Circular ecosystems: Past, present, and future research directions

Abstract

Circular ecosystems have become a buzz concept in the circular economy, but differing meanings and theoretical foundations limit knowledge consolidation. To address this gap, we undertook a systematic literature review of the circular ecosystems literature published from 2004 to 2025. We analyzed the state-of-the-art using content analysis and science mapping techniques based on articles from Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar databases. Prominent research trends include: (i) conceptualization of circular ecosystems, (ii) circular ecosystems and sustainability, (iii) roles and agency of actors, (iv) alignment in circular ecosystems, (v) value co-creation in ecosystems, (vi) governance of ecosystems, (vii) theoretical roots, and (viii) enablers of circular ecosystems. Furthermore, we present the etymology and evolution of circular ecosystems and present a comprehensive definition of the concept. Finally, we propose future research directions on circular ecosystems.