IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/wly/sustdv/v33y2025is1p650-664.html

Mapping the Intellectual Landscape of Circular Economy and SDG 12: A Bibliometric Analysis of Research Evolution, Thematic Structure, and Geographical Disparities (2015–2024)

Author

Listed:
  • Doe Precious

Abstract

The study examined the intersection of circular economy principles and Sustainable Development Goals 12. Adopting the PRISMA methodology the study analyzed 7900 unique documents published between 2015 and 2024 using the Bibliometrix R‐package tool for bibliometric analysis. The findings revealed exponential growth in publications, from 32 articles in 2015 to 2607 in 2024. The study identified a concentrated publication structure with Sustainability and the Journal of Cleaner Production publishing over 18% of all articles. However, citation impact varies substantially across venues. Thematic mapping revealed mature themes around waste management, resource efficiency, and business models, while sustainable consumption, circular design, and sustainability indicators emerged as high‐centrality concepts. The study identified significant geographical disparities. Majority of the studies have been produced in advanced economies; this creates a troubling mismatch between knowledge production and implementation needs across different development contexts. The study concludes that CE‐SDG12 scholarly works have established robust knowledge. However, advancing its contributions to sustainable development requires expanding geographical diversity and creating stronger connections between currently siloed research streams.

Suggested Citation

  • Doe Precious, 2025. "Mapping the Intellectual Landscape of Circular Economy and SDG 12: A Bibliometric Analysis of Research Evolution, Thematic Structure, and Geographical Disparities (2015–2024)," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 33(S1), pages 650-664, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:sustdv:v:33:y:2025:i:s1:p:650-664
    DOI: 10.1002/sd.70019
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://doi.org/10.1002/sd.70019
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1002/sd.70019?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. Anthony Halog & Sandra Anieke, 2021. "A Review of Circular Economy Studies in Developed Countries and Its Potential Adoption in Developing Countries," Circular Economy and Sustainability, Springer, vol. 1(1), pages 209-230, June.
    2. Fenna Blomsma & Geraldine Brennan, 2017. "The Emergence of Circular Economy: A New Framing Around Prolonging Resource Productivity," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 21(3), pages 603-614, June.
    3. Peres Ofori, 2025. "Circular economy practices in third world nations: challenges and implications for environmental sustainability," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 27(1), pages 1691-1745, January.
    4. Jack Barrie & Patrick Schröder, 2022. "Circular Economy and International Trade: a Systematic Literature Review," Circular Economy and Sustainability, Springer, vol. 2(2), pages 447-471, June.
    5. Md. Ziaul Islam & Lili Zheng, 2025. "Why is it necessary to integrate circular economy practices for agri‐food sustainability from a global perspective?," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 33(1), pages 600-620, February.
    6. Patrick Schroeder & Kartika Anggraeni & Uwe Weber, 2019. "The Relevance of Circular Economy Practices to the Sustainable Development Goals," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 23(1), pages 77-95, February.
    7. Disraeli Asante-Darko & Samuel Ato Dadzie & Amoako Kwarteng & Sena Agbodjah & Theodora Ekua Aryee, 2024. "Effects of Circular Economy Practices and Accounting Innovations on Sustainable Development Goals," Circular Economy and Sustainability, Springer, vol. 4(4), pages 3059-3092, December.
    8. George E. Halkos & Panagiotis-Stavros C. Aslanidis, 2024. "How Waste Crisis Altered the Common Understanding: From Fordism to Circular Economy and Sustainable Development," Circular Economy and Sustainability, Springer, vol. 4(2), pages 1513-1537, June.
    9. Jinesh Mohan & Choudhury Rudra Charan Mohanty & Jeffrey S. Cross & Anupam Khajuria, 2024. "Mapping 3R and Circular Economy Policy Implementation in Asia and the Pacific," Circular Economy and Sustainability, Springer, vol. 4(1), pages 671-692, March.
    10. Assunta Di Vaio & Rohail Hassan & Gabriella D’Amore & Riccardo Tiscini, 2024. "Responsible innovation and ethical corporate behavior in the Asian fashion industry: A systematic literature review and avenues ahead," Asia Pacific Journal of Management, Springer, vol. 41(3), pages 1129-1173, September.
    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. 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.
    2. D. D’Amato, 2021. "Sustainability Narratives as Transformative Solution Pathways: Zooming in on the Circular Economy," Circular Economy and Sustainability, Springer, vol. 1(1), pages 231-242, June.
