Navigating the Path to Circularity: A Guide to Circular Economy Roadmaps

CE-Hub, 2023

The shift towards a circular economy has gained significant momentum globally as a means to mitigate the negative environmental and economic impacts of the traditional linear economic system. The circular economy aims to conserve natural resources and ecosystems while promoting economic and social prosperity. The concept of the circular economy is multi-disciplinary and involves the participation of various actors across multiple value chains, from production to consumption. But despite its widespread popularity, the circular economy concept is complex and has been interpreted in a variety of ways, giving rise to diverse circular-driven agendas. Various strategies and measures, referred to as Circular Economy Roadmaps (CERMs), have been developed to facilitate the transition to a circular economy.

Building on our experience designing roadmaps—including work carried out for NHS Wales—UKRI CE-Hub researcher Halid Abu-Bakar conducted a systematic review of existing literature on circular economy roadmaps, creating a roadmapping framework that can be used to assess existing CERMs and produce new ones. The findings of the review, which will be published in due course, provide valuable insights into the design and implementation of CERMs, making it a useful resource for practitioners and policymakers who are pursuing a transition to a circular economy.

This 2-pager (download below) introduces the different types of CERM and examines their characteristics as relevant to various contexts. More work on CERMs is forthcoming from the CE-Hub, including an interactive dashboard and journal publications. Please get in touch if you wish to discuss this work further.