Digital Enablers of the Circular Economy

The restructuring of the economic system towards a Circular Economy that is necessary for the purpose of sustainability goes hand in hand with the digital transformation, as digital technologies hold great potential as enablers for the successful implementation of circularity strategies.

This acatech STUDY analyses the role of digital technologies in the Circular Economy on the basis of application examples from three different sectors of the economy and shows that the digital toolbox required to establish a Circular Economy is largely already available. However, it will only be possible to realise the full potential of digital technologies in the future if both the sector-specific and cross-sectoral business and regulatory environment is made more conducive to a Circular Economy.