Circular economy planning in higher education institutions: Between policy ambitions and regulatory constraints

Circular practices have the potential to support urban sustainability transitions and Higher Education Institutions have emerged as strategic actors because of their operational scale, knowledge production, and interaction with urban systems. This study explores the Circular Economy Plan, developed by the Lisbon School of Economics and Management, University of Lisbon, as an institutional initiative embedded in a broader urban circular transition agenda. A multi-method approach combines document and policy analysis, a review of European and Portuguese legislation, semi-structured interviews with staff, and on-site observation of campus operations. The findings show that planning the implementation of circular initiatives in Higher Education Institutions is strongly influenced by regulatory constraints, market conditions, organizational practices, and behavioral dynamics. The plan responds to these conditions via incremental adaptations to existing institutional structures. Applying a multi-level perspective, the study shows that these institutions operate as constrained boundary organizations, mediating between policy frameworks, institutional practices, and urban systems by engaging with supplier, municipal infrastructure and stakeholders. The study contributes to understanding how circular economy strategies are prepared for implementation in Higher Education Institutions and how institutional practices connect with urban systems under multi-level governance constraints.