We have to talk! Claims of early career researchers to transform circular economy research
Abstract
It is evident that the concept of Circular Economy (CE) has gained
significant traction in recent years, both in academic research and in
practice as a means of advancing sustainability. The diversity of perspectives
on how to develop, implement and improve a closed-loop
system is evident in the many research domains that publish CE
studies. This vibrant and dynamic field of research not only provides a
plethora of open questions and research gaps but also offers a meaningful
opportunity to contribute to actual transformation processes.
As early-career researchers (ECRs) from a range of disciplinary
backgrounds, we individually examine specific practices, technologies,
materials, or actors and their roles in the CE context. Following two
years of discussion and reflection on our research topics in the context of
CE within an interdisciplinary graduate school, we present this article as
a reflection on the current state of CE research. Fig. 1 provides an
overview of the research topics that we have been investigating.
The perspective of ECRs is particularly relevant to overcome the
current silo mentality, as ECRs view CE as a unified field of study rather
than a disparate collection of disciplinary perspectives and are less
constrained by established research traditions. From this position as
ECRs, we aim to highlight the shortcomings of the current research
orientation and structure, emphasising the value of integrated
knowledge. In the following section, we will address four challenges
that we, as ECRs, have faced, with concrete examples from our own
research and a call for a more reflexive, engaged and interdisciplinary
approach to CE research.
Details
- Organisation(s)
-
Institute of Plastics and Circular Economy
- External Organisation(s)
-
Brandenburg University of Technology
Leuphana University Lüneburg
The University of Wuppertal
Wuppertal Institute for Climate, Environment and Energy
Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (LMU)
University of Augsburg
- Type
- Survey paper
- Journal
- Resources, Conservation and Recycling
- Volume
- 221
- ISSN
- 0921-3449
- Publication date
- 07.2025
- Publication status
- Published
- Peer reviewed
- Yes
- ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Waste Management and Disposal, Economics and Econometrics
- Sustainable Development Goals
- SDG 8 - Decent Work and Economic Growth, SDG 12 - Responsible Consumption and Production
- Electronic version(s)
-
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2025.108423 (Access:
Open
)
