Exploring emerging trends in circular business models for sustainable infrastructure Beyond the European context, circular economy models are also being implemented across diverse global settings, dem

The gap

Consensus across the literature

Supporting evidence — 3 representative gaps

• Advancing Circular Economy for Managing Electric Vehicles Battery Waste in Developing Countries by Harnessing Private Sector Initiatives and SMEs Education (2026) · doi

  The rapid adoption of EV in developing countries across the Asia-Pacific region presents a critical window of opportunity to establish a robust circular economy for managing EoL batteries. This transition is essential to simultaneously mitigate environmental harm and unlocking new economic value. The current situation, characterized by high projected waste volumes in countries like India and Brazil and alongside minimal formal recycling infrastructure, necessitates an urgent and focused shift away from the linear “take-make-dispose” model. This paper argues that advancing a CE in these contexts requires a strategic two-pronged approach, one is harnessing private sector initiatives, and another is significantly educating and empowering SMEs. The proposed operational roadmap links EPR mandates for large manufacturers with vocational certification programs for SMEs. This interlinked approach aims to transform battery waste into a resource by providing a testable pathway for local governments to formalize the informal sector. Suich formalization is critical for securing material supply chains and creating decentralized “green” jobs in the battery repair and recycling industry. Under this framework, the private sector, particularly large manufacturers and importers, must be mandated through EPR policies to lead investment in advanced, safe recycling technologies and establish efficient national take-back systems. To be effective, these systems must be culturally and logistically adapted to emerging markets, potentially integrating existing informal collection networks. Concurrently, empowering SMEs is essential, as these actors are vital for localized repair, refurbishing, and second-life battery applications. This requires dedicated financial support such as low-interest loans and grants, coupled with targeted technical training on safe handling, advanced recovery techniques, and circular business models. Together, mandatory recycling targets, PPPs for infrastructure, and comprehensive stakeholder education form a cohesive roadmap for transitioning the EV battery value chain into a sustainable, closed-loop system. Looking ahead, future perspective demands continuous innovation and proactive policy alignment to keep pace with rapid technological change in battery chemistry and design. The next decade will see a substantial increase in both the volume and diversity of EoL batteries, emphasizing the need for flexible, multi-chemistry recycling processes. Research and development investment should focus on direct recycling technologies, which are more energy-efficient and yield purer materials, thereby increasing the economic competitiveness of recycled content. The future policies must also address the full integration of digital technologies, including blockchain and Artificial Intelligence (AI), to ensure transparent, safe, and traceable management of batteries throughout their entire lifespan, from manufacturing to eventual material recovery. Furthermore, circular economy education initiatives must evolve into institutionalized vocational and professional certifications to guarantee a continuously skilled workforce capable of scaling up repurposing and recycling operations safely. Ultimately, the success of these strategies will be measured not just by the volume of batteries recycled, but by the extent to which they promote a truly inclusive circular economy. Such a system must formalize informal workers, create green jobs, and secure critical material supply chains to ensure the region’s long-term environmental and economic resilience. Finally, strategic investment in policy, human capital, and private action are essential drivers for turning the challenge of EV battery waste into a significant economic https://doi.org/10.53941/gssd.2026.100016 8 of 11

  Keywords: recycling battery must circular batteries economic critical economy essential waste private sector smes informal material
• Circular economy as a climate strategy: a semi-systematic review with bibliometric insights on the transition from traditional infrastructures to sustainable solutions (2026) · doi

