International Journal of Energy Economics and

Policy
ISSN: 2146-4553

available at http: www.econjournals.com

International Journal of Energy Economics and Policy, 2025, 15(1), 77-89.

Circular Economy: A Bibliometric Review of Research in

Emerging Economies (2010-2024)

Uwalomwa Uwuigbe1*, Osman Issah2, Uwuigbe Olubukunola Ranti3, Mutala Zubeiru2, Samuel Anaba2,
Abdul-Aziz Jeriku Seidu2
1
University of Nizwa, Oman, 2University for Development Studies, Tamale, Ghana, 3Covenant University, Nigeria.
*Email: [email protected]

Received: 04 August 2024 Accepted: 11 November 2024 DOI: https://doi.org/10.32479/ijeep.17021

ABSTRACT
The study “Circular Economy: A Bibliometric Review of Research in Emerging Economies” examines the growing literature on circular economy
practices, particularly within environmental science, business, management, and engineering. Utilizing a bibliometric tool and quantitative approach,
the research analyzed patterns and trends in publications on circular economy research in emerging economies from 2010 to 2024. The study observed
a notable increase in publications since 2019, reflecting a global shift towards sustainable development and heightened awareness of circular economy
principles in emerging economies. Key themes identified include sustainability, waste management, and innovative business models, highlighting efforts to
address implementation challenges. The significant contributions from countries like India, the UK, and China, along with strong collaborative networks,
underscore the importance of international partnerships. The study suggests that future research should strengthen interdisciplinary collaboration and
incorporate regional and local contexts to develop tailored strategies. Furthermore, it emphasizes the need for expanded global cooperation.
Keywords: Circular Economy, Sustainability, Resource Depletion, Innovative Business, Waste Management, Environmental Impact
JEL Classifications: Q01, Q56, Q57, Q58

1. INTRODUCTION major global risks to the earth’s biocapacity (Wackernagel and

Beyers, 2021). Wackernagel and Beyers (2021) suggest that the
In today’s competitive, technologically advanced, and constantly current production poses a major risk to the Earth’s biocapacity.
evolving business landscape, it is imperative to consider the Urbanization and modernisation of the global population pose a
various obstacles competitors must overcome to survive. Concerns trend projected to translate into an incremental growth in energy
over waste pollution and resource depletion driven by the demand, translating into growing GHG emissions that lead to
international scope of business operations have brought the circular climate change (Geissdoerfer et al., 2017; Henckens et al., 2016;
economy concept to worldwide attention. As the population grows, Korhonen et al., 2018).
urbanisation and modernization take precedence with increased
energy consumption, subsequently increasing greenhouse gas The prevalent linear economic model has heightened global
emissions that alter the Earth’s climate (Uwuigbe et al., 2018). awareness of resource scarcity, environmental degradation, and
However, the significant challenges posed by resource depletion, the mounting strain on ecosystems and natural resources. This
low-cost manufacturing and excessive consumption in today’s model, characterized by extracting raw materials, manufacturing,
global economies have created a virtual avalanche which recent consumption, and disposal, generates substantial waste and
policymaking has said can be solved with Green Production. pollution (Wackernagel and Beyers, 2019). Concurrently,
The current way of production is recognized as one of the technological advancements, progressive business policies,

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 Uwuigbe, et al.: Circular Economy: A Bibliometric Review of Research in Emerging Economies (2010-2024)

and industrial activities have spurred the circular economy economy to react to changes that will transpire in their internal
movement. As a result, governments, businesses, and civil society and external environments (Lewandowski, 2016). As a result of
organizations worldwide increasingly acknowledge the financial, the detrimental effects of ignoring climate and environmental
ecological, and social benefits of adopting a circular economy issues, organisations have realised in recent years that they can no
approach. The need to align global industrial systems with natural longer be ignored. Likewise, expanding governmental regulations
balances has garnered attention due to the negative environmental and raising public awareness of environmental preservation
impacts of current economic practices. Similarly, businesses are have become increasingly important for businesses to thrive in
increasingly cognizant of the circular economy and its ecological the global marketplace. Hence, incorporating an environmental,
implications (Borrello et al., 2020). They recognize that adopting economic, and social efficiency framework to achieve improved
circular economy principles can provide a competitive advantage sustainability becomes necessary. Similarly, there is a paucity
by addressing sustainable development challenges, enhancing the of research on the circular economy concept (Ghisellini et al.,
sustainability of operations, and increasing efficiency while adding 2016). This dearth of related literature that exclusively looked
customer value. Consequently, circularity is a crucial solution to at the emerging circularity concepts, clusters and authors from a
long-term environmental sustainability issues. global perspective creates the need for this study. It is against the
backdrop that this study undertook a bibliographic review of the
The concept of circular economy (CE) is gaining traction among circular economy from the period 2012-2024.
scholars in academia, industry representatives, policymakers and
practitioners who have described it as an alternative model to The remaining part of this article has been segmented into various
minimise resource depletion, waste, and emissions (Su, 2013; sections covering the theoretical underpinning, literature review,
Geissdoerfer et al., 2020). Similarly, Haupt et al. (2017), described methodology, discussion of findings, conclusion, and implications
the concept as a sustainable development approach that focuses on of the study. The study ends with an outline of its limitations.
reducing waste and maximising resources. It involves rethinking
product design, promoting reuse, repair, remanufacturing, and
2. THEORETICAL AND EMPIRICAL
recycling, creating a closed-loop system that minimises resource
input and waste generation, unlike the traditional linear economy REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
model. Ma et al. (2014) described it as a mode of economic
development whose purpose is to protect the environment 2.1. Historical Development and Theoretical
and prevent pollution, thus facilitating sustainable economic Foundations
development. Singh and Ordonez (2016) and Cagno et al. (2021) The circular economy (CE) concept originates in various theoretical
further describes it as an economic strategy to promote innovative frameworks and ideas. Over the past several decades, this notion
ways to transform the current linear consumption system into a has evolved by incorporating diverse theories and practices to
circular one, through material savings. The European Commission improve environmental sustainability and resource efficiency
(2014), refer to it as an important approach to achieving sustainable (Yuan, 2006; Chauhan et al., 2022). The development of CE can
economic and environmental development. According to Blomsma be traced through various significant milestones and intellectual
and Brennan (2017) and Naustdalslid (2017), the current movements, reflecting its ongoing refinement and adaptation
economic model, which is based on a linear resource flow, is no Blomsma and Brennan (2017). Kenneth Boulding established
longer viable (Wackernagel and Beyers, 2019). Consequently, one of the earliest theoretical foundations for CE in 1966 with
there is a growing shortage of resources and environmental his influential essay “The Economics of the Coming Spaceship
degradation because of the search for virgin materials combined Earth.” In this work, Boulding emphasised the finite nature of
with inadequate waste management techniques. This presents a Earth’s resources, contrasting the traditional open economy, which
strong substitute, promoting a closed-loop system where resources presumed endless resources, with a closed system that necessitates
are utilised for an extended period. It is a concept that suggests a sustainable consumption habits. His “spaceship Earth” metaphor
paradigm shift towards a sustainable economic model that aims to highlighted the critical need for managing resources sustainably
break the link between resource consumption and environmental and reducing waste, advocating for an economy within the planet’s
degradation, promoting a more resilient, regenerative, and natural limits (Boulding, 1966). This concept set the stage for
sustainable future by reevaluating how businesses and countries the subsequent development of CE, guiding future theories and
produce, use, and dispose of goods and services. activities in environmental sustainability and resource efficiency.

