Circular Business Strategies for Increasing the Resilience of Critical Raw Materials

The European Union’s strategic shift toward a climate-neutral, digitally empowered, and autonomous economy hinges on secure and resilient access to critical raw materials (CRMs). However, the global concentration of CRM supply, geopolitical instability, and limited recycling capabilities pose significant vulnerabilities to the supply chain. Despite growing policy emphasis, scholarly research on how circular economy (CE) strategies can concretely contribute to resilience in CRM systems remains scarce. This conceptual paper explores the potential of CE strategies—narrowing, slowing, and closing resource loops—to enhance multi-level resilience of CRMs. Integrating insights from CE literature and the socio-ecological perspective on resilience, the study proposes a conceptual framework linking CE practices to resilience outcomes at firm, supply chain, and societal levels. Narrowing strategies can reduce CRM demand and dependence on unstable supply regions. Slowing strategies extend product lifespans, reducing immediate material pressure while enhancing adaptive capacity. Closing strategies improve access to secondary raw materials, though current infrastructure and economic limitations constrain effectiveness. This study provides insights into the intersection of CE strategies and resilience building, specifically in the ‘high-stakes context’ of CRMs.