An ecosystem approach to circular economy implementation and efficiency: A global comparative analysis
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.61511/seesdgj.v3i1.2025.1887Keywords:
circular economy, ecosystem approach, Indonesia, global comparative analysisAbstract
Background: This study examines Indonesia’s adoption of circular-economy (CE) principles through an ecosystem lens and benchmarks national progress against leading global models. Method: Drawing on a review of academic articles, policy reports, and case studies, nine Indonesian initiatives are cataloged, ranging from Mycotech Lab’s biowaste valorization to PT Pertamina’s circular-carbon programs and community-driven collaborations like LTKL. Findings: These examples demonstrate localized successes in waste reduction, resource recirculation, and stakeholder engagement, yet they remain largely sector-specific and pilot-scale. In contrast, regions such as the European Union, China, and Finland operate under comprehensive, economy-wide frameworks with binding targets, dedicated financing mechanisms, and mandatory extended-producer-responsibility schemes. Quantitative metrics from Indonesian projects show material savings (e.g., 2,200 tons of plastic avoided by BulkSource) and emission reductions (e.g., 352,000 ton CO₂eq cut by Pertamina). Meanwhile, qualitative analysis highlights enabling factors, including multi-stakeholder collaboration and eco-innovation; as well as persistent barriers such as policy fragmentation, limited funding, and uneven data availability. A cross-case synthesis shows the absence of harmonized indicators and national coordination, which hinders scaling and aggregation of sectoral gains into systemic impact. Conclusion: It is concluded that Indonesia’s transition to a mature CE requires the establishment of a coherent national roadmap with clear targets, robust monitoring, and inclusive governance structures that integrate informal and rural actors. Strengthening financial instruments, such as green bonds and blended-finance vehicles, and embedding circular criteria in public procurement will be critical to mobilizing investment and promoting widespread adoption. By aligning policy, finance, and community engagement, progress toward systemic circularity can be accelerated. Novelty/Originality of this Article: This study uniquely integrates ecosystem-based evaluation with quantitative and policy-level benchmarking to propose a strategic roadmap for Indonesia’s systemic CE transition.
References
Abdel-Shafy, H. I., & Mansour, M. S. M. (2018). Solid waste issue: Sources, composition, disposal, recycling, and valorization. Egyptian Journal of Petroleum, 27(4), 1275–1290. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejpe.2018.07.003
ADB. (2024). 2024 Annual Meetings: The Africa Circular Economy Facility seeks to boost African economies through green growth innovation. African Development Bank Group.
Akanbi, L. A., Oyedele, L. O., Akinade, O. O., Ajayi, A. O., Davila Delgado, M., Bilal, M., & Bello, S. A. (2018). Salvaging building materials in a circular economy: A BIM-based whole-life performance estimator. Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 129, 175–186. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2017.10.026
Alka, T. A., Raman, R., & Suresh, M. (2024). Research trends in innovation ecosystem and circular economy. Discover Sustainability, 5(1), 323. https://doi.org/10.1007/s43621-024-00535-5
Al-Wahaibi, A., Osman, A. I., Al-Muhtaseb, A. H., Alqaisi, O., Baawain, M., Fawzy, S., & Rooney, D. W. (2020). Techno-economic evaluation of biogas production from food waste via anaerobic digestion. Scientific Reports, 10(1), 15719. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-72897-5
Anomali Coffee. (n.d.). Meet the Team. Anomali Coffee.
APR. (n.d.). Sustainability. Aprayon.
Bere, E., & Brug, J. (2009). Towards health-promoting and environmentally friendly regional diets – a Nordic example. Public Health Nutrition, 12(1), 91–96. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1368980008001985
Borrello, M., Caracciolo, F., Lombardi, A., Pascucci, S., & Cembalo, L. (2017). Consumers’ Perspective on Circular Economy Strategy for Reducing Food Waste. Sustainability, 9(1), 141. https://doi.org/10.3390/su9010141
Braungart, M., McDonough, W., & Bollinger, A. (2007). Cradle-to-cradle design: creating healthy emissions – a strategy for eco-effective product and system design. Journal of Cleaner Production, 15(13–14), 1337–1348. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2006.08.003
BulkSource. (n.d.). Powering Material Producers with Smarter Solutions. BulkSource.
Burgreens. (n.d.). About Us. Burgreens.
CACE. (2019). 11 Cities Have Been Selected for “Zero-Waste City” Pilot Program. China Association of Circular Economy.