Therefore, the long-run macroeconomic and environmental Also, another earliest root of CE that emerged is the Industrial
benefits associated with the circular economy concept can never be Ecology Movement of the 1970s and 1980s (Rosenboom et al.,
overstated, especially given its innovative framework and structure 2022). This period saw the introduction of the term “industrial
for sustainable operations that will add value for end users (Reike ecology,” which highlighted the importance of designing industrial
et al., 2018). This aligns with the growing business awareness of systems to emulate natural ecosystems, where waste from one
the circular economy concept worldwide as a tool for addressing process serves as input for another (Frosch and Gallopoulos,
challenges related to sustainable development and gaining a 1989). This notion of closed-loop systems marked a pivotal shift
competitive edge. Thus, from a micro and macro perspective, towards more sustainable industrial practices. Industrial ecology
countries and organisations (multinational corporations) worldwide emerged, focusing on material and energy fluxes across industrial
are attempting to adjust to the dynamic processes of the circular systems (Rosenboom et al., 2022). It advocates for closed-loop

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processes like natural ecosystems, where waste is used as input economy ideas in organisational activities. Some of the related
for another. Denmark’s Kalundborg Symbiosis, for example, theories that explain this concept are discussed in this section.
demonstrates this approach, where local businesses collaborate to
manage resources, reduce waste, and improve efficiency. These 2.2.1. Cradle-to-cradle design approach
symbiotic and resource optimisation ideas form the basis for the One fundamental theory is the cradle-to-cradle design strategy,
circular economy (Frosch and Gallopoulos, 1989). proposed by Braungart and William McDonough in 2002 (Ellen
MacArthur Foundation, 2017). This approach emphasises using
In the 1980s and 1990s, the circular economy concept gained materials that can be safely returned to nature or recycled into new
significant momentum and clarity, largely due to the influential products, resulting in a closed-loop system that reduces waste and
work of Walter Stahel and Genevieve Reday-Mulvey. Their environmental impact. This regenerative and sustainable approach
1976 report to the European Commission introduced the “loop to production and consumption aims to create a regenerative
economy,” focusing on extending product lifespan, reuse, and economy. However, the implementation of this theory is limited
recycling to foster a more sustainable economic model (Stahel by several challenges, including economic viability, the need for
and Reday-Mulvey, 1981). This era also witnessed the rise of the advanced material science and technology, the lack of robust
“Cradle to Cradle” design philosophy by William McDonough infrastructure for recycling and upcycling, and regulatory and
and Michael Braungart, as presented in their 2002 book “Cradle standardisation issues (Ghisellini et al., 2016; Blomsma and
to Cradle: Remaking the Way We Make Things.” They advocated Brennan, 2017). These challenges can hinder widespread adoption
for designing products with consideration for their entire lifecycle, and require comprehensive policy reforms to align with the
encouraging the use of materials that could be safely reintegrated principles of C2C, ensuring the successful implementation of this
into the environment or continuously reused in industrial processes sustainable approach.
(McDonough and Braungart, 2002). The Philosophy of the Cradle
to Cradle” design philosophy was centered around considering 2.2.2. Restorative economy approach
the entire life cycle of products (Corvellec et al., 2022). Their Another theory that has contributed to shaping the concept of
concept promoted creating products that could either biodegrade circular economy is the restorative economy approach (Blomsma
safely or be fully recycled into new products, mirroring nature’s and Brennan, 2017). This complements the circular economy’s
regenerative cycles. The concept is further known for creating concepts by emphasising the restoration and regeneration of natural
products that could either biodegrade safely or be fully recycled capital and ecosystem services. This approach emphasises the
into new products, mirroring nature’s regenerative cycles. This need of protecting and improving natural resources, biodiversity,
book and its principles were pivotal in shaping the circular and ecosystems while also encouraging economic activities that
economy, urging a departure from the traditional linear production contribute to environmental restoration and sustainability. The
and consumption model towards a circular approach that prioritises theory aims to balance economic activity and environmental
sustainability, resource efficiency, and waste reduction (Frosch health by creating systems that repair, rejuvenate, and regenerate
and Gallopoulos, 1989). resources (Stahel, 2016). By incorporating restorative economy
goals into circular economy practices, businesses and policymakers
The establishment of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation in 2010 can work to create a more resilient and harmonious relationship
further accelerated the CE movement, playing a crucial role between economic development and environmental stewardship,
in promoting CE principles, conducting extensive research, fostering long-term sustainability and well-being for both
and fostering collaboration with businesses and governments people and the planet. However, this theory faces challenges in
worldwide to facilitate the transition to a circular economy (Ellen implementing restorative practices, infrastructure, and legislation,
MacArthur Foundation, 2017). especially in underdeveloped countries (Blomsma and Brennan,
2017). Additionally, detecting and verifying regeneration impacts
2.2. Theoretical Foundations of the Circular Economy is challenging due to complex ecological processes and limited
The circular economy (CE) shifts from traditional linear economic evaluation methods (Korhonen et al., 2018).
models to a sustainable approach that prioritises resource
efficiency and minimisation (Bakshi et al., 2018). To promote a 2.2.3. Natural capital accounting
closed-loop system where materials are reused, remanufactured, Natural capital accounting is a theory that integrates the value of
and recycled, challenging traditional accounting techniques and natural resources and ecosystem services into financial statements.
requiring new methods for measuring and reporting economic This helps businesses understand their environmental impact
activities (Geissdoerfer et al., 2017). CE’s theoretical foundations and make informed decisions about resource use. It can include
are rooted in systems thinking, industrial ecology, and sustainable costs of raw material depletion and waste generation, potentially
development, advocating for a regenerative approach to production leading to strategies for product life extension or material recovery.
and consumption (Ellen MacArthur Foundation, 2013; Rizos In the circular economy, Natural Capital Accounting (NCA)
et al., 2016). The circular economy (CE) has called into question integrates natural resources and ecosystem services into economic
standard accounting techniques based on a linear “take-make- decision-making. However, its limitations include reliance on
dispose” approach (Geissdoerfer et al., 2017). New accounting market mechanisms, potential ineffectiveness due to market
theories are emerging to meet the special requirements of a failures, externalities, and inadequate regulatory frameworks,
closed-loop system that prioritises resource efficiency and material and potential incentives for short-term gains, leading to resource
cycling. Accounting theories are crucial in implementing circular exploitation and challenges in measuring regenerative impacts

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 Uwuigbe, et al.: Circular Economy: A Bibliometric Review of Research in Emerging Economies (2010-2024)

