Catalyzing the Circular Economy: Socio-cultural and Spatial Trajectories in Industrial Ecosystems

This paper contributes to the existing body of research on integrating economic geography approach with circular economy (CE) research by exploring how socio-cultural and spatial trajectories shape industrial CE ecosystems. Conceptually, we address this question by identifying economic geography parameters that catalyze the CE. Empirically, we conducted a qualitative case study on the regional electric vehicle battery metal ecosystem in Finland. Our findings reveal how complex regional factors govern the circulation of resources and materials. Two main implications are discussed: first, a deeper understanding of the contextual factors shaping CE development; second, a comprehensive view of the interplay between economic geography parameters that drive local CE implementation.