Circular Economy
A sustainability term linked to carbon, resilience, environmental impact or responsible infrastructure delivery.
Circular Economy Explained
Circular Economy is a key term within sustainability & esg, where it is used across construction, infrastructure, transport and industrial project delivery. In practical terms, it helps describe how work is planned, specified, delivered, measured or maintained on real sites and assets. Understanding circular economy is useful because the same language is often shared by contractors, designers, suppliers, asset owners, public authorities and investors.
Within Highways.Today’s Dictionary, circular economy should be read as part of the wider vocabulary of carbon, circular economy, environmental management, social value and sustainability terms. It may appear in technical specifications, tender documents, project reports, equipment guides, safety plans, design models, maintenance schedules or news articles. Exact requirements can vary by country, project type, contract form, standard and manufacturer, so readers should always check the relevant local guidance, drawings, regulations and professional advice before relying on the term for design, procurement or operational decisions.
Articles Featuring Circular Economy
Upcycling From Plastic Waste to Structural Adhesives
6th August 2026
Upcycling From Plastic Waste to Structural Adhesives For most of the recycling industry’s history, the economics of plastic have run…
Closing the Loop on PVC: Construction Waste as Feedstock for Premium Synthetic Oils
5th August 2026
Closing the Loop on PVC: Construction Waste as Feedstock for Premium Synthetic Oils A chemistry group at Virginia Tech has…
Verified Failure Data is Becoming the New Currency of Recycled Plastics
4th August 2026
Verified Failure Data is Becoming the New Currency of Recycled Plastics A geosynthetics market worth around USD 18 billion in…
Georgia Tech Wins $7.5m DOE Award to Turn Tailings into Critical Minerals Supply
24th July 2026
Georgia Tech Wins $7.5m DOE Award to Turn Tailings into Critical Minerals Supply The most valuable critical minerals resource in…
Bio-Based Chemistry Recycling Roads at Room Temperature
14th July 2026
Bio-Based Chemistry Recycling Roads at Room Temperature For most of the past four decades the road industry has been measured…
Walnut Shell Catalyst Reframes Recycling Plastic into Chemicals
6th July 2026
Walnut Shell Catalyst Reframes Recycling Plastic into Chemicals A new study out of Shihezi University has quietly shifted the terms…
Exploring Bio-Binders and Ecosystem Collaboration
1st July 2026
Exploring Bio-Binders and Ecosystem Collaboration The case for asphalt innovation has never been stronger. With bitumen-based asphalt accounting for over…
TNO’s Möbius Recovers The Plastic Streams Mechanical Recycling Leaves Behind
20th June 2026
TNO’s Möbius Recovers The Plastic Streams Mechanical Recycling Leaves Behind Europe’s circular-plastics debate has spent years stuck between two imperfect…
Editorial Note
The Highways.Today Dictionary is maintained as an editorial reference resource for construction, infrastructure, transport and industrial technology professionals. Definitions are intended to support understanding, discovery and research, and may be expanded over time as the Dictionary evolves into a broader illustrated industry reference.