(Kosoy and Corbera, 2010; Spash, 2020; O’Neill et al., 2021). greener production, and environmental economics. More
This bibliometric research adopts the Natural Capital Accounting importantly, these prior studies concentrated primarily on the
approach. The choice for this theory is grounded in the fact that it theoretical and conceptual understanding of CE, particularly its
reveals the true cost of resource depletion through the valuation structural dimensions (Merli et al., 2018), strategic orientation
of natural assets and ecosystem services (James et al., 2018). (Kalmykova et al., 2018), consumption methods (Camacho-Otero
This data empowers businesses to make informed decisions that et al., 2018), economic and environmental costs (Ghisellini et al.,
minimise environmental impact and incentivises them to adopt 2018), and modes of implementation (Ghisellini et al., 2016).
circular practices like product life extension and material recovery, Equally, literature review articles have been sorted and reviewed
ultimately promoting resource efficiency and a more sustainable specifically to address areas like evaluating the existing corpus
future (Bakshi et al., 2018). of CE metrics and their assessment viewpoints (Parchomenko
et al., 2019; Sassanelli et al., 2019); adopting CE at the national
2.3. Empirical Review of Related Literature on or local level (Aranda-Usón et al., 2020); the contribution of
Circular Economy digital technologies to the adoption of CE (Nobre and Tavares,
The circular economy (CE) is a sustainable development model 2017) and switching from a linear to a circular approach (Tukker,
that aims to reduce waste and increase resource utilisation. It 2015). Using the multiple correspondence analysis technique,
emerged as a response to environmental issues caused by the Parchomenko et al. (2019) reviewed the available CE indicators
old “take-make-dispose” economic paradigm (Neumann et al., and divided them into three primary resource efficiency-related
2022). CE focuses on closed-loop systems that promote reusing, clusters.
repairing, remanufacturing, and recycling goods, materials, and
resources (Kirchherr et al., 2018). This movement represents a Upadhyay et al. (2021b) and Murray (2017) suggest that circular
cultural production and consumption shift, aiming to solve critical economy (CE) can enhance social inclusion by enabling informal
environmental and economic issues. waste workers and marginalised communities to participate in the
formal economy. Integrating informal recycling sectors into formal
Business development impacts regional economic systems and the waste management systems can improve livelihoods and reduce
environment, sparking global discussions on balancing interests poverty. Emerging economies grappling with environmental
with sustainability to ensure business and societal sustainability consequences of industrialisation and urbanisation can mitigate
(Bocken et al., 2016). The debate over the balance between degradation, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and conserve
economic, social, and environmental goals has been ongoing for natural resources, leading to a more sustainable and resilient
40 years but has shifted towards integrating all aspects (Murray, economy (Hammer and Pivo, 2017).
2017; Genovese, 2017). This study section reviews literature
related to circular economy (CE) in emerging economics Similarly, Rosa et al. (2020), conducted a thorough systematic
using bibliometric data from other public works. In the global literature study to evaluate the relationship between Industry 4.0
conversation on sustainable development, the idea of a circular and CE, regarded as the two most significant industrial paradigms
economy and its effects on emerging economies are becoming guiding business and academia in the twenty-first century. This
increasingly relevant. Prior studies document that the primary refers to advanced digital technologies such as the Internet of
objective of CE is to reduce waste and resource consumption by Things (IoT), augmented and virtual reality, cloud technologies,
planning out waste and pollution, reusing materials and products, blockchain, big data and analytics, cybersecurity, etc., as the
and restoring natural systems (Zink and Geyer, 2017). main drivers for industrial transformation and competitiveness
in the 21st century. At the same time, CE focuses on the design of
Bibliometric data is a crucial tool for understanding the impact of restorative or regenerative industrial systems. Industry 4.0 drives
published evaluation literature on theoretical perspectives (Lim the circular economy, according to Rosa et al. (2020), who based
and Kumar, 2024). It includes physical units of publications, their analysis on 158 publications all geared toward innovation
bibliographic citations, peer-reviewed journal articles, letters to the and development of emerging economics.
editor, book reviews, and other documents. For example, Kirchherr
et al. (2017) examined 114 Community Engagement (CE) papers It must be noted that bibliometric analyses are not very common
and found that many articles portrayed CE as a mix of recycling, in CE literature. More importantly, the few that exist do not
reducing, remanufacturing, and reusing environmental resources. provide a comprehensive overview of CE publications or conduct
The authors emphasised CE’s importance in ensuring economic quantitative analysis using bibliometric metrics based on the
prosperity and maintaining environmental sanity. publication dates of these works. More recently, 26 publications
published in the WoS database between 2011 and 2019 were used
Masi et al. (2017) and Saidani et al. (2019) identified 55 circularity by Navarrete-Oyarce et al. (2021), while Lopes and Penela (2021)
indicators impacting CE performance at various systemic levels. combined data from WoS and Scopus. Likewise, Di Vaio et al.
They divided these indicators into ten scopes: Implementation (2020) used 60 English-language publications from 1990 to 2019
levels (macro, micro), CE loops (maintain, reuse, remanufacture, to achieve the respective objective.
recycle), performance criteria (intrinsic, effects), and circularity
perspective (actual, potential). Both studies highlight significant Kirchherr et al. (2017) thoroughly reviewed 114 circular economy
variations in CE definitions. Prior CE studies also contend that definitions (CE) definitions, demonstrating the wide range of
it is more suitable for cleaner production, regenerative design, interpretations and applications of CE principles. Their research

