Circular Economy Platforms: A Systematic Review

Outi Blackburn, Paavo Ritala, Joona Keränen and Nancy Bocken

Business Strategy and the Environment, 2026, vol. 35, issue 2, 2810-2841

Abstract: Digital platforms enable circular business models that can provide both economic and environmental benefits. However, the literature on platforms in the context of the circular economy has remained descriptive and fragmented across fields, posing challenges for synthesizing accumulated knowledge. This systematic review of 134 articles (2016–2025) describes the current state of circular economy–oriented platform research (conceptualized here as “CE platform” research) in the field of business and management. It identifies six key themes: (1) platform‐related consumer behavior, (2) platform strategies, (3) platform‐enabled systems, (4) environmental impacts of platforms, (5) platform‐based supply chains, and (6) circular business models. Based on our analysis of the literature, we have a research agenda that outlines four key areas (conceptual frameworks, research designs, theoretical perspectives, and new themes) and suggests research questions that lay a foundation for future inquiry. The study contributes to CE‐oriented platform research, consolidating diverse insights that support theory development by providing an actionable direction in this rapidly evolving field.

Date: 2026
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