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Sustainability
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Ecological Engineering and Circular Economy
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Ecological Engineering and Circular Economy

A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Economic and Business Aspects of Sustainability".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 28 October 2025 | Viewed by 5649

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Dina M.R. Mateus

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Guest Editor
Techn&Art, Centre for Technology, Restoration and Art Enhancement, Instituto Politécnico de Tomar, Estrada da Serra, 2300-313 Tomar, Portugal
Interests: wastewater treatment; constructed wetlands and water reuse; circular economy; biodegradation of cultural heritage
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Henrique J.O. Pinho

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Guest Editor
Ci2, Smart Cities Research Center, Instituto Politécnico de Tomar, Estrada da Serra, 2300-313 Tomar, Portugal
Interests: wastewater treatment; constructed wetlands; remote monitoring; circular economy; renewable energy
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Petre Brețcan

E-Mail Website1 Website2
Guest Editor
Department of Geography, Faculty of Humanities, Valahia University of Târgoviste, 130105 Dambovita, Romania
Interests: limnology; wetlands; water quality; geospatial analysis
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Ecological Engineering can play a significant role in the Circular Economy by providing solutions to design and develop sustainable systems that integrate natural processes with human activities, reducing waste, minimizing pollution, and regenerating natural systems.

Considering that the main goals of the Circular Economy consist of simultaneously reducing the depletion of natural resources and mitigating the generation of waste, Ecological Engineering tools can be applied to attain those goals. Thus, both concepts are connected. This Special Issue intends to be a space to share works that strengthen this connection and boost future research in these fields.

This Special Issue aims to provide an opportunity for researchers to share their findings and insights on how to advance these fields and promote sustainability, including education and public engagement, which are critical routes to promoting awareness and understanding of Ecological Engineering and the Circular Economy.

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

  1. Bioeconomy;
  2. Bioenergy systems and renewable energy;
  3. Biomimicry;
  4. Circular economy of biological resources;
  5. Ecosystem restoration and conservation;
  6. Environment protection;
  7. Freshwater management and conservation;
  8. GIS applications to resources management;
  9. Green infrastructures;
  10. Industrial ecology;
  11. Life cycle assessment;
  12. Nature-based solutions;
  13. Resource recovery;
  14. Sustainable agriculture and forestry.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Prof. Dr. Dina M.R. Mateus
Prof. Dr. Henrique J.O. Pinho
Dr. Petre Brețcan
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 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

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-blind 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
  • ecological engineering
  • eco-efficiency
  • energy saving
  • environment protection
  • industrial symbiosis
  • resource efficiency
  • sustainability
  • waste valorization

