Short answer
When designing for circularity, consider using or developing metrics that can be evaluated with tools like DEA to demonstrate the efficiency of your chosen strategies, especially for reduction, recycling, and recovery.
- Field
- Sustainability
- Source
- Mathematical and Computational Applications (2025)
- Method
- Systematic Literature Review
- Sample
- 151 peer-reviewed articles
- Evidence
- Strong effect
Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) models are a robust tool for evaluating the effectiveness of specific circular economy strategies like reducing, recycling, and recovering resources. This sustainability research insight is drawn from a 2025 study published in Mathematical and Computational Applications. Using Systematic literature review with 151 peer-reviewed articles, researchers explored how this design variable affects real-world outcomes. The key design takeaway: When designing for circularity, consider using or developing metrics that can be evaluated with tools like DEA to demonstrate the efficiency of your chosen strategies, especially for reduction, recycling, and recovery.
DEA Models Effectively Measure Circular Economy Performance for R2, R8, and R9 Strategies
Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) models are a robust tool for evaluating the effectiveness of specific circular economy strategies like reducing, recycling, and recovering resources.
Mathematical and Computational Applications · 2025
Key Findings
- 01DEA models are valuable for assessing circular economy strategies, particularly R2 (Reduce), R8 (Recycling), and R9 (Recovering).
- 02A significant portion of the research (over 40%) originates from China, with the European Union also being a prominent region (nearly 20%), indicating a potential research gap in other geographical areas.
- 03There is a need for a critical evaluation of existing DEA approaches to highlight their strengths and weaknesses.
Application
Design takeaway
When designing for circularity, consider using or developing metrics that can be evaluated with tools like DEA to demonstrate the efficiency of your chosen strategies, especially for reduction, recycling, and recovery.
How to apply
When undertaking a design project focused on sustainability, consider how you will measure the effectiveness of your circular design strategies. Research existing DEA models or develop appropriate metrics to assess performance in areas like material reduction, recycling rates, and energy recovery.
Project actions
- 01When evaluating your design's environmental impact, consider using quantitative methods like those discussed in this review.
- 02Be mindful of the geographical context of existing research when drawing conclusions about best practices.
Method & Evidence
Variables
Strengths & Limitations
Strengths
- +Comprehensive systematic review covering a decade of research.
- +Categorization of DEA models and their applications provides a structured overview.
Limitations
The availability and quality of data for specific circular economy metrics can be a significant challenge when attempting to apply DEA models in a design project.
Reliability & validity
The systematic review methodology enhances reliability by providing a structured approach to literature selection and analysis. Validity is supported by the focus on peer-reviewed articles and the comprehensive categorization of methodologies and findings.
Think critically
Given the geographical bias identified in the research, how might cultural or economic differences influence the applicability and interpretation of DEA findings for circular economy practices in different regions?
Design Principles
"Quantify and evaluate the efficiency of circular economy strategies using analytical models to drive continuous improvement."
Understanding how to quantitatively measure the impact of circular economy initiatives is crucial for designers and businesses aiming to implement sustainable practices. DEA provides a framework to assess efficiency and identify areas for improvement in resource utilization and waste reduction.
What This Means for Your Design
This study shows that a math tool called DEA can help measure how good things like recycling and reducing waste are. Most studies using this tool are from China and Europe, so we need more research from other places.
How to use in your project
- 1.Reference this review when discussing the methods used to evaluate the environmental performance or circularity of your design solution.
- 2.Use the findings on specific strategies (R2, R8, R9) to frame your own evaluation criteria.
Add to My Project
Quick Cite
Paragraph starter
This systematic literature review by Ratner et al. (2025) highlights the utility of Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) in quantitatively assessing circular economy (CE) performance, particularly for strategies focused on reduction (R2), recycling (R8), and recovery (R9). The research underscores the need for a critical evaluation of existing DEA models and points to a geographical bias in current studies, with a strong focus on China and the European Union. This work provides a valuable framework for designers seeking to measure the effectiveness of their sustainable design interventions.
Source
Mathematical and Computational Applications
Measuring Circular Economy with Data Envelopment Analysis: A Systematic Literature Review
journal · 2025
View sourceQuestions About This Research
- What does the research say about dea models effectively measure circular economy performance for r2, r8, and r9 strategies?
- When designing for circularity, consider using or developing metrics that can be evaluated with tools like DEA to demonstrate the efficiency of your chosen strategies, especially for reduction, recycling, and recovery. Evidence: Mathematical and Computational Applications (2025).
- Why does "DEA Models Effectively Measure Circular Economy Performance for R2, R8, and R9 Strategies" matter for design?
- Understanding how to quantitatively measure the impact of circular economy initiatives is crucial for designers and businesses aiming to implement sustainable practices. DEA provides a framework to assess efficiency and identify areas for improvement in resource utilization and waste reduction.
- How can designers apply this research?
- When designing for circularity, consider using or developing metrics that can be evaluated with tools like DEA to demonstrate the efficiency of your chosen strategies, especially for reduction, recycling, and recovery.
- What were the main findings?
- DEA models are valuable for assessing circular economy strategies, particularly R2 (Reduce), R8 (Recycling), and R9 (Recovering).. A significant portion of the research (over 40%) originates from China, with the European Union also being a prominent region (nearly 20%), indicating a potential research gap in other geographical areas.. There is a need for a critical evaluation of existing DEA approaches to highlight their strengths and weaknesses.
- What research method was used?
- Systematic Literature Review with 151 peer-reviewed articles.
- How strong is the evidence?
- Evidence strength is rated Strong effect, based on a 2025 journal from Mathematical and Computational Applications.
- What should I do differently in my next project?
- When undertaking a design project focused on sustainability, consider how you will measure the effectiveness of your circular design strategies. Research existing DEA models or develop appropriate metrics to assess performance in areas like material reduction, recycling rates, and energy recovery.
- What are the limitations?
- The review focuses exclusively on DEA models and may not capture other quantitative or qualitative evaluation methods for circular economy practices. The geographical distribution of studies might skew the perceived strengths and weaknesses of DEA models.