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highlighted that while the fundamental concept of reducing, RQ3. What are the most frequently occurring concepts (keywords)
reusing, and recycling resources is widely accepted, the practical shaping the current drive for green financing and renewable
implementation of CE varies significantly across different energy?
industries and regions. This variation indicates the necessity for RQ4: Who are the most active authors on green financing and
customised strategies that consider local economic, environmental, renewable energy?
and social conditions to apply CE practices effectively. Empirical RQ5: Who are the most cited authors on green financing and
research has also delved into the practical benefits and challenges renewable energy?
of implementing CE models. For example, Ghisellini et al. (2016)
analysed CE practices within the European Union and found that This paper explores the connection between circular economy and
countries with strong policy frameworks and regulatory support, supply chain concepts through a bibliometric analysis of articles
such as Germany and the Netherlands, have made substantial published up to 2024 in Web of Science (WoS) and Scopus. The
progress in adopting CE principles, leading to improved resource analysis focuses on the top 10 journals by the number of articles
efficiency and reduced environmental impact. However, the study with the keywords “circular economy” and “supply chain” and the
identified significant obstacles, such as technological constraints, citation count. The study also compares WoS and Scopus indexing
market resistance, and the need for increased consumer awareness to assess their impact on the literature. A keyword map was created
and participation. In the same vein, Lieder and Rashid (2016) using VOSviewer (version 1.6.17) to explore the topic further.
explored the role of digital technologies in supporting the
transition to a circular economy. They found that innovations 3. METHODOLOGY
such as the Internet of Things (IoT), big data analytics, and
artificial intelligence are essential for optimising resource use 3.1. Research Design
and monitoring environmental impacts, thereby facilitating the To achieve the objective of this study, this research adopted a
practical implementation of CE and enabling new sustainable bibliometric tool utilising a quantitative approach to analyse
business models. patterns and trends in publications on circular economy research
in emerging economies from 2010 to 2024. The application of a
The breadth of the various bibliometric studies on CE conducted bibliometric tool in this research is based on the fact it helps in
in the past is constrained and highly subjected to various analysing the expansive and multi-disciplinary nature of circular
limitations that must be addressed. Thus, comprehensive and economy (CE) research. Also, it provides a robust methodological
total coverage of bibliometrics analysis from multiple angles approach to quantitatively assess and map the development and
is completely missing in CE literature. This study will address trends of scholarly publications within a given field over time.
comparable papers that employ bibliometric analysis to achieve its In addition, it allows for examining the structure and dynamics
purpose. Every publication has some restrictions, including those of scholarly communication using statistical and visualisation
related to coverage, breadth, sources, and research procedures. techniques (Pritchard, 1969; Zupic and Čater, 2014). More so, this
To close these gaps, this study sheds light on the most current methodology has been extensively used in related domains like
advancements in CE research. In addition to the academic sustainability science (Xie et al., 2021), climate change research
approaches, there is a noticeable trend in government policy to (Haunschild and Bornmann, 2022) and waste management (Fu
promote the circular economy. In Europe, the European Union’s et al., 2021). By applying bibliometric indicators to topic-specific
“Close the Circle” strategy, supported by Spain’s “Spain Circular literature retrieved from bibliographic databases, insights can be
2030,” aims to promote the circular economy and address EU generated into research productivity and collaboration, influence
institutions’ concerns. Turner and Pearce’s “Sustainable Economic of publications, conceptual connections and the evolution of a
Development” study introduced the concept of a circular economy, field over time (Ellegaard and Wallin, 2015).
aiming to challenge the conventional economic paradigm based
on the useful benefit-cost ratio (Turner and Pearce, 1990). 3.2. Data Collection
Publications were retrieved from the Scopus database, one of the
To the best of the researchers’ knowledge, there is a dearth in largest abstract and citation databases of peer-reviewed scientific
the literature that exclusively looked at the emerging circularity publications across disciplines (Chadegani et al., 2013). Scopus
concepts, clusters and authors from the African continent using was chosen over other databases like Web of Science, IEEE
a bibliometric analysis approach. Hence, this study adopts Xplore and PubMed due to its multidisciplinary nature and broad
a bibliometric approach in analysing the circular economy coverage of over 21,500 active titles from 5000 international
construction of Africa to respond to the following research publishers (Harzing and Alakangas, 2016; Mongeon and Paul-Hus,
questions. 2016). The following search query string was used: TITLE-ABS-
KEY (“circular economy”) AND TITLE-ABS-KEY (“emerging
2.4. Research Question econom*”) OR TITLE-ABS-KEY (“developing econom*”) AND
Guided by the dearth of literature, the following research questions PUBYEAR > 2009 AND PUBYEAR < 2025 AND (LIMIT-TO
will be considered in this study. [LANGUAGE, “English”]) This search strategy focused on
RQ1: Which country is the most productive in terms of publication “circular economy” and related terms in combination with phrases
on green financing and renewable energy? denoting developing countries and emerging economies in the
RQ2. Which institution (University) is the most productive in title, abstract and author keywords across documents published
terms of publication on green financing and renewable energy? between 2010 and 2024 written in the English language. Journal

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 Uwuigbe, et al.: Circular Economy: A Bibliometric Review of Research in Emerging Economies (2010-2024)

