The Circular Economy as a Sustainable Approach to Production and Consumption in Latin America and the Caribbean: A Systematic Review

Alvarado Arbildo G.R.; Ruiz Vásquez H.H.; Raygada Paredes S.; Pasquel Flores B.; Pinedo Manzur F.M.; Melgarejo Mariño D.M.; Cumanda Torres Z.C.; Arrué Flores J.L.; Ruiz Garcia R.E.; Burga Pérez D.E. · Sustainability (Switzerland) (2026) · DOI: 10.3390/su18105010

Resumen

In Latin America and the Caribbean, the circular economy approach is embedded in productive structures characterized by a dependence on natural resources and the persistence of informal economies. The general objective of this article is to analyze the circular economy as an approach to production and consumption in Latin America and the Caribbean through a bibliometric and qualitative analysis of scientific literature. This study adopted a mixed, descriptive, and analytical research design. International and regional databases (Scopus, Web of Science, SciELO, and Redalyc) were used to identify articles published between 2015 and 2025. The selection process followed the PRISMA protocol, resulting in a final qualitative analysis of 47 articles. The results reveal an accelerated and sustained growth in scientific production in the region, with a maximum increase of 250% in 2017, indicating a progressive consolidation of the field. The documentary corpus consists mainly of original articles (65%), with a clear preeminence of environmental sciences, engineering, and energy. Qualitatively, the literature shows a conceptual heterogeneity that adapts the circular economy to sustainable development and industrial ecology, uniquely incorporating grassroots recyclers and cooperatives into a “just transition.” However, there is evidence of an implementation gap: while large industries are making progress in eco-design and remanufacturing, adoption in SMEs and responsible consumption—especially in repair and reuse—remains at incipient levels due to structural and cultural limitations. Ultimately, the results suggest a growing concentration of circular economy research within selected Latin American institutions, indicating the emergence of regionally grounded research agendas that may differ in emphasis from dominant Global North framings.

Instituciones: Universidad Nacional de la Amazonía Peruana