Circular Economy in the Event Industry: A Systematic Literature Review

The concept of the circular economy has become increasingly important in science and business in recent years. Research shows it can reduce waste, emissions, and costs over time. This paper explores why, despite its potential, the circular economy has seen limited implementation in the event industry. A systematic literature review was conducted, demonstrating that current applications are scarce and mainly focus on waste avoidance, reuse, and recycling. Using the model by Kirchherr et al. (2023), the findings highlight that circular economy practices offer significant potential for resource conservation and waste reduction in event planning and organisation. The paper proposes a definition of circular events and recommends educational initiatives, legal incentives, and stronger political cooperation to encourage circular practices among event stakeholders. A more differentiated perspective on circular indicators – addressing economic, social, and environmental dimensions – could advance the sustainable transformation of the event industry.