An Integrative Review of Monitoring and Evaluation of Urban Circularity in Developing Countries

As centers of economic activity, cities face pressures from population growth, resource depletion, and pollution. The Circular Economy (CE) provides a greener alternative to the traditional model, facilitating the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). However, blindly pursuing circularity may undermine long-term sustainability. Compared to advanced economies, the CE remains sparsely implemented in emerging economies. There is still controversy surrounding the relationship between urban CE and sustainability. This study analysed the CE principles adopted in developing countries, aiming to monitor and assess the consistency between urban circularity and the SDGs. The findings suggest that the number of CE principles mentioned in definitions has increased over time. Environmental indicators closely align with various SDGs, while economic indicators are linked to SDGs 8 and 9, and social indicators to SDGs 2 and 3. Furthermore, the study notes that digital technologies have great potential to improve efficiency and advocates a multi-dimensional approach. The novelty of the research lies in deepening the insight of urban circularity, identifying linkages between indicators and SDGs in emerging economies, and spotlighting the key role of digital technologies.