Research of the circular economy: the Russian landscape

The paper analyzes the Russian research landscape of the circular economy (CE). The theoretical importance of the work is determined by a growing interest to the subject in academic community. The practical importance is related to the implementation of the CE concept in the field of business and to the development of national policies in this area, in particular adoption of the Federal project «Circular economy» in Russia. Using bibliometric methods, the authors analyze a sample of 1089 prior studies from 2014 to 2023 related to the topic of circular economy, 209 of which can be attributed to the core of the research landscape. One of the characteristics of the landscape is terminological variability: the English term «circular economy» has acquired different variants in Russian works and practice. The analysis of the core of the research landscape of 209 scientific papers with formulated criteria allowed us to identify nine categories. Among them: the study of the CE theoretical foundations, the study of foreign experience, the development of indicators and assessment methods, the development of solutions for implementing CE in Russia, the implementation of the concept at the regional level, implementation in industries, waste management to achieve CE, enterprise management in the context of CE, industrial technologies and CE. Three periods of landscape development are also defined: «formation» (2017-2019), «expansion» (20202022), «beginning of transformation» (starting from 2023).

1. Babkin, A. V., Shkarupeta, E. V., & Polshc hikov, T. I. (2023). The concept of eff ective sustainable ESG-development of industrial ecosystems in a circular economy. The Economic Revival of Russia, 1(75), 124–139. https://doi.org/10.37930/1990-9780-2023-1-75-124-139

2. Bagaeva, D. (2021). Main areas of research in the fi eld of circular economy: technological, investment and institutional aspects. Economic Bulletin of the ICS RAS, 2(3), 51–59. https://doi.org/10.25728/econbull.2021.3.6-bagaeva

3. Bedenko, N. N., Dosaeva, A. L., & Skudalova, O. V. (2023). Rural tourism management in a closed-cycle economy. Bulletin Tver State University. Series: Economics and Management, (2), 33–45.

4. Beilin, I. L. (2020). Innovative production development of the oil and gas region based on the circular economy principles. Russian Journal of Innovation Economics, 10(4), 2083–2102. https://doi.org/10.18334/vinec.10.4.111070

5. Bobylev, S. N., & Solovyova, S. V. (2020). Circular economy and its indicators for Russia. The World of the New Economy, (2), 63–72. https://doi.org/10.26794/2220-6469-2020-14-263-72

6. Chupin, A. L., Mizintseva, M. F. & Chupina, J. S. (2023). Building a circular economy: social economy theory, its potential and challenges. The Eurasian Scientific Journal, 15(6).

7. Decree of the Government of the Ulyanovsk region “On the Ministry of Natural Resources and Ecology of the Ulyanovsk region”. (2018, July 06) (N 16/299-P). Retrieved August 15, 2024, from https://base.garant.ru/48261130/

8. Didenko, N. I., Skripnyuk, D. F., Cherenkov, V. I., & Tanichev, A. V. (2020). Keys to sustainable development of the Arctic zone of Russian Federation: model of circular economy and logistic infrastructure. The North and the Market: The Formation of an economic order, (4), 5–20. https://doi.org/10.37614/2220-802X.4.2020.70.001

9. Fontana, K. A., & Yerznkyan, B. A. (2023). Circular Economy — Circular Visions of the Future. Economics of Contemporary Russia, (3), 33–46. https://doi.org/10.33293/1609-14422023-3(102)-32-46

10. Galimulina, F. F., Shinkevich, M. V., & Zaraichenko, I. A. (2022). Best available technologies in a modern economy: the basis for import substitution and a tool for transition to a circular economy. Vestnik Universiteta, (11), 113–120. https://doi.org/10.26425/18164277-2022-11-113-120

11. Gomonov, K. G. (2021). Circular economy in Latin America and the Caribbean. Russian Journal of Innovation Economics, 11(4), 2019–2040. https://doi.org/10.18334/vinec.11.4.113966

12. Guryeva, M. A. (2019a). The theoretical basis of the concept of circular economy. Journal of International Economic Affairs, 9(3), 2311–2336. https://doi.org/10.18334/eo.9.3.40990

