The Circular Economy Principles: A Theoretical and Definitional Exploration within the European Union Framework

Theoretical background: The concept of circular economy (CE) emerged in 1970 and gained popularity in the early 21st century, particularly in European Union (EU), China, and India. CE is a response to resource depletion and environmental degradation. As CE aims to maintain the usability of products and materials while minimizing waste, its incorporation into regulations and policies is driven by the need for sustainability and effective waste management. The study analyses main scientific papers from 1970 to 2024 to show changes in terminology, understanding, and interpretation of the main components of the idea of circularity. Purpose of the article: This paper examines the consistency of CE research principles with the regulatory framework, assessing the conceptual aspects and scope of the CE as presented in EU documents. Research methods: The research method was desk-based, using formal regulations and research frameworks based on the Scopus and Web of Science databases. Mainly academic studies and legal acts were evaluated. Main findings: Over time, the scope of the CE definition changes. Among other things, a significant increase in formal and legal regulations for companies can be seen from 2020 onwards. The number of studies has also grown rapidly in recent years. While the definition of CE has not changed significantly, there have been major changes in the key areas of activity and scope. We systemize the regulatory aspects of CE by: CE definition boundaries, values, targets and reporting. The original nature of this article is to organise the knowledge on CE contained in the literature and source documents of the European Union. The study will enable the promotion of knowledge on circularity by structuring the terminology and indicating the thematic scope of CE in different documents. Given the social context, the article can be used to raise awareness of the CE among consumers, enabling them to make more informed choices when selecting products and services.