Contested circular economy and mixed social implications from practice: A scoping review

Kang Liu

Sustainable Development, 2025, vol. 33, issue 2, 2154-2170

Abstract: ‘Circular economy’ is a popular term used by various parties to refer to the necessary transition towards a sustainable future. Yet, there is still no consensus on its definition or application, the current discourse favours an approach that focuses on the technical improvement of material flows while neglects the social considerations. Consequently, despite circular economy's popularity, various social concerns have also been raised, including justice and equity. To better understand its social implications, this article reviews studies that reveal the social impacts of various practices that claim or are deemed to be circular economy. Using the scoping review method, the article finds that the categories most frequently reflected in these studies include livelihood, health, value, identity and community. However, the claimed impacts are often conditional and contradictory. These results suggest that circular economy still requires substantial theoretical and empirical development to better align it with the principle of sustainable development. Acknowledging the diversity of voices in the current circular economy field can be a starting point for stakeholders in terms of future research, policymaking and practice, while further transdisciplinary collaborations should also be explored.

Date: 2025
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:wly:sustdv:v:33:y:2025:i:2:p:2154-2170

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