Reviving traditional crafts and intergenerational knowledge in the age of circular economy: a narrative literature review

Abstract The circular economy (abbreviation: CE) has become a dominant policy and research paradigm in recent years, emphasizing sustainability through waste minimization, repair, reuse, and the extension of product lifecycles. While the technical and systemic dimensions of CE have been extensively studied, its social and cultural implications, particularly regarding labour, heritage, and intergenerational knowledge, remain underexplored. This narrative literature review investigates how the transition to a CE creates renewed relevance for traditional crafts and the role of older generations in knowledge preservation and economic participation. Drawing on interdisciplinary scholarship across sustainability studies, economic geography, gerontology, and cultural heritage research, the review identifies three converging dynamics: (i) the resurgence of manual, repair-oriented professions aligned with circular principles; (ii) the reintegration of older craftspeople as active contributors to local economies and knowledge ecosystems; and (iii) emerging models of intergenerational learning that facilitate the transfer of tacit, experience-based knowledge. The findings suggest that traditional craft skills constitute a critical but undervalued resource in CE strategies and that older workers and craftspeople could serve as a bridge between historical sustainability practices and contemporary innovation. However, the review also identifies significant institutional, educational, and economic barriers to realizing this potential. Overall, the paper contributes to the conceptual expansion of CE by framing it not only as a material and technological transition, but also as a socio-cultural transformation rooted in knowledge continuity, vocational reinvention, and intergenerational learning.