We have to talk! : Claims of early career researchers to transform circular economy research ; perspective

Abstract

It is evident that the concept of Circular Economy (CE) has gained significant traction in recent years, both in academic research and in practice as a means of advancing sustainability. The diversity of perspectives on how to develop, implement and improve a closed-loop system is evident in the many research domains that publish CE studies. This vibrant and dynamic field of research not only provides a plethora of open questions and research gaps but also offers a meaningful opportunity to contribute to actual transformation processes. As early-career researchers (ECRs) from a range of disciplinary backgrounds, we individually examine specific practices, technologies, materials, or actors and their roles in the CE context. Following two years of discussion and reflection on our research topics in the context of CE within an interdisciplinary graduate school, we present this article as a reflection on the current state of CE research. Fig. 1 provides an overview of the research topics that we have been investigating. The perspective of ECRs is particularly relevant to overcome the current silo mentality, as ECRs view CE as a unified field of study rather than a disparate collection of disciplinary perspectives and are less constrained by established research traditions. From this position as ECRs, we aim to highlight the shortcomings of the current research orientation and structure, emphasising the value of integrated knowledge. In the following section, we will address four challenges that we, as ECRs, have faced, with concrete examples from our own research and a call for a more reflexive, engaged and interdisciplinary approach to CE research