural Risk Management: A Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(17), pages 1-17, August.
    13. Mihai Felea & Ionel Bran & Dragos Bujor & Kamran Allahverdiyev, 2026. "Exploring Research Trends in Sustainable Supply Chain Management: a Bibliometric Analysis," The AMFITEATRU ECONOMIC journal, Academy of Economic Studies - Bucharest, Romania, vol. 28(71), pages 1-88, February.
    14. Lonwabo Mlawu & Frank Ranganai Matenda & Mabutho Sibanda, 2025. "Incentives for Accrual-Based Earnings Management in Emerging Economies—A Systematic Literature Review with Bibliometric Analysis," Administrative Sciences, MDPI, vol. 15(6), pages 1-41, May.
    15. Sujeeth Ungratwar & Dipasha Sharma & Satish Kumar, 2025. "Mapping the digital banking landscape: a multi-dimensional exploration of fintech, digital payments, and e-wallets, with insights into current scenarios and future research," Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 12(1), pages 1-22, December.
    16. Migliavacca, Milena & Goodell, John W. & Paltrinieri, Andrea, 2023. "A bibliometric review of portfolio diversification literature," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 90(C).
    17. Güler Koştı & İsmail Kayadibi, 2025. "A bibliometric analysis of artificial intelligence and machine learning applications for human resource management," Future Business Journal, Springer, vol. 11(1), pages 1-19, December.
    18. Shivani Yadav & Saurav Ambastha & Harsh Pipil & Anil Kumar Haritash & Krishna R. Reddy, 2025. "Deciphering the Sustainable Stormwater Management Strategies for Urban Areas: a Review," Water Resources Management: An International Journal, Published for the European Water Resources Association (EWRA), Springer;European Water Resources Association (EWRA), vol. 39(7), pages 2971-2991, May.
    19. Slavkovic, Katarina & Stephan, André, 2025. "Dynamic life cycle assessment of buildings and building stocks – A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 212(C).
    20. Shuangqing Sheng & Wei Song & Hua Lian & Lei Ning, 2022. "Review of Urban Land Management Based on Bibliometrics," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(11), pages 1-25, November.
    21. Shikha Daga & Kiran Yadav & Pardeep Singh & Alexander Sorokin, 2026. "Green finance perspectives and future projections: a comprehensive analysis," SN Business & Economics, Springer, vol. 6(2), pages 1-31, February.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    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:gam:jsusta:v:16:y:2024:i:1:p:401-:d:1312077. 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: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    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.