What is it about?
The circular economy promises to reduce waste, conserve resources, and make industries more sustainable, but progress has been slow, and global turbulence such as geopolitical conflict and supply chain volatility threatens to slow it further. This study reviews 74 academic papers to understand how circular economy disruptions, major shifts in how resources are reused and products are made, can be implemented and managed effectively. It identifies three main research areas: Conceptualisation – How circular economy disruption is defined and understood Components – Key building blocks such as technology, leadership, and stakeholder engagement Challenges – Barriers including regulation, market readiness, and public perception The study introduces an Industry 4.0-enabled framework, integrating digital technologies, leadership support, and organisational resilience, to help countries and companies adopt circular economy models even in turbulent times.
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Why is it important?
In an unstable global environment, supply chains are vulnerable, resources are under pressure, and sustainability goals can be sidelined in favour of short-term security. The framework proposed in this study shows how digital innovation and strong governance can keep the circular economy on track during such disruptions. By combining Industry 4.0 tools, like automation, smart manufacturing, and data analytics, with supportive policies, stakeholder engagement, and adaptable business models, the framework aims to create resilient, circular systems that can withstand volatility while delivering long-term sustainability benefits.
Perspectives
I’ve seen how crises — whether geopolitical, economic, or environmental — can derail even the most promising sustainability initiatives. This research is my way of tackling that problem head-on, by exploring how to design circular economy systems that don’t just survive turbulent times, but actually become stronger because of them. Bringing Industry 4.0 into the picture was especially exciting for me, digital technologies offer enormous potential for tracking resources, optimising processes, and enabling new business models. My hope is that this framework will help decision-makers see disruption not as a threat, but as an opportunity to accelerate the shift towards a truly sustainable global economy.
Dr Krish Saha
Birmingham City University
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: A review of circular economy disruption research: insights into industry 4.0 enabled circular economy framework for sustainability during turbulent times, Cleaner Logistics and Supply Chain, September 2025, Elsevier,
DOI: 10.1016/j.clscn.2025.100227.
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