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Conceptualizing the circular economy: An analysis of 114 definitions
Open accessAbstract
The circular economy concept has gained momentum both among scholars and practitioners. However, critics claim that it means many different things to different people. This paper provides further evidence for these critics. The aim of this paper is to create transparency regarding the current understandings of the circular economy concept. For this purpose, we have gathered 114 circular economy definitions which were coded on 17 dimensions. Our findings indicate that the circular economy is most frequently depicted as a combination of reduce, reuse and recycle activities, whereas it is oftentimes not highlighted that CE necessitates a systemic shift. We further find that the definitions show few explicit linkages of the circular economy concept to sustainable development. The main aim of the circular economy is considered to be economic prosperity, followed by environmental quality; its impact on social equity and future generations is barely mentioned. Furthermore, neither business models nor consumers are frequently outlined as enablers of the circular economy. We critically discuss the various circular economy conceptualizations throughout this paper. Overall, we hope to contribute via this study towards the coherence of the circular economy concept; we presume that significantly varying circular economy definitions may eventually result in the collapse of the concept.
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“CE seeks to enhance resource productivity by narrowing (enhancing efficiency), slowing them (extending use) and closing them (reclaiming resources) material and energy loops (Kirchherr et al. 2017;Konietzko et al. 2020).”
From Integrating Life Cycle Assessment, Monetised Externalities and Value Alignment for Strategic Reconfiguration of Circular Business Models: The Case of Smartphones (2026) · cites this paper as Kirchherr et al. 2017
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredThe source backs part of the claim, not all of it — or backs it for a different population, condition or comparison.
In the citing paper
“Sustainable outcomes require business models in which the revenue logic rewards lifetime performance rather than volume-based turnover (Kirchherr et al. 2017;Ferasso et al. 2020).”
From Integrating Life Cycle Assessment, Monetised Externalities and Value Alignment for Strategic Reconfiguration of Circular Business Models: The Case of Smartphones (2026) · cites this paper as Kirchherr et al. 2017
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredThe source backs part of the claim, not all of it — or backs it for a different population, condition or comparison.
In the citing paper
“There are over 100 definitions of circular economy (e.g., Bocken et al., 2016; Geissdoerfer et al., 2017; Gladek, 2017; Kirchherr et al., 2017; Korhonen et al., 2018; Ellen MacArthur Foundation, 2019; Schöggl et al., 2020; Alhawari et al., 2021).”
From Circular Bioeconomy Concepts—A Perspective (2021) · cites this paper as Kirchherr et al., 2017
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredThe cited source says what the claim attributes to it.
In the citing paper
“On the other hand, the limitations associated with the circular economy are the primary emphases on economic and environmental gains while neglecting the social dimension to any significant extent (Kirchherr et al., 2017; D'Amato et al., 2018; Korhonen et al., 2018).”
From Circular Bioeconomy Concepts—A Perspective (2021) · cites this paper as Kirchherr et al., 2017
In the citing paper
“Perhaps, most problematically, the lack of theoretical robustness of the CE concept could lead organisations to appropriate the term without overhauling business practices in a meaningful way.”
From Artificial intelligence in support of the circular economy: ethical considerations and a path forward (2024) · cites this paper as Kirchherr et al. 2017
In the citing paper
“Kirchherr et al., (2017) [11] gathered 114 definitions of the CE which were analysed for their associated factors and dimensions.”
From Digitisation and the Circular Economy: A Review of Current Research and Future Trends (2018) · cites this paper as [11]
In the citing paper
“Second, it is widely understood that the CE paradigm entails systemic change at the macro, meso, and micro levels (e.g., Kirchherr et al., 2017; Korhonen et al., 2018,b; Prieto-Sandoval et al., 2018)”
From Stakeholder governance to facilitate collaboration for a systemic circular economy transition: A qualitative study in the European chemicals and plastics industry (2024) · cites this paper as Kirchherr et al., 2017
In the citing paper
“This shift is a large-scale systemic task that requires innovation activities on the macro, meso, and micro levels (Kirchherr et al., 2017; Korhonen et al., 2018,b; Kuzma et al., 2022; Prieto-Sandoval et al., 2018).”
From Stakeholder governance to facilitate collaboration for a systemic circular economy transition: A qualitative study in the European chemicals and plastics industry (2024) · cites this paper as Kirchherr et al., 2017
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Missions and mission-oriented innovation policy for sustainability: A review and critical reflection
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A literature review on green supply chain management for sustainable sourcing and distribution
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Circular Economy: A Review of Review Articles
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Metadata
- Authors
- Kirchherr, J., Reike, D., & Hekkert, M.
- Affiliations
- Utrecht University (NL)
- Corresponding author
- Kirchherr, Julian
- Venue
- Resources, Conservation and Recycling
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2017-12
- Volume
- 127
- Pages
- 221-232
- ISSN
- 0921-3449 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2756283300
- Cited by
- 8,550
- References
- 88
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1694 · 2025: 1450 · 2024: 1189 · 2023: 1226 · 2022: 1056 · 2021: 901 · 2020: 577 · 2019: 315 · 2018: 129 · 2017: 7
- FWCI
- 558.88
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- hybrid
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Resources Conservation and Recycling (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- RePEc: Research Papers in Economics (submittedVersion)
- Utrecht University Repository (Utrecht University) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Business, Management and Accounting › Strategy and Management › Sustainable Supply Chain Management
- Physical Sciences › Engineering › Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering › Sustainable Industrial Ecology
- Social Sciences › Business, Management and Accounting › Marketing › Environmental Sustainability in Business
- Keywords
- circular economy, conceptualization, reduce, reuse, recycle, systemic change, sustainable development, economic prosperity, social equity, intergenerational equity, business models, consumer role
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