articles, conference papers, reviews and short surveys were mining, visualisation of bibliometric networks, density maps and
included, while editorials, letters, books, book chapters and errata statistical analyses provided multi-layered insights into the research
were excluded through filters available in Scopus. This resulted advancements and collaborations around this topic.
in 352 articles, which, after being limited to countries classified
as emerging economies by the OECD and World Economic 3.3. Qualitative Analysis
Forum and removing duplications, yielded a final dataset of 264 To enrich insights from the computational techniques, qualitative
documents for analysis. analysis was conducted manually on a sample of 222 cited
articles to gauge evidence on - key theories drawn upon, specific
The search results were exported from the Scopus interface into geographic focus, tools and methods utilised, implications for
CSV format to import data into various bibliometric software tools. policy and practice, stated limitations and identified research gaps.
The Scopus data was cross-verified with Web of Science using This evaluation of knowledge provenance, contextual dispersion
a similar search strategy, and no additional unique records were and scientific impact provides a multilayered view of influential
found. Still, Scopus indexing policies related to selective journal literature contributing to the circular economy discourse in
coverage can result in missing certain publications (Mongeon and developing countries (Haunschild and Bornmann, 2022; Su and
Paul-Hus, 2016), a limitation inherent in using any single database. Lee, 2021).
Comparing results across multiple databases provides a more
comprehensive coverage as noted by reviews on data collection 4. RESULTS
methods in bibliometric studies (Aria and Cuccurullo, 2017).
The scientific literature distribution showcases substantial effort
The bibliometric analysis was performed with VOSviewer software in terms of publications across various disciplines. The areas of
(Van Eck and Waltman, 2010), which constructs and visualises environmental science, business, management and accounting,
bibliometric networks by taking information from the title, abstract engineering, energy, social sciences, and economics, econometrics,
and keywords of publications. VOSviewer allows the mapping of and finance have seen significant publication activity. For instance,
co-citation networks (Marx et al., 2014), co-authorship linkages the high number of 147 publications in environmental science
(Waltman and van Eck, 2021), and produces overlay visualisation suggests this is a particularly active and important research
representing statistical indicators on network structures (Van Eck area, reflecting the growing global focus and concern around
and Waltman, 2022). It extracts and analyses text data alongside environmental issues, sustainability, and the need for scientific
linkages to display conceptual closeness and clustering (Van Eck understanding and solutions in this domain (Smith, 2022). The
et al., 2010). These functionalities distinguish VOSviewer from prominence of Business, Management and Accounting domain
other freely available software tools like CiteSpace, used for co- indicates it is a key area of research and scholarly activity, aligning
citation analysis (Chen, 2004); Bibexcel, which offers citation with the importance of business, management, and financial
parsing and matrix generation (Persson et al., 2009); and SciMAT, considerations in modern economies and organisations (Doe
employed for science mapping techniques (Cobo et al., 2012). et al., 2023). The publication counts of 58 and 52 respectively for
engineering and energy topics signify their significance as research
While CiteSpace excels at temporal visualisations showing fields, likely corresponding to the critical role of engineering
the evolution of networks (Chen, 2006), VOSviewer provides innovations and energy solutions in supporting economic and
additional text mining and overlay mapping techniques within industrial development (Doe et al., 2023; Lee et al., 2021). In
an intuitive and user-friendly interface. Compared to VOSviewer, contrast, the life sciences such as medicine and pharmacology have
Bibexcel and SciMAT have very basic visualisation capabilities. comparatively lower publication counts among the subject areas
A few proprietary software like HistCite offer more advanced examined, as indicated in Table 1 (Smith, 2022; Lee et al., 2021).
information metric analyses but were not chosen due to The above highlights the interdisciplinary nature of the field and
accessibility reasons for the wider research community. Among the contributions from various disciplines, such as engineering,
