Integrating Circular Economy Principles for Sustainable Development

Abstract

The circular economy (CE) has risen in prominence as a potential model to improve sustainability. However, the relationship between circularity and sustainability is complex. This chapter reviews the literature debating if and when CE practices lead to sustainability gains. The chapter discusses conceptualizations of CE and sustainability; analyzes mechanisms linking CE implementation to varied, ambiguous, or even contradictory sustainability impacts; appraises common CE and sustainability assessment methods and tools; discusses gaps in evaluating this nuanced relationship; and proposes an integrated assessment framework focused on life cycle thinking, local-to-global scale effects, and capturing unintended consequences of CE activities. Findings indicate that while CE principles hold promise for enabling sustainability, the dynamics between circularity and sustainability are highly case-specific. Developing capabilities to consistently quantify when and to what extent “circular” practices lead to “sustainable” outcomes is an open challenge requiring continued empirical demonstration.