BRIDGING THEORY AND PRACTICE: THE CONTESTED EVOLUTION OF THE CIRCULAR ECONOMY IN GLOBAL SUSTAINABILITY TRANSITIONS

Abstract

While the idea of circular economic models has grown as a key focus of global sustainability efforts, there are still several challenges to be addressed in order to move from theory to practice. The research carried out in this study is a conceptual analysis of 120 peer-reviewed articles and policy documents (2000-2023) that analyze the concept of the circular economy (CE). A critical discourse analysis perspective is used to explore the advancement of the concepts of CE principles and their application in different geopolitical settings. We found that there are different models in different areas of the world, including China, in which the regulatory approach differs significantly from adaptations that have taken place in the West under market principles. The study reveals three main obstacles to effective CE transition: (1) institutional resistance to policy implementation, (2) the appropriation of the sustainability concept without a real change in practice, and (3) underlying conflicts between the principles of CE and growth-based economic systems. The study illustrates the differences in these challenges using comparative case analysis. The study contributes to existing sustainability debates with a nuanced assessment of the transformative potential of CE and the structural changes that are required for it to be implemented. These insights provide key feedback for policymakers and business leaders on the complicated journey of transition towards circular economic systems.