A Special Issue comprised of paper from the International Society for the Circular Economy (IS4CE) inaugural conference that will focus on various themes within the circular economy such as the non-linear systems theory (complexity science), the circular design of products, components, materials and systems, finance for circular economy, industrial ecology, business management, business models, climate change and circular economy, bio-economy/ecology, among others.

As natural resources become scarce and climate change is progressing, closing cycles is the key and the challenge to reach a circular society. In this, ecology has a major role to play. The “Closed Cycles and the Circular Society” Symposium of the International Ecological Engineering Society deals exactly with these points and seeks for sustainable solutions that explain better and integrate nature and ecological functions and principles in the built environment. This special issue hosts selected studies presented at the IEES conference aiming at giving a new, contemporary meaning and definition of ecological engineering.

This special issue calls for state-of-the art studies on analyzing the status of and tackling the problems of waste plastic generation and treatment, both in developing and developed countries, and efforts from the public, from governments, businesses and other stakeholders, to support a transition from a linear economy model to fundamentally rethink the way we design, use, and reuse plastics.

The proposed special issue will focus on the integrated approach for sustained innovation in various areas of agro-based bioeconomy. The SI takes a comprehensive look to underline the upcoming challenges and present most viable options for translating commercially viable ideas into easily affordable agricultural products and technologies. Review papers summarizing the state-of-the-art knowledge and technological status are also welcome, after coordination with the Special issue Editors.