    3. Alejandro Aristi Capetillo & Fredric Bauer & Cristina Chaminade, 2023. "Emerging Technologies Supporting the Transition to a Circular Economy in the Plastic Materials Value Chain," Circular Economy and Sustainability, Springer, vol. 3(2), pages 953-982, June.
    4. Woon Leong Lin, 2026. "The Influence of Circular Economy on Firm Orientation Toward Sustainable Development Goals: The Moderating Role of Technological Innovation in the Automotive Industry," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 34(2), pages 1596-1621, April.
    5. Andrea Cecchin & Roberta Salomone & Pauline Deutz & Andrea Raggi & Laura Cutaia, 2021. "What Is in a Name? The Rising Star of the Circular Economy as a Resource-Related Concept for Sustainable Development," Circular Economy and Sustainability, Springer, vol. 1(1), pages 83-97, June.
    6. 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.
    7. Yasanur Kayikci & Yigit Kazancoglu & Nazlican Gozacan‐Chase & Cisem Lafci, 2022. "Analyzing the drivers of smart sustainable circular supply chain for sustainable development goals through stakeholder theory," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 31(7), pages 3335-3353, November.
    8. Gabi Försterling & Ronald Orth & Benjamin Gellert, 2023. "Transition to a Circular Economy in Europe through New Business Models: Barriers, Drivers, and Policy Making," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(10), pages 1-40, May.
    9. Cristian David Meza Granobles & Mario Linares-Vásquez & Yezid Donoso, 2025. "Circular Economy in the Armed Forces: Systematic Literature Review and Case Analysis in the Colombian Army," Circular Economy and Sustainability, Springer, vol. 5(7), pages 5849-5872, December.
    10. Arru, Brunella & Furesi, Roberto & Pulina, Pietro & Sau, Paola & Madau, Fabio A., . "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).
    11. Belmonte-Ureña, Luis Jesús & Plaza-Úbeda, José Antonio & Vazquez-Brust, Diego & Yakovleva, Natalia, 2021. "Circular economy, degrowth and green growth as pathways for research on sustainable development goals: A global analysis and future agenda," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 185(C).
    12. Lis J. Suarez-Visbal & Jesús Rosales Carreón & Blanca Corona & Ernst Worrell, 2023. "The Social Impacts of Circular Strategies in the Apparel Value Chain; a Comparative Study Between Three Countries," Circular Economy and Sustainability, Springer, vol. 3(2), pages 757-790, June.
    13. Sina Leipold & Anna Petit‐Boix & Anran Luo & Hanna Helander & Machteld Simoens & Weslynne S. Ashton & Callie W. Babbitt & Alba Bala & Catharina R. Bening & Morten Birkved & Fenna Blomsma & Casper Boks, 2023. "Lessons, narratives, and research directions for a sustainable circular economy," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 27(1), pages 6-18, February.
    14. Benjamin Doe & Prince Dacosta Aboagye & Paa Kofi Osei-Owusu & Theophilus Amoah & Andrews Aidoo & Nana Yaa Amponsah, 2023. "Towards Circular Economy and Local Economic Development in Ghana: Insights from the Coconut Waste Value Chain," Circular Economy and Sustainability, Springer, vol. 3(1), pages 347-372, March.
    15. E. Sardianou & V. Nikou & K. Evangelinos & I. Nikolaou, 2024. "What are the key dimensions that CE emphasizes on? A systematic analysis of circular economy definitions," Environment Systems and Decisions, Springer, vol. 44(3), pages 547-562, September.
    16. Virginie Litaudon & Yiran Chen, 2023. "Transforming existing local ecosystems to circular economy ecosystems for plastics: The case of the PlastiCity ecosystem," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 27(5), pages 1406-1419, October.
    17. Animesh Ghosh & Prabha Bhola & Uthayasankar Sivarajah, 2022. "Emerging Associates of the Circular Economy: Analysing Interactions and Trends by a Mixed Methods Systematic Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(16), pages 1-41, August.
    18. Corinna Vera Hedwig Schmidt & Bastian Kindermann & Cassian Felix Behlau & Tessa Christina Flatten, 2021. "Understanding the effect of market orientation on circular economy practices: The mediating role of closed‐loop orientation in German SMEs," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 30(8), pages 4171-4187, December.
    19. Kristoffersen, Eivind & Blomsma, Fenna & Mikalef, Patrick & Li, Jingyue, 2020. "The smart circular economy: A digital-enabled circular strategies framework for manufacturing companies," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 120(C), pages 241-261.
    20. Chia‐Hao Ho & Steffen Böhm & David Monciardini, 2022. "The collaborative and contested interplay between business and civil society in circular economy transitions," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 31(6), pages 2714-2727, September.

    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:wly:sustdv:v:33:y:2025:i:s1:p:650-664. 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://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1002/(ISSN)1099-1719 .

    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.