An Overview and Categorization of the Drivers and Barriers to the Adoption of the Circular Economy: A Systematic Literature Review

Abstract

The adoption of the circular economy (CE) can help to solve the dilemmas of food, economic and social crises, environmental pollution, and continuous decreases in non-renewable resources, caused by the continuous increase in the size of the global population. Identifying drivers of and barriers to the CE is important for the implementation of the CE. In this context, this study aims to identify and categorize the drivers of and barriers to the adoption of the CE through a systematic literature review. In doing this, ten categories of drivers and barriers were identified: environmental, supply chain, economic, information, legal, market, organizational, public, social, and technological. The results of this study may contribute to the development of circular processes, the promotion of sustainability, and may encourage the implementation of the CE in many areas. The CE’s implementation can be a way to achieve some of the Sustainable Development Goals from the 2030 Agenda.