Circular economy approach in the maritime industry: barriers and the path to sustainability

The maritime industry lags behind other transportation sectors in the circular economy (CE) approaches and sustainability. Circularity is not well-established in the maritime, and there is a need to “close the loop” to minimise waste and increase the revenue stream. Although recycling contributes significantly to reducing the demand for raw materials, a significant number of parts and equipment from ships are currently underutilized. Therefore, this study aims to; i) identify the barriers to the successful implementation of CE principles in the maritime, ii) reveal the potential benefits of circular applications (6R), iii) briefly present remanufacturing environments in the aviation and automotive industries, and then iv) investigate the current situation and future potential in the maritime through industry investigation, stakeholder interviews and a structured questionnaire.