A Literature Analysis of Definitions for a Circular Economy

Abstract

This chapter aims to identify and analyze the published definitions of circular economy (CE). Twenty-eight definitions were gathered through intensive critical literature review, using both Scopus and Web of Science. The definitions developed from peer-reviewed literature analysis covered a period from 1999 through 2019, although most definitions were published from 2011 onwards. CE received significant attention in the early 90s and now is considered a mainstream strategy for product design and social, economic and environmental sustainability. Given that research is still relatively new in the sustainable circular economy. CE offers a reverse resource regenerative idea to eliminate the linearity of production and consumption system to support sustainability objectives. The CE definition analysis revealed that so far, resilience and stakeholder perspective is not explicitly included in the definition, although stakeholder is considered to be part of a natural and ecology system. CE has an impact on different aspects of the business throughout the entire supply chain. The concept of a CE is a value-orientated resource transformational process. CE considers both upstream and downstream production and consumption patterns to promotes the resilience orientation of resources. Currently, CE practices are carried out—meso, micro and macro. This chapter highlights that suggest that it is imperative to consider exosystem and chronosystem to better move away from linear to circular economy.