Teaching the Circular Economy in Schools: Contributions to Citizenship and the Sustainable Transition

ABSTRACTThe discussion on the circular economy has gained increasing prominence in the educational field due to its directrelationship with the environmental, social, and formative challenges faced by contemporary society. Within thecontext of basic education, this debate is particularly relevant as it enables the articulation of curricular content,pedagogical practices, and values oriented toward sustainability and citizenship, thereby contributing to thedevelopment of critical and socially responsible individuals. For the development of the research, a qualitativeapproach was adopted, as it allows for an interpretative understanding of the meanings, concepts, andorientations present in the academic production analyzed. The methodological procedure employed was abibliographic review, understood as a rigorous process of identifying, selecting, and critically analyzing scientificliterature related to environmental education, the circular economy, interdisciplinarity, and citizenship educationwithin the school context. The general objective of the study is to analyze how the teaching of the circular economyin basic education can contribute to citizenship formation and to the construction of a school culture orientedtoward a sustainable transition. Overall, the analyses indicate that teaching the circular economy, whenarticulated with pedagogical practices and the dimensions of socio-environmental citizenship, promotes thedevelopment of a school culture committed to more responsible forms of interaction with the environment andwith the community. By integrating strategies appropriate to the different stages of basic education, the themeproves capable of connecting curricular content, concrete experiences, and ethical values, contributing to the roleof the school as a space for critical education and social engagement. Thus, the article demonstrates that thecircular economy is not limited to a specific environmental topic, but rather is consolidated as a formative axisthat engages with citizenship education and with the need to rethink social and educational practices in light ofcontemporary challenges.Keywords: circular economy; basic education; citizenship; sustainability.