5c. Circular Economy

Track Chairs

Goals and Objectives of the Track

Given the extraordinary volume of circular economy research that has appeared in the last 10 years, this session aims to take stock of progress in theoretical, policy and practical spaces – and especially the relationships between the three.  Academic, governmental and business ideas relating to circularity appear to have developed along different trajectories.  This risks leaving academics largely debating amongst themselves, while research needs to remain relevant but without abandoning its values. We provide a few examples here.

Academic discussion on the CE has increasingly embraced issues relating to social sustainability, but this has coincided with a period of governmental retrenchment on welfare spending (notably in the US and under pressure in the UK and in the European Union).  To what extent, if any, have business stepped into the gap to address more redistributive practices?

Likewise, as there is a risk of climate disasters being normalised, the global environmental response is falling short. Even while CE welcomed as a potential strategy. However, critical voices question whether CE, as currently conceived, can truly deliver a sustainable transition or whether it risks reinforcing growth-oriented paradigms and delaying systemic change. Also, within the current climate of growing geopolitical tensions, there is increasing evidence of the utilisation of circularity-inspired ideas within national sovereignty and protectionist frameworks.

At the same time, the EU is embracing activities that could have a place in a degrowth strategy (such as repair and extended producer responsibility); nonetheless, EU policy-making remains wedded to economic growth.  There is an academic  community  speaking out against growth, but how does this connect with policymakers, business and other theoretical perspectives?  How do the public respond to consumption reducing measures?

Furthermore, emerging technologies, particularly Artificial Intelligence (AI), are increasingly shaping CE practices – from predictive maintenance and resource optimization to advanced recycling and supply chain transparency. Yet, this raises questions: Can AI accelerate circularity without exacerbating energy consumption and material demand? How do we ensure that digitalization aligns with social and environmental goals rather than reinforcing existing dependencies or inequalities and creating new ones?

Papers are warmly invited addressing topics including the following:

  • Exploring how different types of organisations are engaging with CE in practice;
  • Developing theorisations of a CE;
  • Challenges to policy implementation;
  • How to engage the public;
  • Emerging CE in different geographic/political contexts;
  •  Are emerging CE activities sustainable?
  • How does the CE relate to degrowth and similar ideas?
  • The role of AI and digital technologies in enabling or constraining CE
  • Critical perspectives: Can CE truly support a sustainable transition?
  • CE, protectionism and sovereignty

Length and content of the proposed abstract to the track

Each proposed abstract (in connection to one of the areas pointed out above), within 300 and 500 words (including everything):

  1. shall be best organized (without headlines) along usual structures (e.g. intro/method/findings or results/ discussion/conclusions)
  2. does not need to, but can include references
  3. shall provide in a final section
    a. to which SDG(s) and SDG-target(s) their proposed abstract especially relate to (e.g. “SDG+Target: 14.1.”).
    b. a brief indication how the proposed contribution relates to the topic of the Conference “Half-way through Agenda 2030: Assessing the 5Ps of SDGs (people, planet, prosperity, peace and partnership)“