The Intersection between Circular Economy and Knowledge Management: The Role of Digital Technologies

In recent years, the Circular Economy (CE) has gained significant interest as a strategic model for promoting sustainability, drawing growing attention from both academic researchers and industry professionals. As organizations increasingly seek to reduce waste, optimize resource use, and redesign value chains, the CE framework has emerged as a promising pathway to achieving long-term environmental and economic goals. While prior research has explored the link between knowledge management (KM) and CE, particularly in terms of how organizational learning and knowledge sharing support circular practices, the intersection between CE, KM, and digital technologies (DT) remains relatively underdeveloped in the literature. This study addresses this gap by conducting a comprehensive review of peer-reviewed publications, aiming to understand how knowledge and digital tools jointly contribute to the adoption and implementation of CE principles. Through a combination of bibliometric and content analysis, the research maps the intellectual structure of this interdisciplinary domain, identifying the most influential authors, countries, research institutions, and thematic clusters. Beyond mapping existing knowledge, the study identifies critical research gaps and offers directions for future inquiry, emphasizing the need to investigate how KM and DT can support CE across different levels, micro (organizational), meso (supply chain), and macro (policy and societal). The findings highlight the strategic importance of integrating KM and DT in the CE transition, positioning them as enablers of sustainable innovation, operational efficiency, and systemic transformation. This integrative approach aims to support both theoretical advancement and practical implementation in the evolving landscape of circular and digital economies.