Digital technologies as circularity enablers: investigating barriers and drivers

The role of digital technologies in enabling Circular Economy has been extensively documented in academic literature. However, empirical evidence suggests that the diffusion and use of digital technologies to enable Circular Economy remains limited, indicating the presence of as yet uncovered factors influencing their use in this context. This study investigates the barriers and drivers affecting the use of digital technologies to enable the Circular Economy at micro and meso levels, employing a systematic literature review methodology. The results obtained show that the use of digital technologies to enable Circular Economy is predominantly characterized by barriers, which prevail over drivers, particularly at the meso level. For instance, we have identified economic barriers while no economic drivers in the use of digital technologies to enable circularity. This study contributes to the existing discourse on digital technologies and Circular Economy, offering novel insights to scholars and practitioners in the field.