Authors : Gerson Japhet Fumbuka

Volume/Issue : Volume 11 - 2026, Issue 2 - February

Google Scholar : https://tinyurl.com/mtwf6r7k

Scribd : https://tinyurl.com/2bpnuzuk

DOI : https://doi.org/10.38124/ijisrt/26feb580

Note : A published paper may take 4-5 working days from the publication date to appear in PlumX Metrics, Semantic Scholar, and ResearchGate.

Abstract : The maritime industry’s traditional “build-operate-dispose” approach has become unsustainable, causing significant resource depletion and waste. Although the Circular Economy (CE) presents a viable alternative, its adoption in the maritime sector remains fragmented and slow. This lag stems from the industry’s tendency to address policy, technology, and economic challenges separately, rather than as interdependent components of a unified system. A deeper understanding of how these dimensions interact is essential for enabling a holistic transition to circularity. This research aims to develop an integrated framework that highlights the interconnections among policy, technology, and economic factors in advancing a circular maritime economy. By demonstrating that regulatory measures, technological innovation, and business models must evolve together, the study seeks to establish circular practices as both standard and economically advantageous. Using a qualitative, conceptual approach grounded in systems thinking, the research synthesizes findings from scholarly literature, industry analyses, and policy reports to map these interrelations. The resulting framework will identify high-impact intervention points—such as how policies mandating digital material passports (policy) can enable advanced asset tracking (technology), making remanufacturing more viable and profitable (economics). The study offers actionable insights for policymakers, industry leaders, and investors. It proposes strategies for designing policies that stimulate innovation and for businesses to capitalize on circular economic opportunities. Aligned with the themes of Business Innovation and Sustainable Development, this research provides a cohesive roadmap for transforming the maritime sector into a model of circular resource management.

Keywords : Circular Economy, Maritime Policy, Sustainable Technology, Economic Incentives, Systems Thinking, Business Models.

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