  4.1 Exploring emerging trends in circular business models for sustainable infrastructure Beyond the European context, circular economy models are also being implemented across diverse global settings, demonstrating their broad applicability while highlighting the need for contextual adaptation. In Asia, China has integrated circular economy principles into its industrial policy, with eco- industrial parks serving as key implementation tools (Su et al., 2013). In Latin America, countries such as Brazil and Colombia focused are developing urban circular economy initiatives on waste management, urban agriculture, and sustainable construction, uneven due (Merli et al., 2018). to institutional implementation and financial constraints although remains In Africa, circular economy approaches are being applied in countries such as Rwanda and South Africa, particularly in electronic waste recycling and urban food systems (Godfrey et al., 2019; Yang et al., 2023). These diverse experiences demonstrate that while the European model provides a strong reference framework, the transition to a circular economy must be adapted to local socio-economic, institutional, and environmental contexts to be effective and equitable, especially in settings characterized by rapid urbanization (Merli et al., 2018). limited resources or The green economy, bioeconomy and green transition are the major emerging trends for sustainable development (D’Amato et al., 2017) (Figure 4). Indeed, the bioeconomy, defined as the efficient and sustainable use of biological resources to produce goods and services (European Commission, 2018), offers opportunities for a transition to more sustainable infrastructures by promoting the valorization of organic waste and biomass. At the same time, the green transition, focused on a low-carbon economy and efficient use of resources (Jänicke, 2012), aligns with the principles of the circular economy by encouraging recycling, technological innovation and the adoption of sustainable practices. Within the bioeconomy, the valorization of biological resources and organic waste contributes to the creation of positive feedback loops, where waste is transformed into valuable resources (European Commission, practices 2018). By such as biomethanization and biomass energy production, sustainable environmental footprint while promoting a more efficient use of natural resources (Vajda and Dragan, 2024). Similarly, the green transition, with its emphasis on qualitative and resilient economic growth, offers opportunities to rethink consumption and production models in order to minimize waste and promote the reuse infrastructures incorporating can reduce their FIGURE 4 Relations among bioeconomy, green economy, and circular economy. Source: Kardung et al. (2021), licensed under CC BY 4.0.

  Keywords: economy circular sustainable waste resources transition green european bioeconomy models urban cient emerging trends diverse
• 2002–2022: 20 years of e-waste regulation in the European Union and the worldwide trends in legislation and innovation technologies for a circular economy (2024) · doi

  To address the pressing challenges in e-waste management and promote a sustainable circular economy, a multifaceted approach is required, encompassing strengthened regulations, technological advancements, integration of informal sectors, enhanced resource recovery techniques, implementation of CE models, comprehensive LCAs, and increased public awareness. Comprehensive policies and regulations are essential to enforce responsible e-waste disposal practices and incentivize recycling efforts. The direction taken in recent years is certainly encouraging, but it is further necessary to strengthen the network of agreements and collaborations among countries to signicantly impact at a global level. Furthermore, easy and reliable access to robust data and information related to waste stream uxes inside and outside countries, as well as on tech- nical practices and industrial processes for e-waste manage- ment and valorization, is still a challenge. It represents a key and crucial point for assessing trends and setting policies and strategies for reaching the goal of a really sustainable imple- mentation of CE models turning effectively waste into valued resources. The development of more efficient and eco-friendly recycling techniques is imperative to maximize material recovery while minimizing energy consumption and emissions. Emphasizing the adoption of CE principles, including eco-design, reuse, and recycling, can create a more sustainable value chain. Policies and incentives that support CE practices should be prioritized to promote sustainable production and consumption patterns. The great efforts made in the last years by the scientic community towards more sustainable and appealing recovery methods, also driven by synergistic green chemistry and engi- neering principles, are today close to nding the right level of maturity to aspire to successful technology transfer. For this reason, efforts must persist in overcoming existing challenges and fostering a global transition towards a more sustainable and equitable future. In that way, despite the number being too low, the time seems ripe for companies to invest in innovative processes with a lower environmental impact and higher impacts with regard to socio-economic equality and human welfare. Furthermore, the Fourth Industrial Revolution offers signicant opportunities for enhancing e-waste management through advanced technologies like AI, IoT, and robotics, which can optimize recycling processes, improve resource recovery, and enable better tracking of electronic waste. However, it also presents challenges, such as the need for sustainable design practices, potential increases in electronic consumption, and ensuring equitable access to these technologies across different regions, which are crucial for achieving circular economy and sustainability targets on a global scale.271 © 2025 The Author(s). Published by the Royal Society of Chemistry RSC Sustainability, 2025, 3, 1039–1083 | 1069 Open Access Article. Published on 06 November 2024. Downloaded on 6/12/2026 10:26:32 AM. This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported Licence.View Article OnlineRSC Sustainability

  Keywords: waste sustainable recovery practices recycling challenges policies orts global access processes consumption sustainability article management