13. Guryeva, M. A. (2019b). The analysis of methodical approaches to the assessment of the circular economy development. Journal of International Economic Affairs, 9(4), 3155–3172. https://doi.org/10.18334/eo.9.4.41293

14. Gutman, S. S., & Manakhova, M. S. (2021). Formation of a system of indicators for assessing the implementation of the circular economy concept in the regions of the Russian Federation. The North and the Market: The Formation of an Economic Order, (2), 81–95. https://doi.org/10.37614/2220-802X.2.2021.72.007

15. Higher School of Economics. (2024, February 8). School of Design. A forum on circular fashion. Retrieved August 20, 2024, from https://design.hse.ru/news/3330

16. Kept. (2023). An overview of global trends and solutions for the transition to a closedloop economy. Retrieved August 10, 2024, from https://assets.kept.ru/upload/pdf/2023/12/ru-kept-review-global-circular-economy-trends.pdf

17. Kudryavtseva, O. V., Mitenkova, E. N., & Solodova, M. A. (2019). The circular economy as a tool for Russia's sustainable development. The Economic Revival of Russia, 3(61), 115–126.

18. Mitrofanova, I. V., & Chernova, O. A. (2022). Problems and prospects of the development of circular economy based on reuse of water in the regions of the Southern Federal District of the Russian Federation. Theory and Practice of Social Development, 4(170), 55–61. https://doi.org/10.24158/tipor.2022.4.8

19. Murzak, N. A., Mitenkova, A. E., Skripkina, O. V., & Konovalenko, S. A. (2020). Problems of development of the circular economy as a factor in Russia’s sustainable development. South of Russia: ecology, development, 3(56), 155–164.

20. Pakhomova, N. V., Kurt, R. K., & Vetrova, M. A. (2017). Transition to circular economy and closed-loop supply chains as driver of sustainable development. St Petersburg University Journal of Economic Studies, (2), 244–268. https://doi.org/10.21638/11701/spbu05.2017.203

21. Plastinina, Yu. V., Teslyuk, L. M., & Dukmasova, N. V. (2018). Implementation of the principles of circular economy in the regional management of municipal solid waste (MSW) in the Russian Federation. Innovative Development of Economy, (5), 129–139.

22. Popova, E. V., & Strich, N. I. (2021). Environmental management practices for the circular economy development in Russia and their impact on the fi nancial performance of companies. The Manager, 12(2), 17–34. https://doi.org/10.29141/2218-5003-2021-12-2-2

23. Pospelova, D. (2022). Analysis of applying circular practices Russian companies.Economic Bulletin of the ICS RAS, 3(1), 3–16. https://doi.org/10.25728/econbull.2022.1.1-pospelova

24. Preobrazhensky, B. G., Tolstykh, T. O., & Shmeleva, N. V. (2020). The industrial symbiosis as a tool of circular economy. Region: Sistemy, Ekonomika, Upravleniye, 4(51), 37–48. https://doi.org/10.22394/1997-4469-2020-51-4-37-48

25. Ratner, S. V., Iosifov, V. V., & Ratner, P. D. (2020). Analysis and evaluation of the level of circular economy development in Russian regions. Economic Analysis: Theory and Practice, 19(2), 206–225. https://doi.org/10.24891/ea.19.2.206

26. Rayskaya, M. V. (2022). Strategic tools for developing innovative business models of a closed-loop economy. Russian Journal of Innovation Economics, 12(4), 2421–2442. https://doi.org/10.18334/vinec.12.4.116579

27. Shadrina, E., & Kashin, D. (2021). Circular procurements in Russia. Data from the 2019 procurement study. Goszakaz: Upravleniye, Razmeshcheniye Obespecheniye, (62), 50–57.