Carpenter, A., Lozano, R., Sammalisto, K., & Astner, L. (2018). Securing a port’s future through Circular Economy: Experiences from the Port of Gävle in contributing to sustainability. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 128, 539–547. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2018.01.065
Chen, L., Msigwa, G., Yang, M., Osman, A. I., Fawzy, S., Rooney, D. W., & Yap, P.-S. (2022). Strategies to achieve a carbon neutral society: a review. Environmental Chemistry Letters, 20(4), 2277–2310. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10311-022-01435-8
Chen, L., Wang, L., Cho, D.-W., Tsang, D. C. W., Tong, L., Zhou, Y., Yang, J., Hu, Q., & Poon, C. S. (2019). Sustainable stabilization/solidification of municipal solid waste incinerator fly ash by incorporation of green materials. Journal of Cleaner Production, 222, 335–343. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2019.03.057
Chojnacka, K., Witek-Krowiak, A., Moustakas, K., Skrzypczak, D., Mikula, K., & Loizidou, M. (2020). A transition from conventional irrigation to fertigation with reclaimed wastewater: Prospects and challenges. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 130, 109959. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2020.109959
Cucciniello, R., & Cespi, D. (2018). Recycling within the Chemical Industry: The Circular Economy Era. Recycling, 3(2), 22. https://doi.org/10.3390/recycling3020022
Daly, H. E. (1990). Toward some operational principles of sustainable development. Ecological Economics, 2(1), 1–6. https://doi.org/10.1016/0921-8009(90)90010-R
de Boer, J., Schösler, H., & Aiking, H. (2014). “Meatless days” or “less but better”? Exploring strategies to adapt Western meat consumption to health and sustainability challenges. Appetite, 76, 120–128. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appet.2014.02.002
Diaz-Elsayed, N., Rezaei, N., Ndiaye, A., & Zhang, Q. (2020). Trends in the environmental and economic sustainability of wastewater-based resource recovery: A review. Journal of Cleaner Production, 265, 121598. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2020.121598
Dong, L., Zhang, H., Fujita, T., Ohnishi, S., Li, H., Fujii, M., & Dong, H. (2013). Environmental and economic gains of industrial symbiosis for Chinese iron/steel industry: Kawasaki’s experience and practice in Liuzhou and Jinan. Journal of Cleaner Production, 59, 226–238. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2013.06.048
Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs. (n.d.). Circular economy. Netherlands.
EDA. (2022). Construction and Circular Economy. EDA.
Elia, V., Gnoni, M. G., & Tornese, F. (2017). Measuring circular economy strategies through index methods: A critical analysis. Journal of Cleaner Production, 142, 2741–2751. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2016.10.196
Ellen MacArthur Foundation. (2015). Delivering the circular economy: A toolkit for policymakers. Ellen Macarthur Foundation.
Ellen Macarthur Foundation. (2022). Latin America and the Caribbean Circular Economy Coalition launches a vision for a circular economy for the region. Ellen Macarthur Foundation.
Ellen Macarthur Foundation. (2024). Aiming for 100% circularity: Amsterdam. Ellen Macarthur Foundation.
European Commission. (2019). Report from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions on the Implementation of the Circular Economy Action Plan. European Commission.