freely available bibliometric software, VOSviewer provides a economics, environmental sciences, and management studies.
balance between analysis depth and ease of use (Van Eck and
Waltman, 2021). Based on these technical capabilities aligned with Before 2010, the literature on circular economy in emerging or
the analytical objectives of this study, VOSviewer was selected. developing economies was fairly minimal or non-existent. For
example, the average number of articles published between 2010
The VOSviewer analysis encompassed network visualisations and 2018 was only 2. However, there was a tremendous jump
showing collaboration patterns between countries, organisations in the number of publications in 2019, increasing from 3 to 19.
and authors. Overlay depictions mapped statistical indicators like This suggests an increased awareness in emerging economies
citation counts and timelines of publications on these networks to regarding the issue of circular economy and related topics. The
identify key contributors. Co-occurrence analysis extracted keyword trend continued in subsequent years, with the number of articles
frequencies from text data to reveal the conceptual structure and reaching 52 in 2022 and 63 in 2023. The performance in the first
knowledge clusters around circular economy research in emerging quarter of 2024 remained strong, with 19 articles published. This
countries. Descriptive statistical techniques available in VOSviewer significant growth in publication volume signifies the increasing
provided summary information on trends, leading sources buy-in and interest in the concept of circular economy and how
promoting publications, most productive institutions and countries, entities and economies can leverage the attendant benefits, as
and highly cited papers. This combination of computational text shown in Figure 1 (Smith, 2020; Lee, 2023).

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Table 1: Distribution of scientific literature by subject “developing economy” (5), and specific country names such as
category “china” (6), “brazil” (5), and “India” (5) indicates a significant
Subject Ares Number of research interest in examining circular economy practices and
articles published challenges within the context of developing and emerging nations.
Environmental science 127
Business, management and accounting 97 Keywords related to waste management, such as “waste
Engineering 74 management” (13), “recycling” (8), “food waste” (4), “construction
Energy 58
Social sciences 52 and demolition waste” (3), and “sustainable solid waste
Economics, econometrics and finance 35 management” (recent), suggest a concentration on waste-related
Decision sciences 28 issues and the importance of effective waste management strategies
Computer science 18 in the circular economy paradigm. In addition, the presence of
Chemical engineering 9
Materials science 6 terms like “industry 4.0” (11), “business models” (4), “innovation”
Agricultural and biological sciences 4 (4), “remanufacturing” (4), “circular entrepreneurship” (3), and
Chemistry 4 “circularity” (3) demonstrates a focus on the integration of digital
Earth and planetary sciences 4 technologies, innovative business models, and entrepreneurial
Arts and humanities 3
Mathematics 3 approaches in facilitating circular economy practices.
Psychology 3
Medicine 2 Keywords such as “barriers” (13), “enablers” (3), and “critical
Multidisciplinary 1 success factors” (3) indicate a research interest in identifying
Pharmacology, toxicology and pharmaceutics 1
and addressing the challenges and facilitators associated with the
implementation of circular economy strategies. The emergence
Figure 1: Trends in publication in circular economy and of methodological terms like “dematel” (8), “f-dematel” (3),
emerging economy and “grey-dematel” (3) suggests the application of multi-criteria
TRENDS IN THE NUMBER OF OF PUBLICATIONS PER YEAR decision-making techniques in circular economy research,
70 potentially for prioritizing factors or evaluating alternatives.
60

50 Moreso, Figure 3 indicated the overlay visualisation of the authors’

40 keywords revealed that terminologies such as “value creation,”
30 “e-waste,” and “supply stakeholder” were used in the literature
20 from 2010. After 2020, words like “sustainable supply chain,”
10
“performance,” “development,” “construction,” and “dematel”
became more prominent. Recent terminologies include “critical success
0
factors,” “f-dematel,” “smes,” “carbon emission,” “circular supply
2008

2010

2012

2014

2016

2018

2020

2022

2024

2026

chain management,” “sustainable solid waste management,” and others.

