Complexity in a Life Cycle Perspective

Transforming linear businesses to circular economies is anticipated by industry and policy as a way to conciliate economic, societal and environmental interests in a life cycle perspective. This integration of aspects however comes at the price of complexity in manifold facets. In this paper, we suggest a conclusive categorization of complexity through a literature review and collect drivers of complexity. Through coding the literature for weighted interdependencies, we are able to show how drivers and categories interrelate in a contingency matrix. The results help companies to better leverage existing means of complexity planning and management for developing circular economies.