Fan, Y., Qiao, Q., & Fang, L. (2017). Network analysis of industrial metabolism in industrial park – A case study of Huai’an economic and technological development area. Journal of Cleaner Production, 142, 1552–1561. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2016.11.149
Fawzy, S., Osman, A. I., Yang, H., Doran, J., & Rooney, D. W. (2021). Industrial biochar systems for atmospheric carbon removal: a review. Environmental Chemistry Letters, 19(4), 3023–3055. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10311-021-01210-1
Fidélis, T., Cardoso, A. S., Riazi, F., Miranda, A. C., Abrantes, J., Teles, F., & Roebeling, P. C. (2021). Policy narratives of circular economy in the EU – Assessing the embeddedness of water and land in national action plans. Journal of Cleaner Production, 288, 125685. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2020.125685
Fragkos, P. (2022). Analysing the systemic implications of energy efficiency and circular economy strategies in the decarbonisation context. AIMS Energy, 10(2), 191–218. https://doi.org/10.3934/energy.2022011
Geissdoerfer, M., Savaget, P., Bocken, N. M. P., & Hultink, E. J. (2017). The Circular Economy – A new sustainability paradigm? Journal of Cleaner Production, 143, 757–768. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2016.12.048
Ghisellini, P., Cialani, C., & Ulgiati, S. (2016). A review on circular economy: the expected transition to a balanced interplay of environmental and economic systems. Journal of Cleaner Production, 114, 11–32. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2015.09.007
Guerrero, L. A., Maas, G., & Hogland, W. (2013). Solid waste management challenges for cities in developing countries. Waste Management, 33(1), 220–232. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wasman.2012.09.008
Hao, S., Kuah, A. T. H., Rudd, C. D., Wong, K. H., Lai, N. Y. G., Mao, J., & Liu, X. (2020). A circular economy approach to green energy: Wind turbine, waste, and material recovery. Science of The Total Environment, 702, 135054. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.135054
Henry, M., Bauwens, T., Hekkert, M., & Kirchherr, J. (2020). A typology of circular start-ups: An Analysis of 128 circular business models. Journal of Cleaner Production, 245, 118528. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2019.118528
Jurgilevich, A., Birge, T., Kentala-Lehtonen, J., Korhonen-Kurki, K., Pietikäinen, J., Saikku, L., & Schösler, H. (2016). Transition towards Circular Economy in the Food System. Sustainability, 8(1), 69. https://doi.org/10.3390/su8010069
Khanpit, V. V., Tajane, S. P., & Mandavgane, S. A. (2023). Orange waste peel to high value soluble dietary fiber concentrate: comparison of conversion methods and their environmental impact. Biomass Conversion and Biorefinery, 13(16), 14413–14423. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13399-022-02481-6
Kirchherr, J., Reike, D., & Hekkert, M. (2017). Conceptualizing the circular economy: An analysis of 114 definitions. Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 127, 221–232. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2017.09.005
Korhonen, J. (2001). Four ecosystem principles for an industrial ecosystem. Journal of Cleaner Production, 9, 253–259. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0959-6526(00)00058-5
Korhonen, J., Honkasalo, A., & Seppälä, J. (2018). Circular Economy: The Concept and its Limitations. Ecological Economics, 143, 37–46. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolecon.2017.06.041
Korhonen, J., Nuur, C., Feldmann, A., & Birkie, S. E. (2018). Circular economy as an essentially contested concept. Journal of Cleaner Production, 175, 544–552. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2017.12.111
Leppäkoski, L., Marttila, M. P., Uusitalo, V., Levänen, J., Halonen, V., & Mikkilä, M. H. (2021). Assessing the Carbon Footprint of Biochar from Willow Grown on Marginal Lands in Finland. Sustainability, 13(18), 10097. https://doi.org/10.3390/su131810097
Liu, Q., Xu, Q., Shen, X., Chen, B., & Esfahani, S. S. (2022). The Mechanism of Household Waste Sorting Behaviour—A Study of Jiaxing, China. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(4), 2447. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19042447
LTKL. (n.d.). Tentang LTKL. kabupatenlestari,org
Lu, T., & Halog, A. (2020). Towards better life cycle assessment and circular economy: on recent studies on interrelationships among environmental sustainability, food systems and diet. International Journal of Sustainable Development & World Ecology, 27(6), 515–523. https://doi.org/10.1080/13504509.2020.1734984
Ministry of National Development Planning Agency. (2022). The future is circular: Uncovering circular economy initiatives in Indonesia.
Ministry of Public Works and Housing. (2012). Gedung Utama PU dengan Konsep Green Building. https://pu.go.id/berita/gedung-utama-pu-dengan-konsep-green-building
Murray, A., Skene, K., & Haynes, K. (2017). The Circular Economy: An Interdisciplinary Exploration of the Concept and Application in a Global Context. Journal of Business Ethics, 140(3), 369–380. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-015-2693-2
Mycotech Lab. (n.d.). Sustainability. MYCL.
