The (Im)possible Circular Economy? Barriers and Best Practices in Resource‐Intensive Industries

ABSTRACT The circular economy (CE) promises to replace the linear ‘take–make–waste’ model with closed material and energy loops, yet its implementation is constrained by thermodynamic limits, rebound effects, definitional ambiguities and system‐boundary challenges. Existing research tends to emphasise sector‐specific or single‐element solutions, leaving a gap in industry‐agnostic and holistic best practices. Using a qualitative multiple‐case study of 12 European, globally active firms across resource‐intensive industries (RIIs), such as construction, plastics, electronics, chemicals and packaging, we (1) identify principal barriers impeding CE adoption and (2) derive transferable, practice‐based strategies that address these barriers. We synthesise our findings into an industry‐agnostic, holistic best‐practice framework organised by context, intervention, mechanism and outcome (CIMO), offering actionable guidance for managers and policymakers pursuing systemic circular transitions. The study advances theory on CE barriers and provides scalable, cross‐industry solutions to accelerate circular transformation in RIIs.