A Framework to Facilitate the Transition to A Circular Economy in Smart Cities

Abstract

A global challenge is the shift to a digital and ecological economy. By exchanging knowledge and best practices, the framework created for this study aims to ease this transition, particularly for developing and underdeveloped nations. This study aims to answer the question, "What are the levers to implement the circular economy in smart cities?". An integrative literature search was conducted. Approximately forty articles were identified in the following databases: Scopus and Google Scholar. The relationship between the research's main concepts was illustrated to help visualize what the circular economy looks like in smart and sustainable cities. According to this study, implementing the circular economy in smart cities necessitates four major levers: 1. Technologies allow to set up an Infrastructure with garbage sensors connected to the network linking the stakeholders. The application of the platform made it possible to collect, communicate, share, and visualize the system's information in real-time and to ensure the monitoring and optimization of physical flows in a win-win perspective; 2. Good governance requires a shared vision, an integrated urban policy, stakeholder coordination, cross-sectoral coordination, and a stimulating legislative framework; 3. At the economic level, reverse value chain, circular design, business models based on the sharing economy, digital entrepreneurship, and data collection throughout the product life cycle should be embraced; 4. At the social level, consumer behavior and the incentive mechanisms for manufacturers to extend their social responsibility are determinants that need to be studied in depth.