Integrating Circular Economy Education into Education for Sustainable Development: A Conceptual Advancement and Typology of Integration Strategies

This paper examines integrating Circular Economy (CE) education within Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) to support the 2030 Agenda for SDGs. CE education fosters resource efficiency, regeneration, and systems thinking, aligning with ESD’s transformative goals. It explores strategies for embedding CE at all educational levels—primary to vocational—through curriculum reform, experiential learning, and interdisciplinary collaboration. While literature highlights CE education’s importance, less is known about how governance, cultural, and economic factors influence its integration. Through comparative case studies of Finland, Greece, and Vietnam reveal three strategies: (i) Finland’s top-down model with policy coherence and curriculum redesign; (ii) Greece’s grassroots community and NGO-led pilots; and (iii) Vietnam’s hybrid model linking CE with STEM and industrial modernization. Recommendations include policy alignment, teacher training, digital tools, and accessible resources. The conclusion underscores CE education’s role in fostering systemic change and calls for collaboration to achieve global sustainability.