An interdisciplinary perspective into the Circular Economy

For some time now the concept of “circular economy” (CE), or more in general “circularity”, has become quite a buzzword in sustainability agendas, programs and discourses. The concept meets with enthusiasm from policy-makers, environmentalists, and businesses alike, yet it has been scarcely defined from a theoretical perspective. On the contrary, the promises of technological and managerial innovations which are commonly associated with the CE seem to cast a shadow over the myriad of other social and ecological innovations that realize and implement circularity. The aim of the workshop is to bring together different levels of action and interpretation of circularity, ranging from industrial and management models to social practices, with the aim of opening debate and exploring possible scenarios for greater interdisciplinarity, dialogue and inclusion. Promoters of the circular economy are invited to present their practice alongside scholars working on the topic from different backgrounds to move beyond the dichotomy between industrial/social and top-down/bottom-up approaches. We will open a collective discussion on how modeling, accounting, and institutionalizing CE is contributing to jeopardizing or refreshing the Anthropocene.