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Circular Economy and Competitiveness in the Era of Global Sustainability...
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Circular Economy and Competitiveness in the Era of Global Sustainability Transitions

A Special Issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050) belonging to the section "Economic and Business Aspects of Sustainability".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 1 December 2026 | Viewed by 4715

Editors

Prof. Dr. Wei Li

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Economics and Management, Taiyuan University of Technology, Taiyuan 030024, China
Interests: low-carbon development; pro-environment behavior; carbon emission; energy policy
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Xiaoguang Liu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Economics and Management, Taiyuan University of Technology, Taiyuan 030024, China
Interests: organizational behavior; environmental behavior

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

With the intensifying global push for sustainability, circular economy (CE) has emerged as a key pathway for achieving both environmental and economic objectives. Circular strategies—such as waste reduction, resource regeneration, and life-cycle thinking—are increasingly seen as levers to enhance competitiveness in firms, regions, and nations. However, how CE contributes to or challenges traditional notions of competitiveness remains underexplored, particularly in the context of global sustainability transitions.

This Special Issue focuses on the interaction between circular economy practices and competitiveness during sustainability transitions. It aims to highlight innovative frameworks, tools, and empirical evidence that demonstrate how CE can drive green innovation, foster industrial transformation, and support resilient value chains. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to, circular business models, performance measurement, policy and regulatory innovations, digital enablers (e.g., AI, blockchain), and cross-sectoral or regional CE strategies. This Special Issue welcomes original research and reviews that provide insights for academics, practitioners, and policymakers navigating the complex CE–competitiveness nexus.

In this Special Issue, original research articles and reviews are welcome. Research areas may include (but are not limited to) the following:

  • Circular business models and green innovation strategies.
  • Resource efficiency and life-cycle thinking in enhancing competitiveness.
  • Policy instruments and regulatory frameworks for CE implementation.
  • The role of digital technologies (e.g., AI, IoT, blockchain) in enabling CE.
  • Industrial symbiosis and supply chain reconfiguration.
  • Sectoral and regional case studies of CE-led competitiveness.
  • Metrics and evaluation models for circular performance and economic impact.
  • Institutional challenges and governance mechanisms for CE transitions.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Prof. Dr. Wei Li
Dr. Xiaoguang Liu
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-anonymized peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • circular economy
  • competitiveness
  • sustainability transitions
  • green innovation
  • resource efficiency

