Barriers and Enablers of Circular Economy in Electrical and Electronic Equipment: A Systematic Literature Review

Abstract

Rapid technological change, shorter lifecycles and rising demand for electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) are increasing waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) and emphasise the need for a circular economy. This paper identifies barriers and enablers of the circular transition in EEE and outlines interventions. Following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA), 161 papers (2015–2024) were systematically reviewed and thematically coded. Five themes emerged: policy and regulation, sustainable design, consumer knowledge and awareness, infrastructure and technology and economic and financial factors. Implications include harmonised and eco-modulated extended producer responsibility (EPR) with value-retention metrics; right to repair with access to parts and repair information; design rules for durability and disassembly; digital product passports with standardised data; and economic instruments such as reduced VAT and deposit–refunds. Future research should build product-specific evidence, compare across income contexts and examine tensions and trade-offs across value chain stages and recovery flows.