Mapping the landscape of circular economy in supply chains: a bibliometric and theoretical review

Abstract Circular Economy (CE) is a prevalent notion in business. As a paradigm, it is being broadly researched by scholars and practitioners as a likely route to ensure ecosystem sustainability. Reprocessing, renovation, and recycling are attractive and vital activities for most supply chains. All at once, firms are keen on this novel business model. However, the current research shows that profound research on CE operationalization is still missing, especially at the functioning level. To pave a path from conceptualization to operationalization, this study explores the extant literature on CE with Bibliophagy and highlights a broad spectrum of future research from the perspective of organizational theories. The empirical findings point out the past and present research trends in the area from a theoretical lens. It will also suggest a framework for future research to help quantify circularity in several industries.

Authors

Publication Details

Journal
Discover Sustainability
Published
2026-01-22
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s43621-025-02479-w
Primary Topic
Sustainable Supply Chain Management
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00
Controls
|||
ALL TIME
JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
OCT
article

Mapping the landscape of circular economy in supply chains: a bibliometric and theoretical review

Mian M. Ajmal, Mehmood Khan, M. Azhar Hussain
Discover Sustainability
Sustainable Supply Chain Management
article

Mapping the landscape of circular economy in supply chains: a bibliometric and theoretical review

Mian M. Ajmal, Mehmood Khan, M. Azhar Hussain
article en

Abstract

Abstract Circular Economy (CE) is a prevalent notion in business. As a paradigm, it is being broadly researched by scholars and practitioners as a likely route to ensure ecosystem sustainability. Reprocessing, renovation, and recycling are attractive and vital activities for most supply chains. All at once, firms are keen on this novel business model. However, the current research shows that profound research on CE operationalization is still missing, especially at the functioning level. To pave a path from conceptualization to operationalization, this study explores the extant literature on CE with Bibliophagy and highlights a broad spectrum of future research from the perspective of organizational theories. The empirical findings point out the past and present research trends in the area from a theoretical lens. It will also suggest a framework for future research to help quantify circularity in several industries.

Discover SustainabilityVol. 7(1)
Decent work and economic growth
Openalex Percentile: Top 81%
Sustainable Supply Chain Management
AI Navigator

Ask Laika to Summarize, Analyze, and Connect papers live on the map.

Summarize Papers & Methodologies

Extract key findings, datasets, and comparative methods across publications.

Benchmark Rankings & Visual Analytics

Rank top research institutions, authors, funders, topics, and journals by Field-Weighted Citation Impact (FWCI) and paper volume with instant charts.

Connect Distant Disciplines

Bridge topological clusters on the map to find hidden collaborative intersections.