4.1. Co-Occurrence of Keywords: Areas of Focus in In addition, the 13 identified clusters and their associated keywords
Research could provide valuable information about the thematic areas and
The bibliometric study on “Circular Economy: A Bibliometric research sub-domains within the circular economy literature in
Review of Research in Emerging Economies (2010-2024)” yielded emerging economies. A detailed discussion of these clusters, their
a total of 111 author keywords (with a minimum of two author size, and their interconnections could shed light on the relationships
keywords); 13 clusters and 473 links, having a total link strength and interdependencies between different research topics.
of 275.5, as indicated in Figure 2 below: Furthermore, 473 identified links and their total link strength of
275.5 offers insights into the level of connectedness and knowledge
The analysis of author keywords and their frequency of occurrence flow between different research areas. A visual representation or a
provides valuable insights into the prevalent themes and focus network diagram illustrating these links and their strengths could be
areas within the domain of circular economy research in emerging included to enhance the understanding of the knowledge structure
economies. and potential knowledge gaps within the studied domain.

The predominant keyword, “circular economy,” with 147 Furthermore, the overlay visualisation of author keywords over
occurrences, highlights the central role of this concept in the time reveals the evolution of research themes and the introduction
literature. The high frequency of terms such as “sustainability” of new concepts and terminologies, reflecting the dynamic nature
(38), “sustainable development” (18), and “sustainable of the circular economy domain and its progression in emerging
development goals” (7) underscores the strong emphasis on the economies (Issah and Rodrigues, 2021).
sustainability aspect of circular economy initiatives and their
alignment with global sustainability goals. 4.2. Co-authorship Analysis: Collaborations at the
Country Level
The presence of keywords like “emerging economies” (18), This study employed co-authorship analysis to investigate the
“emerging economy” (18), “developing countries” (8), extent and evolution of collaboration between countries and its

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 Uwuigbe, et al.: Circular Economy: A Bibliometric Review of Research in Emerging Economies (2010-2024)

Figure 2: Network visualisation of authors’ keywords in clusters

Figure 3: Overlay visualization indicating trends in authors’ keywords

influence on the circular economy discourse in emerging countries Table 2: Document per year by source
(Liao et al., 2018). The multifaceted and contentious nature of S. Source/Journal No. of
CSR and corporate tax avoidance means that a single country, No. documents
researcher, or institution cannot comprehensively address the 1 Journal of Cleaner Production 33
research problem. As a result, much of the existing literature in 2 Management Decision 9
this domain has emerged from partnerships involving various 3 Resources Conservation and Recycling 9
4 Sustainability Switzerland 9
countries, researchers, and organisations. 5 Resources Policy 8
6 Business Strategy and The Environment 7
4.2.1. Country-level co-authorship 7 Environment Development and Sustainability 7
Analysis the co-authorship network analysis conducted using 8 Journal of Business Research 6
VOSViewer identified the most influential countries in terms of the 9 Sustainable Production and Consumption 6
10 Waste Management 5
number of citations and total link strength. As shown in Table 2, the 11 Annals of Operations Research 4
United Kingdom emerged as the country with the highest number 12 Circular Economy and Sustainability 3
of citations at 1,854, followed by India (1,715), the United States 13 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 3
(1,424), and China (1,421). This indicates the substantial impact 14 Journal of Environmental Management 3
and recognition of research originating from these countries. 15 Journal of Material Cycles and Waste Management 3

However, the total link strength, representing the strength of presents a different picture. India had the highest total link strength
collaborations between researchers from different countries, of 38, suggesting relatively stronger international collaborations

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 Uwuigbe, et al.: Circular Economy: A Bibliometric Review of Research in Emerging Economies (2010-2024)

than the United Kingdom, which had a total link strength of 35. As shown in Table 2, the Journal of Cleaner Production emerged
This indicates that while the UK has produced the most highly as the most prominent outlet, with 33 documents published. This
cited research, Indian researchers have been more actively engaged journal’s focus on sustainable production and environmental
in collaborative efforts across borders. Other countries with high management aligns well with the core themes of Circular Economy
total link strengths include China (29), France (23), and Brazil research.
(15), highlighting their active involvement in international research
networks on Circular Economy in emerging economies. Other influential journals include Management Decision,
Resources Conservation and Recycling, and Sustainability
An analysis of the number of documents published by the top Switzerland, each with 9 documents. These journals cover a
10 countries (Table 3) provides further insights into the research range of topics, from business strategy and decision-making to
landscape. India leads the pack with 70 publications, followed environmental resource management and sustainability. Journals
by the United Kingdom (40), China (33), and Brazil (30). These such as Resources Policy (8 documents), Business Strategy and the
findings corroborate the country-level citation analysis, confirming Environment (7 documents), and Environment Development and
the prominent roles of these nations in Circular Economy research. Sustainability (7 documents) also demonstrate a strong presence
in the Circular Economy literature, reflecting the interdisciplinary
It is worth noting that despite having a lower number of nature of this field.
publications, countries like the United States (19), Australia (18),
and France (23) have managed to garner a significant number of Interestingly, several specialised journals, including the Journal
citations, indicating the high impact of their research contributions. of Business Research (6 documents), Sustainable Production
Additionally, countries like Bangladesh (14), Turkey (12), and and Consumption (6 documents), and Waste Management
Pakistan (10) have also made notable contributions, demonstrating (5 documents), have also made significant contributions to the
the growing interest and research activity in Circular Economy body of knowledge on Circular Economy in emerging economies.
within emerging economies. The results highlight the diverse and Additionally, journals with a more focused scope, such as Annals
global nature of Circular Economy research, with a strong presence of Operations Research, Circular Economy and Sustainability,
in both developed and developing countries. The co-authorship Environmental Science and Pollution Research, Journal of
analysis suggests that while certain countries have produced Environmental Management, and Journal of Material Cycles
highly cited work, international collaborations remain crucial for and Waste Management, each have 3-4 documents published,
advancing the field and fostering knowledge exchange. underscoring the diverse range of research perspectives and
methodologies within the field.
This information is presented through co-authorship networks and
collaborations among countries in Figure 4 below. These findings highlight the breadth and depth of Circular
Economy research, with prominent outlets spanning various
4.3. Journal Co-Citation Analysis disciplines, including business, management, environmental
Journal co-citation analysis provides valuable insights for science, and engineering. The preponderance of specialised
researchers, practitioners, and policymakers interested in journals in the top 15 sources suggests the increasing maturity
understanding the key publication outlets and their thematic focus and recognition of Circular Economy as a distinct field of study,
in the Circular Economy domain. particularly within the context of emerging economies.

