Evolution of the Circular Economy Concept and the Areas of Its Application – Bibliometric Analysis

The concept of the circular economy (CE) has had a significant impact on the development of European countries and has shaped their policies over the past decade. The prerequisites for the rapid imposition of the innovative approach to the use of resources and manufactured products are related to achieving a sustainable economy and reducing the impact on the environment. In view of the progress in this regard and the EU policies implemented to encourage businesses to adopt the principles of the CE, the aim of this study is to follow the trends in the development of scientific thought in the field of the CE, applying a historical approach. Then we highlight the contribution of Bulgarian researchers in the field. By conducting bibliometric analysis and keyword co-occurrence analysis, we bring out the key areas for the development of research in the field of CE for the period 2010-2025, as well as the leading researchers and publications of the greatest importance for the scientific community. As a result of the analysis, we found that the thematic areas of greatest importance for researchers concern the issues of digital transformation of CE and rethinking the role of waste and its transformation into a valuable raw material. During the research, we also revealed newly emerging thematic areas that determine the modern appearance of the concept.