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

24 pages, 3063 KiB  
Article
From Knowledge to Action: How Portuguese Higher Education Students Engage with Circular Economy Principles
by Ana Pardal, Anabela Moreira, Cristina Galacho, Dina Mateus, Laura Viegas, Marcelo Gaspar, Margarida Ribau Teixeira, Vitor Manteigas and Maria Alzira Pimenta Dinis
Sustainability 2025, 17(7), 3279; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17073279 - 7 Apr 2025
Viewed by 930
Abstract
This study investigates the perceptions and practices of Portuguese higher education students regarding the circular economy (CE), emphasising their knowledge, attitudes, and behaviours toward sustainable resource management. Carried out by the Working Group on Circular Economy and Waste Management of the Portuguese Sustainable [...] Read more.
This study investigates the perceptions and practices of Portuguese higher education students regarding the circular economy (CE), emphasising their knowledge, attitudes, and behaviours toward sustainable resource management. Carried out by the Working Group on Circular Economy and Waste Management of the Portuguese Sustainable Campus Network (RCS), the research used an online survey targeting students from 20 higher education institutions (HEIs), resulting in 400 responses. The findings indicate that while students generally hold positive views of the CE, their understanding of its practical applications, such as waste reduction and resource efficiency, remains limited. Only a small proportion of students reported exposure to CE-related topics in their curriculum, revealing a gap in academic integration. This study also identifies significant demographic variations in CE awareness and practices, influenced by factors such as age, field of study, and employment status. These insights underscore the need for HEIs to strengthen CE education and actively involve students in hands-on sustainability initiatives, fostering a generation equipped to drive the transition toward a circular economy. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ecological Engineering and Circular Economy)
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21 pages, 22603 KiB  
Article
Evaluation Methods and Application of Adaptability of Ecological Product Development and Utilization—Taking Jizhou District, Tianjin City, as an Example
by Enxiang Zhang, Xinting Gao, Shuo Lei, Qin Qiao, Yuping Zheng, Lixiang Liu and Yongwei Han
Sustainability 2024, 16(8), 3438; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16083438 - 19 Apr 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1908
Abstract
Ecological products refer to the natural elements crucial for sustaining life support systems, ecological regulation functions, and environmental comfort. These products encompass clean air, water, pollution-free soil, lush forests, and maintaining favorable climates. In this study, we assessed the spatial distribution of ecosystem [...] Read more.
Ecological products refer to the natural elements crucial for sustaining life support systems, ecological regulation functions, and environmental comfort. These products encompass clean air, water, pollution-free soil, lush forests, and maintaining favorable climates. In this study, we assessed the spatial distribution of ecosystem service functions in the Jizhou District of Tianjin using the suitability evaluation method, InVEST model calculations, and ArcGIS spatial visualization analysis. This study operates within the framework of “ecological industry selection”, involving suitability evaluations for ecological product development, and formulates industrial development planning and control strategies. To construct the evaluation index system for exploiting and utilizing ecological products in the Jizhou District, three key aspects were considered: ecosystem services, land use, and limiting factors. Leveraging the district’s resource endowments, this study conducted a quantitative analysis of the spatial distribution pattern of ecological product exploitation potential. The findings revealed a regional aggregation characteristic in the development potential of ecological products. The appropriate direction for developing eco-agriculture, eco-industry, eco-health, and eco-compensation products in the Jizhou district is influenced by the spatial distribution of ecosystem service functions. Building upon the analysis, specific types of ecological products suitable for development in the Jizhou District were further identified. By evaluating the suitability of ecological product development and utilization and verifying the results through industrial model division, the mechanism for comprehending the value of ecological products was realized. This study contributes to the realization of the “two mountains” ideology, wherein the transformation of green water and green mountains into assets of economic value is emphasized, thus fostering sustainable development practices. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ecological Engineering and Circular Economy)
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14 pages, 280 KiB  
Article
Are Rainwater and Stormwater Part of the Urban CE Efficiency?
by Carlos Novaes and Rui Marques
Sustainability 2023, 15(14), 11168; https://doi.org/10.3390/su151411168 - 18 Jul 2023
Viewed by 1701
Abstract
Circular economy (CE) means efficient resource use. It is a matter of better available resource management. Understanding the characteristics, potential, use advantages and disadvantages, and management systems, in each context, is the basis to construct a feasible CE framework to deal with climate [...] Read more.
Circular economy (CE) means efficient resource use. It is a matter of better available resource management. Understanding the characteristics, potential, use advantages and disadvantages, and management systems, in each context, is the basis to construct a feasible CE framework to deal with climate change and economic scarcity challenges. Urban stormwater has potential importance in CE when addressed as a useful resource rather than as waste. Its use can replace part of the water supply (reduce principle), brought from distant sources using energy-consuming and emission-producing systems. Thus, it can be a source of energy savings and emission reduction since stormwater can be used and stored near the place where rainwater falls or infiltrates to supply groundwater (reuse principle). Urban agriculture can also gain benefits by using, e.g., green infrastructures (GIs) (recycling principle). The main gap still lies in the implementation of the efficiency mentality, reducing expenses and consequently improving revenues, profits, and environment issues, such as emissions. It is a big paradigm shift. The creation of policies, institutions, and regulations aligned with each other, together with urban planning and water cycle efficiency, from a CE perspective is fundamental. Urban stormwater as a CE component is a moving paradigm shift based on a change in mindset. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ecological Engineering and Circular Economy)
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