Niero, M., Jensen, C. L., Fratini, C. F., Dorland, J., Jørgensen, M. S., & Georg, S. (2021). Is life cycle assessment enough to address unintended side effects from Circular Economy initiatives? Journal of Industrial Ecology, 25(5), 1111–1120. https://doi.org/10.1111/jiec.13134
Niero, M., & Olsen, S. I. (2016). Circular economy: To be or not to be in a closed product loop? A Life Cycle Assessment of aluminium cans with inclusion of alloying elements. Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 114, 18–31. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2016.06.023
North, D. C. (1990). Institutions, Institutional Change and Economic Performance. Cambridge University Press. https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511808678
Osman, A. I., Fawzy, S., Farghali, M., El-Azazy, M., Elgarahy, A. M., Fahim, R. A., Maksoud, M. I. A. A., Ajlan, A. A., Yousry, M., Saleem, Y., & Rooney, D. W. (2022). Biochar for agronomy, animal farming, anaerobic digestion, composting, water treatment, soil remediation, construction, energy storage, and carbon sequestration: a review. Environmental Chemistry Letters, 20(4), 2385–2485. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10311-022-01424-x
Osman, A. I., Hefny, M., Abdel Maksoud, M. I. A., Elgarahy, A. M., & Rooney, D. W. (2021). Recent advances in carbon capture storage and utilisation technologies: a review. Environmental Chemistry Letters, 19(2), 797–849. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10311-020-01133-3
Paradowska, M. (2017). Grounds and Challenges for Implementing a Circular Economy in the European Road Transport Sector (pp. 245–269). In Suchanek, M. (eds) Sustainable Transport Development, Innovation and Technology. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-51427-7_21
Payne, J., McKeown, P., & Jones, M. D. (2019). A circular economy approach to plastic waste. Polymer Degradation and Stability, 165, 170–181. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.polymdegradstab.2019.05.014
Pertamina. (2023). Laporan Keberlanjutan: Energizing Your Journey towards Sustainability. Pertamina.
Phillips, P. S., Tudor, T., Bird, H., & Bates, M. (2011). A critical review of a key Waste Strategy Initiative in England: Zero Waste Places Projects 2008–2009. Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 55(3), 335–343. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2010.10.006
Ranta, V., Aarikka-Stenroos, L., Ritala, P., & Mäkinen, S. J. (2018). Exploring institutional drivers and barriers of the circular economy: A cross-regional comparison of China, the US, and Europe. Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 135, 70–82. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2017.08.017
Re, B., Henttonen, K., Piispanen, V.-V., & Lehtimäki, H. (2023). The Role of Institutional Environment in Catalysing Circular Entrepreneurship. In The Routledge Handbook of Catalysts for a Sustainable Circular Economy (pp. 143–166). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003267492-9
Richter, J. L. (2022). A circular economy approach is needed for electric vehicles. Nature Electronics, 5(1), 5–7. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41928-021-00711-9
Rockström, J., Steffen, W., Noone, K., Persson, Å., Chapin, F. S. I., Lambin, E., Lenton, T. M., Scheffer, M., Folke, C., Schellnhuber, H. J., Nykvist, B., de Wit, C. A., Hughes, T., van der Leeuw, S., Rodhe, H., Sörlin, S., Snyder, P. K., Costanza, R., Svedin, U., … Foley, J. (2009). Planetary Boundaries: Exploring the Safe Operating Space for Humanity. Ecology and Society, 14(2), art32. https://doi.org/10.5751/ES-03180-140232
Sauvé, S., Bernard, S., & Sloan, P. (2016). Environmental sciences, sustainable development and circular economy: Alternative concepts for trans-disciplinary research. Environmental Development, 17, 48–56. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envdev.2015.09.002
Scheepens, A. E., Vogtländer, J. G., & Brezet, J. C. (2016). Two life cycle assessment (LCA) based methods to analyse and design complex (regional) circular economy systems. Case: making water tourism more sustainable. Journal of Cleaner Production, 114, 257–268. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2015.05.075
Scott, W. R. (2013). Institutions and Organizations: Ideas, Interests, and Identities (Fourth Edition). SAGE Publication, Inc.
Silva, A., Rosano, M., Stocker, L., & Gorissen, L. (2017). From waste to sustainable materials management: Three case studies of the transition journey. Waste Management, 61, 547–557. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wasman.2016.11.038
SITRA. (2016). Leading the cycle: Finnish road map to a circular economy 2016–2025.