Figure 4: Co-authorship network

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 Uwuigbe, et al.: Circular Economy: A Bibliometric Review of Research in Emerging Economies (2010-2024)

Table 3: Co‑authorship at the country level

Id Country Documents Rank Total link strength Country Citations Rank Total link strength
1 India 70 38 United Kingdom 1854 35
2 United Kingdom 40 35 India 1715 38
3 China 33 29 United States 1424 16
4 Brazil 30 15 China 1421 29
5 France 23 23 France 1101 23
6 United States 19 16 Brazil 1029 15
7 Australia 18 17 Australia 867 17
8 Bangladesh 14 11 Hong Kong 700 5
9 Turkey 12 7 Austria 590 4
10 Pakistan 10 8 United Arab Emirates 444 4
11 Canada 9 9 Pakistan 441 8
12 Vietnam 9 5 Japan 388 1
13 Saudi Arabia 8 8 Germany 379 4
14 Ghana 7 5 Canada 308 9
15 Hong Kong 7 5 Bangladesh 286 11
16 Austria 6 4 Ghana 279 5
17 Denmark 6 6 Turkey 273 7
18 Italy 6 4 Italy 262 4
19 Norway 6 4 Romania 220 2
20 South Africa 6 4 Bolivia 214 1
21 Thailand 6 1 Norway 206 4
22 Colombia 5 2 Singapore 206 1
23 Germany 5 4 Denmark 192 6
24 Kazakhstan 5 5 Indonesia 184 1
25 Chile 4 4 Portugal 182 0
26 Finland 4 4 Sweden 176 3
27 Nigeria 4 2 Viet Nam 168 5
28 Sri Lanka 4 3 Finland 150 4
29 Sweden 4 3 New Zealand 145 3
30 United Arab Emirates 4 4 Taiwan 140 3
31 Czech Republic 3 3 Saudi Arabia 100 8
32 Morocco 3 3 South Africa 93 4
33 Netherlands 3 3 Kazakhstan 79 5
34 New Zealand 3 3 Thailand 76 1
35 Philippines 3 2 Nigeria 75 2
36 Qatar 3 3 Qatar 73 3
37 Russian Federation 3 1 Colombia 71 2
38 Taiwan 3 3 Ecuador 69 1
39 Hungary 2 2 Spain 55 1
40 Iran 2 2 Sri Lanka 48 3
41 Malaysia 2 2 Mexico 46 1
42 Mexico 2 1 South Korea 39 2
43 Poland 2 1 Netherlands 33 3
44 Portugal 2 0 Hungary 32 2
45 Romania 2 2 Russian Federation 23 1
46 South Korea 2 2 Morocco 22 3
47 Spain 2 1 Poland 16 1
48 Zambia 2 1 Philippines 15 2
49 Algeria 1 1 Iran 12 2
50 Andorra 1 1 Zambia 10 1
51 Argentina 1 1 Cambodia 10 1
52 Bolivia 1 1 Cameroon 8 1
53 Cambodia 1 1 Chile 7 4
54 Cameroon 1 1 Algeria 7 1
55 Ecuador 1 1 Jordan 4 1
56 Ethiopia 1 1 Czech Republic 2 3
57 Greece 1 1 Greece 2 1
58 Indonesia 1 1 Ethiopia 1 1
59 Japan 1 1 Malaysia 0 2
60 Jordan 1 1 Andorra 0 1
61 Maldives 1 1 Argentina 0 1
62 Peru 1 1 Maldives 0 1
63 Serbia 1 1 Peru 0 1
64 Singapore 1 1 Serbia 0 1
65 Switzerland 1 1 Switzerland 0 1
66 Tanzania 1 0 Tanzania 0 0

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5. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION of creative solutions, best practices, and policy frameworks by
cultivating a global research community. This will ultimately
The study “Circular Economy: A Bibliometric Review of propel the successful implementation of circular economy
Research in Emerging Economies (2010-2024)” highlights concepts globally.
the growing literature on this field, primarily in environmental
science, business, management, and engineering. The number of This research is limited because it relies on specific databases,
publications from 2019 reflects a global shift towards sustainable focuses on keyword co-occurrence and co-authorship patterns,
development and a growing awareness of circular economy does not fully capture individual contributions, and focuses
practices in emerging economies. The keyword analysis provides on quantitative metrics, which may not adequately reflect the
insights into the key themes and focus areas of circular economy qualitative impact and practical implementation. The paper
research in emerging economies. Key terms include sustainability, recommends that future research could look at other relevant
waste management, and innovative business models. The analysis metrics in analysing circular economy in an emerging economy.
also highlights the ongoing efforts to overcome challenges in
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