Circular economy: benefits, impacts and overlapping

Purpose –This paper investigates overlaps, complementarities, and divergences between literature on circular economy models and related literatures on non-linear production models and frameworks, including the circular economy, reverse logistics, closed loop, industrial symbiosis, and industrial ecology.

Design/methodology/approach – A systematic literature review was conducted that focuses on the benefits of adopting non-linear modes.

Findings – Our results show a high degree of convergence in findings, gaps, and weaknesses of these literatures. Negative environmental, economic, and operational impacts are understudied.

Originality/value –There is a scarcity of studies identifying practices resulting in empirically tested benefits. The business and society case for non-linear production is still largely built upon conceptual studies, modelling, and a few case studies. Despite a normative focus, there is very little use of theory, and management theories are particularly in short supply.