Metrics in the circular economy: An inclusive research landscape of the thematic trends and future research agenda

The study provides an inclusive research landscape of the thematic trends and evolution in the field of metrics in the circular economy (CE), and also outlines future perspectives in circularity metrics (C-metrics) by exploring the relevant literature over the period 2011–2023. This study aims to bring further clarity to the wide pool of available c-metrics and orient future research. In this regard, the following research questions are addressed: How has the research landscape of metrics in a CE evolved? What are the prominent research themes and recent trends of C-metrics? And what are the sought-after areas of future research in C-metrics development? To achieve that, this study used data analysis and qualitative content analysis methods to explore the C-metrics related to scientific groundwork based on 544 articles from 187 journals over the period 2011–2023. As a result, (i) six main research themes of C-metrics in the literature are identified; (ii) four recent trends of C-metrics are mapped to highlight the role of C-metrics-based tools in circularity performance assessment, circular design, monitoring and reporting, and database and platforms; and (iii) the future research agenda for C-metrics is proposed based on the current challenges in the studied area, expert opinions, and concerns derived from EU regulations and circular initiatives. The findings provide a better understanding of the evolution of scientific production and trends over time and clarify future research directions for C-metrics corresponding to the ongoing concerns.