Closing the Loop: Circular Economy, Smart Technologies, and Renewable Integration for Resource Conservation

Growing concerns about pollution and resource depletion, and implicitly climate change, have led to significant progress in sustainable environmental solutions in recent decades. These aim to balance economic growth with environmental conservation, with a focus on reducing carbon emissions, conserving natural resources, and promoting renewable energy production.

Key advances include the global adoption of renewable energy technologies, green construction and infrastructure projects, smart technologies, and circular economy principles to minimize waste. Innovations in waste management, including the consideration of biodegradable materials, advanced sorting technologies, and waste-to-energy conversion, have improved sustainability in certain urban areas. Another important branch is sustainable agriculture, represented by precision farming, organic farming, and vertical farming, which significantly improve food security while reducing environmental impact. Advances in environmental monitoring using satellite imagery enable real-time data collection and improve decision-making in conservation efforts. All these innovations have led to a global shift towards sustainability and increased awareness of the importance of a clean environment among individuals and industries.

The main objective of this Research Topic is to promote innovative research and practical approaches that reduce the environmental impact of inefficient management of natural resources, waste, and energy systems. It aims to bring together scientists, industry, and policymakers to share advances that contribute to a more sustainable and resilient environment.

Furthermore, the issue seeks to encourage the development and adoption of sustainable technologies and management practices that enhance resource efficiency and minimize the ecological footprint by supporting the integration of renewable energy, green materials, and circular economy principles into industrial, agricultural, and urban systems. This facilitates the exchange of knowledge and interdisciplinary perspectives that strengthen environmental governance, innovation, and community participation, and highlights scalable solutions that can be implemented globally to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and promote responsible environmental management.

It aims to promote scientific understanding and practical implementation of sustainable environmental solutions that lead to long-term ecological balance, economic viability, and social well-being.

This Research Topic focuses on innovative approaches, technologies, and strategies aimed at reducing the environmental impact caused by inefficient resource and waste management practices. It seeks to highlight cutting-edge research, practical solutions, and policy frameworks that contribute to sustainable development across all sectors, such as:

• Sustainable management of natural resources: development of eco-efficient production systems that minimize waste and emissions, as well as circular economy models.
• Waste reuse/refurbishment/remanufacturing/product life extension: developing methods for reusing waste, advanced waste treatment methods and implementing waste-to-energy systems.
• Renewable and clean energy systems: development and integration of renewable energy technologies to reduce dependence on fossil fuels and limit greenhouse gas emissions.
• Water and wastewater management: water conservation systems, industrial and urban wastewater treatment.
• Sustainable agriculture and land use: environmentally friendly agricultural practices and soil conservation to minimize environmental degradation.

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
• Conceptual Analysis
• Curriculum, Instruction, and Pedagogy
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• ... 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
• Conceptual Analysis
• Curriculum, Instruction, and Pedagogy
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Policy and Practice Reviews
• Policy Brief
• Review
• Systematic Review

Keywords: waste products, integrated waste management, sustainability, environmental impact, circular economy

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.