Amy L. Brooks

We present a first iteration of stylized facts for the circular economy (CE) as a way to synthesize the knowledge compiled into interesting, relevant, and empirically grounded general statements. This compilation is the result of a collaborative review, synthesis, and stylization effort on CE knowledge. It makes the existing CE literature digestible to a variety of audiences while also highlighting strengths and weaknesses of research and implementation to-date. Each stylized fact is self-contained, using the established technical language of the field. It is accompanied by a statement of evidence, which links to the relevant literature compiled by the authors of the individual facts and multiple internal reviewers from the author team. The stylized facts presented here explore five critical dimensions of the CE: 1. Stock-flow-service nexus and stock growth; 2. Material cycles and R strategies; 3. Global supply chains and environmental impacts; 4. Economic and social challenges and opportunities, including CE business models; and 5. Policy and regulation. We group all facts into these five categories. Neither the list of topics nor the list of facts is exhaustive.The facts and arguments presented here can serve as the synthesized empirical foundation that can be translated into different forms of science communication, such as teaching material, video lectures, animations, infographics, policy briefings, and more. Such materials could be used across scientific communities, practitioners, and the wider public. By presenting a concise, system-wide perspective, the stylized facts aim to improve understanding of what the CE is, what it can deliver, and where its fundamental limits lie, thereby supporting more informed decision-making and dialogue across research, policy and practice communities.

While production and consumption of plastics occur at a global, transboundary scale, cities are at the frontlines of waste management and pollution. This study applies the Circularity Assessment Protocol (CAP), to comprehensively assess plastic waste management and circularity in Athens-Clarke County (ACC), Georgia. By integrating data from desktop research, stakeholder interviews, and systematic field surveys, we identified three priority litter items and characterized plastic material flows and leakage patterns throughout the community. We found that plastics accounted for 71% of litter items by count, with cigarettes (28%), plastic fragments (16%), food wrappers (9.0%), and plastic film (6.7%) as the predominant items. We analyzed three of these items—cigarettes, food wrappers, and plastic film—across multiple CAP components to identify context-specific barriers and offer short- and long-term intervention strategies across the waste hierarchy. This case study demonstrates how a city-scale circular economy framework can identify evidence-based, context-sensitive interventions that address specific local challenges while contributing to broader sustainability goals.

Engineering education research often uses interview-based studies to develop critical theoretical findings for transforming engineering education and practice. However, researchers are often left with few practical tools to hone the craft of interviewing, especially for unscripted interactions or moments that go beyond predefined protocols. Here, we introduce a process-oriented tool designed to refine researchers' interviewing capabilities. By focusing on adaptability and reflexivity, this tool aims to elevate the quality of evaluative discussions between novice researchers and their mentors.