Song, Q., Li, J., & Zeng, X. (2015). Minimizing the increasing solid waste through zero waste strategy. Journal of Cleaner Production, 104, 199–210. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2014.08.027
Steffen, W., Richardson, K., Rockström, J., Cornell, S. E., Fetzer, I., Bennett, E. M., Biggs, R., Carpenter, S. R., de Vries, W., de Wit, C. A., Folke, C., Gerten, D., Heinke, J., Mace, G. M., Persson, L. M., Ramanathan, V., Reyers, B., & Sörlin, S. (2015). Planetary boundaries: Guiding human development on a changing planet. Science, 347(6223). https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1259855
Su, B., Heshmati, A., Geng, Y., & Yu, X. (2013). A review of the circular economy in China: moving from rhetoric to implementation. Journal of Cleaner Production, 42, 215–227. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2012.11.020
Suárez-Eiroa, B., Fernández, E., Méndez-Martínez, G., & Soto-Oñate, D. (2019). Operational principles of circular economy for sustainable development: Linking theory and practice. Journal of Cleaner Production, 214, 952–961. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2018.12.271
SukkhaCitta. (n.d.). About Us. SukkhaCitta.
SukkhaCitta. (2021). What is sustainable fashion? SukkhaCitta.
Tania, L., & Meiden, C. (2024). Analysis of The Form of Sustainable Fashion and The Quality of Disclosure Of Economic, Social And Environmental Aspects On The Website In 2022: A Case Study Of Sukkhacitta.Com. Jurnal Ekonomi Teknologi Dan Bisnis (JETBIS), 3(4), 802–817. https://doi.org/10.57185/jetbis.v3i4.98
the Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Indonesia. (2024). Green Building Series: Konsep Green Building. Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Indonesia.
The Ministry of Infrastructure and the Environment and the Ministry of Economic Affairs. (2016). A Circular Economy in the Netherlands by 2050: Government-wide Programme for a Circular Economy. Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Indonesia.
Tian, C., Sui, H., Chen, Y., Wang, W., & Deng, H. (2025). Estimating carbon emission reductions from China’s “Zero-waste City” construction pilot program. Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 212, 107975. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2024.107975
Toop, T. A., Ward, S., Oldfield, T., Hull, M., Kirby, M. E., & Theodorou, M. K. (2017). AgroCycle – developing a circular economy in agriculture. Energy Procedia, 123, 76–80. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.egypro.2017.07.269
UNEP. (2021). Circular Economy Coalition launched for Latin America and the Caribbean. UN Environment Program.
UNIDO. (2024). GACERE. United Nations Industrial Development Organization.
United States Environmental Protection Agency. (2015). National overview: facts and fgures on materials, wastes and recycling. United States Environmental Protection Agency.
van Bueren, E., van Bohemen, H., Itard, L., & Visscher, H. (Eds.). (2012). Sustainable Urban Environments. Springer Netherlands. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-1294-2
Wang, N., Guo, Z., Meng, F., Wang, H., Yin, J., & Liu, Y. (2019). The circular economy and carbon footprint: A systematic accounting for typical coal-fuelled power industrial parks. Journal of Cleaner Production, 229, 1262–1273. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2019.05.064
WCED (World Commission on Environment and Development). (1987). Our Common Future. Oxford University Press.
WEF. (2021a). Countries must transition to a circular economy. The right roadmap can help. World Economic Forum.
WEF. (2021b). Five Big Bets for the Circular Economy in Africa - African Circular Economy Alliance.
Yang, M., Chen, L., Wang, J., Msigwa, G., Osman, A. I., Fawzy, S., Rooney, D. W., & Yap, P.-S. (2023). Circular economy strategies for combating climate change and other environmental issues. Environmental Chemistry Letters, 21(1), 55–80. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10311-022-01499-6
Zaman, A. U. (2014). Identification of key assessment indicators of the zero waste management systems. Ecological Indicators, 36, 682–693. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2013.09.024
Zeng, H., Chen, X., Xiao, X., & Zhou, Z. (2017). Institutional pressures, sustainable supply chain management, and circular economy capability: Empirical evidence from Chinese eco-industrial park firms. Journal of Cleaner Production, 155, 54–65. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2016.10.093
Zhang, J., Zhang, Z., Zhang, J., Fan, G., & Wu, D. (2021). A Quantitative Study on the Benefit of Various Waste Classifications. Advances in Civil Engineering, 2021(1). https://doi.org/10.1155/2021/6660927
Zhu, H., Li, Y., Pettersson, B., Zhang, L., Lindström, M., & Henriksson, G. (2014). Technical soda lignin dissolved in urea as an environmentally friendly binder in wood fiberboard. Journal of Adhesion Science and Technology, 28(5), 490–498. https://doi.org/10.1080/01694243.2013.843284
Zucchella, A., & Urban, S. (2019). Circular Entrepreneurship: Creating Responsible Enterprise. Palgrave Macmillan.
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
Citation Check
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Kevin Ibrahim
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
