The phenomenon known as the Industrial Revolution elicited a substantial expansion in the worldwide economy; however, it was accompanied by several difficulties. One of the pressing concerns contemporary society faces is the escalating issue of waste and pollution. During the Industrial Revolution era, the prevalent linear economic paradigm characterized by the sequence of 'take-make-dispose' led to the depletion of natural resources and consequent degradation of the environment. The emergence of a circular economy has been viewed as a possible remedy to the predicaments presented by waste and pollution. The circular economy concept offers a viable alternative strategy that promotes sustainability and is better aligned with the planet's needs. Implementing circular principles by various industries can significantly diminish their dependence on primary materials while prioritizing the reuse and recycling of preexisting resources. This approach can yield noteworthy monetary benefits for enterprises while concurrently mitigating their environmental footprint. Moreover, the scenario mentioned above offers a potential avenue for commercial entities to generate novel sources of monetary inflow by creating inventive merchandise and amenities that serve circular requisites. The notion of a circular economy has garnered considerable attention in contemporary times as a potential remedy to the ecological and financial difficulties stemming from the Industrial Revolution's linear "take-make-dispose" paradigm.

In industrial engineering, implementing the circular economy offers a hopeful solution for designing and operating systems with minimal waste and optimal resource utilization. The concept of the circular economy offers a potentially effective strategy for managing supply chains sustainably, whereby waste generation is curtailed, reliance on new materials is minimized, and the utilization of resources is optimized to enhance efficiency. Implementing circular principles in supply chain management can lead to considerable advantages for corporations in terms of ecology and finances. The circular economic model aims to maximize resource utilization by engaging in activities such as recycling, repairing, and reusing materials and products for as long as possible. This method offers a different option to the traditional Industrial Revolution concept of a linear model where products are created, used, and discarded. The circular economy is based on the principles of the 3Rs: Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle. By adopting these principles, operations research can optimize systems and processes to minimize waste, maximize resource efficiency, and reduce the environmental impact of operations.

The circular economy emphasizes the importance of creating long-lasting and easily recyclable products as a fundamental principle. Operations research can enhance the product design process by minimizing resource waste and maximizing resource utilization. This can involve using predictive modeling techniques to identify design changes that can improve the durability and recyclability of products. Industrial engineers can develop long-lasting and repairable products using reusable materials. This strategy has the potential to decrease waste and limit the consumption of primary resources, resulting in economic and ecological advantages. A significant aspect of the circular economy involves enhancing the supply chain to reduce waste and enhance the use of resources. The application of operations research can aid in streamlining supply chain procedures, including inventory management, transportation, and logistics, for improved efficiency. One approach may be to employ optimization methods such as linear programming and simulation modeling to determine the most optimal and economical strategies.

The integration of circular economy principles offers a chance for operations research to streamline the usage of resources during production procedures. One approach to achieving greater productivity and sustainability is by applying predictive modeling methods to identify areas where production processes can be improved. The application of operations research can aid in efficiently utilizing sustainable energy sources in industrial operations, namely solar and wind power. Implementing circular economy principles opens a chance for industrial engineers to maximize resource utilization within supply chains. This may require reconfiguring the structure of logistics systems to decrease greenhouse gas emissions during transportation, establishing circular supply chains to optimize the use of resources, and integrating technological innovations to enhance the monitoring and control of materials and goods. Industrial engineers have the possibility of integrating renewable energy into their systems to decrease their reliance on non-renewable sources like fossil fuels. By doing so, substantial cost reduction can be achieved alongside minimizing the ecological footprint of industrial operations. Besides the environmental advantages, adopting the circular economy approach can bring financial benefits to operations research. Companies can enhance their profitability and lower costs by limiting the usage of fresh resources, optimizing processes, and decreasing waste. Innovative goods and services catering to circular needs allow businesses to create new revenue streams within the circular economy.

Many sectors have already integrated circular principles into their operations. For instance, manufacturers are increasingly adopting a circular approach to producing electric vehicles in the automotive industry. These vehicles have a modular design that enables effortless dismantling and utilizing their components. By adopting this method, manufacturers have achieved considerable cost efficiencies and lessened the environmental impact of their production activities. Governments have a chance to encourage businesses to implement eco-friendly practices by incentivizing them through policies during the industrial revolution's adoption of circular principles. Extended producer responsibility (EPR) can be implemented to hold companies accountable for properly disposing of their products after they have reached the end of their useful life. By implementing this strategy, manufacturers can be motivated to create products with a higher potential for recycling or reusability.

In conclusion, embracing the principles of a circular economy can offer a favorable strategy for conducting research involving commerce and industry, yielding noteworthy environmental and financial advantages. By integrating circular principles into the planning and operation of systems, it is possible to lower wastage, diminish reliance on raw materials, and increase the effectiveness of resource usage. Incorporating circular practices in operations research can greatly benefit from the application of operations research. By adopting circular principles, operations research experts can contribute to a more sustainable and efficient future.

We welcome all full articles, review articles, and short articles in the field of circular economy. Manuscripts that study circular economy along with sustainable supply chain management are more suitable.
Topics can cover (but are not limited to) the following themes:

·• Sustainable supply chain management with a circular economy
• Closed-loop supply chain with circular economy consideration.
• Industry 4.0 with circular economy concept
• Economic manufacturing quantity model with the circular economy concept
• Renewable Energy
• Sustainable production system
• Waste management and nullification through circular economy
• Sustainable development goal (SDG) by circular economy
• Other related fields of circular economy

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Community Case Study
• Curriculum, Instruction, and Pedagogy
• Data Report
• Editorial
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• ... View all formats

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Community Case Study
• Curriculum, Instruction, and Pedagogy
• Data Report
• Editorial
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Policy and Practice Reviews
• Policy Brief
• Review
• Systematic Review

Keywords: Circular economy, Supply chain management, Waste management, Renewable energy, Smart manufacturing

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.