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

26 pages, 15071 KB  
Article
Exploratory Assessment of Some Regional Food Wastes as Potential Biofertilizers: Effects on Vegetative Growth and Phytochemical Profile of Phaseolus vulgaris L.
by Elena Petronela Bran, Luminița Grosu, Gabriel-Alin Iosob, Irina-Claudia Alexa, Petre Marian Brezeanu and Adriana-Luminița Fînaru
Sustainability 2026, 18(14), 7312; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18147312 - 17 Jul 2026
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 460
Abstract
Developing innovative green strategies regarding the integration of by-products and waste from the food industry for sustainable agriculture and a circular economy represents a current challenge of great interest. The present exploratory study evaluated four regional potential food-waste-derived biofertilizers under controlled greenhouse conditions. [...] Read more.
Developing innovative green strategies regarding the integration of by-products and waste from the food industry for sustainable agriculture and a circular economy represents a current challenge of great interest. The present exploratory study evaluated four regional potential food-waste-derived biofertilizers under controlled greenhouse conditions. Eggshell powder (EGP), whey, sea buckthorn pomace powder (SBPP), and grape pomace hydroalcoholic extract (GPHAE), used separately or in combination, were tested to observe the response of a relevant crop, Phaseolus vulgaris L. var. communis Auria Bacăului, in terms of vegetative growth parameters and its phytochemical profile. Plant biometric parameters, some representative metabolites (chlorophyll, carotenoids, polyphenolic compounds, and amino acids), and antioxidant activity were investigated using appropriate analytical techniques. The results demonstrated that bean plants grown on soil amended with EGP exhibit high biometric values, validating the efficacy of this by-product as a potential biofertilizer. The mixture of water and GPHAE used on the amended soils with EGP, and with EGP and SBPP, induces a positive effect on the total chlorophyll content accumulated in the bean samples (0.204–0.212 mg/g) compared to similar samples sprayed only with water. The mixture of water, whey, and GPHAE resulted in free amino acid accumulation in beans regardless of soil amendment. The highest synergetic effect on amino acid accumulation was found between this fertigation solution and the soil supplemented with EGP. The overall results of the present work confirm the potential of these regional food by-products and waste as biofertilizers, offering a dual solution for food industry waste management and sustainable agricultural development. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Circular Economy and Competitiveness in the Era of Global Sustainability Transitions)
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33 pages, 21097 KB  
Article
Python-Based AI-Assisted Modeling and Computation of Life Cycle Assessment of European Polymeric Waste: Application in Manufacturing and Recycling Industries Regarding Sustainability
by Abrar Hussain, Himanshu S. Maurya, Dmitri Goljandin, Ramin Rahmani, Maris Sinka and Diana Bajare
Sustainability 2026, 18(11), 5445; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18115445 - 28 May 2026
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1377
Abstract
Development of sustainability systems for assessment of environmental impacts remains a paramount challenge for green and circular manufacturing of polymers. In this study, a comprehensive life cycle assessment (LCA) framework is developed for European polymeric waste by integrating OpenLCA, Ecoinvent v3.11, and Python-based [...] Read more.
Development of sustainability systems for assessment of environmental impacts remains a paramount challenge for green and circular manufacturing of polymers. In this study, a comprehensive life cycle assessment (LCA) framework is developed for European polymeric waste by integrating OpenLCA, Ecoinvent v3.11, and Python-based machine learning (ML) algorithms. Cradle-to-gate, service-life, and cradle-to-grave assessments are performed for representative thermoplastic composite systems, including PP–PET–cotton, HDPE–glass fiber, and PEEK–carbon fiber composites, covering domestic, engineering, and high-performance polymer categories. The results demonstrate that raw material extraction and manufacturing stages dominate environmental impacts, contributing the highest shares to climate change, ecotoxicity, and non-renewable energy consumption. PP-based composite systems exhibit the lowest overall environmental burdens due to lower processing energy and simpler molecular structures, while HDPE-based systems show moderate impacts. PEEK-based composites present the highest impacts per unit mass, driven by energy-intensive synthesis and high processing temperature. Environmental impacts are evaluated using EF v3.1 and ReCiPe methodologies, supported by Monte Carlo simulations and ML-assisted uncertainty quantification. Monte Carlo simulations and ML-assisted LCA provide probabilistic ranges, uncertainty quantification, and predictive insights into impact indicators, enabling the development of a quantitative sustainability system based on probability–impact relationships. A Europe-wide assessment of 57 Mt of polymeric waste highlights that environmental burdens are concentrated in countries with high polymer production and consumption, emphasizing the importance of energy mix, recycling efficiency, and waste management strategies. Overall, this work demonstrates that digitalized LCA coupled with ML offers a powerful decision-support framework for sustainable polymer design, recycling optimization, and circular economy policy development, supporting the transition toward low-carbon and resource-efficient polymer systems in Europe. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Circular Economy and Competitiveness in the Era of Global Sustainability Transitions)
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18 pages, 820 KB  
Article
Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Irrigation and Slow-Release Fertilizer Application on Carrots in Reducing Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions
by Barbara Filipek-Mazur, Monika Komorowska, Marcin Niemiec, Atilgan Atilgan, Rafał Górski, Shakhista Ishniyazova, Dagmara Zuzek, Lidia Luty and Abduaziz Abduvasikov
Sustainability 2026, 18(7), 3513; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18073513 - 3 Apr 2026
Viewed by 698
Abstract
The optimization of crop production in the context of agricultural land use and production inputs is a strategic element of sustainable development. Fertilization and irrigation are vital components of agricultural engineering, driving crop quantity and quality. The objective of the study discussed here [...] Read more.
The optimization of crop production in the context of agricultural land use and production inputs is a strategic element of sustainable development. Fertilization and irrigation are vital components of agricultural engineering, driving crop quantity and quality. The objective of the study discussed here was to assess greenhouse gas emissions from carrot cultivation depending on the variant of the fertilization and irrigation processes. One tonne of marketable carrot yield was selected as the functional unit. A controlled field experiment in a split-plot configuration was carried out to deliver the objective. Calculation of the total quantity of greenhouse gases emitted from the crop was carried out according to ISO 14040 and ISO 14044. Boundaries of the system encompassed the production and use of fertilizers and pesticides, the consumption of energy for agro-engineering activities and irrigation, as well as GHG emissions from soil resources and crop residue. The reference unit for the study was an object (plot) irrigated according to production practice in the area where the study was conducted. Under those conditions, greenhouse gas emissions totaled 75.68 kg CO2 ⸱ t−1 of the commercial product. Optimization, involving precise irrigation and fertilization using slow-release fertilizers, reduced the carbon footprint to 54.33 kg CO2 ⸱ t−1 of the commercial product. GHG emissions were thus reduced by 30%. The use of slow-release fertilizers resulted in a reduction of total greenhouse gas emissions per unit of marketable yield by 15% for non-irrigated crops and by 17% for irrigated crops. Irrigation, in turn, resulted in a reduction of total GHG emissions by 8% for conventional fertilization and by 11% for slow-release fertilization. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Circular Economy and Competitiveness in the Era of Global Sustainability Transitions)
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30 pages, 1488 KB  
Article
Assessing Circular Economy and Sustainability Business Strategies in Fast Fashion: A Fuzzy Cognitive Maps Approach
by Federica De Leo, Valerio Elia, Maria Grazia Gnoni and Fabiana Tornese
Sustainability 2026, 18(6), 3141; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18063141 - 23 Mar 2026
Viewed by 1530
Abstract
The fashion industry is one of the most resource-intensive sectors, generating major environmental impacts such as greenhouse gas emissions, excessive water and land use, and pollution from waste and microplastics. Fast fashion intensifies these issues through overproduction and overconsumption. However, growing consumer awareness [...] Read more.
The fashion industry is one of the most resource-intensive sectors, generating major environmental impacts such as greenhouse gas emissions, excessive water and land use, and pollution from waste and microplastics. Fast fashion intensifies these issues through overproduction and overconsumption. However, growing consumer awareness and regulatory pressure are pushing brands to adopt Circular Economy (CE) and sustainability strategies, including resale platforms, recycling programs, and sustainability frameworks. Despite these efforts, their real effectiveness remains uncertain. This study investigates which CE and sustainability strategies are most common among fast fashion companies and how they can mitigate key environmental impacts. Using a Fuzzy Cognitive Maps (FCM) model, the research quantitatively evaluates the effects of various circular and sustainable strategies across the supply chain. Ten key strategies were identified, revealing that isolated actions are often ineffective. Instead, an integrated, systemic approach combining multiple initiatives is essential to achieve meaningful sustainability improvements. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Circular Economy and Competitiveness in the Era of Global Sustainability Transitions)
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