The Emergence of Circular Economy: A New Framing Around Prolonging Resource Productivity

Summary In this article, we use Hirsch and Levin's notion of umbrella concepts as an analytical lens, in order to articulate the valuable catalytic function the circular economy (CE) concept could perform in the waste and resource management debate. We realize this goal by anchoring the CE concept in this broader debate through a narrative approach. This leads to the insight that whereas the various resource strategies grouped under the CE's banner are not new individually, the concept offers a new framing of these strategies by drawing attention to their capacity of prolonging resource use as well as to the relationship between these strategies. As such, the CE offers a new perspective on waste and resource…

• EA
  Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council

  Award: RG64858
• EA
  Economic and Social Research Council

  Awards: ES/M010163/1, ES/M010163/1, ES/M010163
• EI
  European Institute of Innovation and Technology

  Award: 1292/2013
• EC
  EIT Climate-KIC

  Award: 1292/2013