Rethinking water in the circular economy: a review of policy approaches in action plans in Europe and pillars of the circular water economy
CURRENT OPINION IN ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY, cilt.80, 2026 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)
- Yayın Türü: Makale / Derleme
- Cilt numarası: 80
- Basım Tarihi: 2026
- Doi Numarası: 10.1016/j.cosust.2026.101626
- Dergi Adı: CURRENT OPINION IN ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY
- Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, Geobase
- Orta Doğu Teknik Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet
Özet
The circular economy has gained prominence as a response to the limitations and impacts of the linear economy. Within the shift to the circular economy, water, essential for ecosystems, society, and economies, faces increasing pressure that requires proactive approaches. Circular economy action plans serve as strategic roadmaps for this transition. Given the inherently interconnected nature of water systems, their deliberate integration into these action plans is critical, particularly considering water's central role in ecosystem integrity, socioeconomic resilience, and sustainability. Using qualitative document analysis, this study explores how water-related issues are referenced and framed in European circular economy action plans, organizing the extracted policy passages into five thematic categories. In parallel, a focused review of the literature synthesizes the core pillars underpinning the circular water economy framework, namely technology and innovation, social and stakeholder dimensions, economic aspects, and policy and regulation.