Mapping the knowledge landscape and future research of sustainable supply chains, circular economy, and net-zero transitions

This study aims to identify and outline research directions for future empirical studies on integrating the net-zero emission transition with the circular economy to improve supply chain management. Conducting a bibliometric analysis of 253 documents from the Scopus database from 2015 to September 2025, this research employs VOSviewer and Biblioshiny to visualise knowledge maps, collaboration patterns, and thematic assessment paths. The findings reveal predominant keywords such as "supply chain management," "circular economy," and "decarbonisation," with the Journal of Cleaner Production and the United Kingdom emerging as the leading journal and most productive country. Thematic mapping highlights a concentration on four critical areas: supply chain and circular economy transitions; emission measurement, control, and life cycle assessment (LCA); carbon sequestration and technological innovations; and renewable energy and low-carbon technologies. By providing novel insights into the critical junction of net-zero supply chains, this paper directs future academic research on circular economy platforms, decarbonisation, and sustainability, while acknowledging the need for future studies to integrate multiple databases to enhance analytical comprehensiveness.