Catalysts in a sustainable circular economy: Directions for future research

Abstract

The circular economy (CE) is a sustainability transition with a positive impact on mitigating climate change, supporting biodiversity, and reducing pollution. In this book, researchers from multiple disciplinary backgrounds have come together with great enthusiasm to explore ways to catalyze the CE transition. While the past research on CE has been dominated with economic and technological approaches, this chapter defines the development of a CE as a concurrently crosscutting socio-technical transition affecting technology, business, and societal and cultural layers. In developing the theoretical understanding of CE catalysts, we set a new research agenda in sustainability transition research. The research agenda includes attention to the practical relevance of academic research, so that academics and practitioners can accelerate the CE transition together.