28. Shastitko, A. E., Ionkina, K. A., Markova, O. A., & Morozov, A. N. (2021). Institutional approach to assessing the transition to a circular economy: the case of the Kaliningrad region. The Baltic Region, 13(1), 23–47. https://doi.org/10.5922/2079-8555-2021-1-2

29. Shishmareva, A. V. (2021). Implementation of the principles of circular economy in the timber industry of the region. Journal of Economics, Entrepreneurship and Law, 11(8), 2077– 2090. https://doi.org/10.18334/epp.11.8.113401

30. Sinelnikova, A. (2022). Transition to a circular economy: problems and prospects. Economic Bulletin of the ICS RAS, 3(1), 64–75. https://doi.org/10.25728/econbull.2022.1.6sinelnikova

31. Smitskikh, K. V., Titova, N. Yu., & Shumik, E. G. (2020). Dynamic effi ciency model of social entrepreneurship development in the conditions of circular economy. ETAP: Economic Theory, Analysis, and Practice, (5), 75–86.

32. The Government of the Russian Federation. (2022). Victoria Abramchenko: In 2022, a federal project on the transition to a closed-loop economy will start. Retrieved August 15, 2024, from http://government.ru/news/44337/

33. The Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation. (2022). Closed-loop economics. An overview of international approaches. Retrieved August 10, 2024, from https://www.economy.gov.ru/material/file/55fc716c49b06e62a652d101b1be8442/220414.pdf

34. Tikhomirov, A. P., Anoshina, Yu. F., & Musaev, M. M. (2023). Prospects for the development of technologies of the circular economy in the power industry of Russia. NaturalHumanitarian Studies, 45(1), 246–250.

35. Titova, N. Y. (2022). An overview of methodological approaches aimed at assessing sustainable development and circular economy. Perm University Herald. Economy 17(3), 288–303.

36. Valko, D. V. (2019). Circular economy: defi nitions and diffusion of the concept in Russian research. Scientific Journal NRU ITMO. Series «Economics and Environmental Management», (2), 42–49. https://doi.org/10.17586/2310-1172-2019-12-2-42-49

37. Alcalde-Calonge, A., Sáez-Martínez, F. J., & Ruiz-Palomino, P. (2022). Evolution of research on circular economy and related trends and topics. A thirteen-year review. Ecological Informatics, 70, 101716. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoinf.2022.101716

38. Arruda, E. H., Melatto, R. A. P. B., Levy, W., & de Melo Conti, D. (2021). Circular economy: A brief literature review (2015–2020). Sustainable Operations and Computers, 2, 79–86. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.susoc.2021.05.001

39. Corvellec, H., Böhm, S., Stowell, A., & Valenzuela, F. (2020). Introduction to the special issue on the contested realities of the circular economy. Culture and Organization, 26(2), 97–102. https://doi.org/10.1080/14759551.2020.1717733

40. Corvellec, H., Stowell, A. F., & Johansson, N. (2022). Critiques of the circular economy. Journal of industrial ecology, 26(2), 421–432. https://doi.org/10.1111/jiec.13187

41. European court of auditors. (2023). Special report 17/2023: Circular economy — Slow transition by member states despite EU action. Retrieved August 9, 2024, from https://www.eca.europa.eu/en/publications?ref=SR-2023-17

42. Gregson, N., Crang, M., Fuller, S., & Holmes, H. (2015). Interrogating the circular economy: the moral economy of resource recovery in the EU. Economy and Society, 44(2), 218–243. https://doi.org/10.1080/03085147.2015.1013353

43. Hartley, K., Baldassarre, B., & Kirchherr, J. (2023). Circular economy as crisis response. Journal of Cleaner Production, 140140. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2023.140140

44. Hobson, K., & Lynch, N. (2016). Diversifying and de-growing the circular economy: Radical social transformation in a resource-scarce world. Futures, 82, 15–25. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.futures.2016.05.012

45. Kirchherr, J., Urbinati, A., & Hartley, K. (2023b). Circular economy: A new research fi eld?. Journal of Industrial Ecology, 27(5), 1239–1251. https://doi.org/10.1111/jiec.13426

46. Kirchherr, J., Yang, N. H. N., Schulze-Spüntrup, F., Heerink, M. J., & Hartley, K. (2023a).

47. Conceptualizing the circular economy (revisited): an analysis of 221 defi nitions. Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 194, 107001. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2023.107001

48. Prieto-Sandoval, V., Jaca, C., & Ormazabal, M. (2018). Towards a consensus on the circular economy. Journal of cleaner production, 179, 605–615. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2017.12.224