A literature review on circular economy adoption in the manufacturing sector

Abstract

This paper aims to investigate how the sustainable development is pursued by manufacturing companies according to the extant literature, especially by focusing on Circular Economy (CE) paradigm that is considered one of the major drivers for sustainability. Indeed, this research aims to study how CE principles have been adopted in the manufacturing sector leading towards the creation of Circular Manufacturing (CM) strategies. To achieve this goal, a systematic literature review has been conducted. Scopus and Web of Science are the scientific databases used for the review process. The 215 papers selected for the review were analysed through a theoretical framework developed by the authors. This framework enabled to individualize the research streams and the perspectives through which CE strategies adopted by manufacturers have been studied in the extant scientific literature. These research streams are technologies, and evaluation methods and models. Besides, both of these two are studied under two different lenses since they both are mutually considered supportive tools to shift or to maintain a circular system. To conclude, one of the major contributions of this literature review is to provide a clearer definition of CM and to figure out how CM strategies have been addressed by academics in the scientific literature, with the final aim to reduce the confusion emerged in the extant literature around this concept. Last, this review elucidates some scientific literature gaps and suggests future research directions.