Martin Calisto Friant

@uu.nl

PhD Researcher
Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development | Faculty of Geosciences | Utrecht University

Martin Calisto Friant


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https://researchid.co/calisto_friant

RESEARCH INTERESTS

Environmental governance and sustainability researcher and practitioner. Research and work areas include: circular economy, post-development theories (such as buen vivir), degrowth, nature-based solutions, urban studies, deliberative democracy and environmental discourse and policy analysis.
19

Scopus Publications

2658

Scholar Citations

13

Scholar h-index

15

Scholar i10-index

Scopus Publications

  • A Degrowth-Oriented Circular Society for Plastics
    Martin Calisto Friant, Sabrina Chakori
    Springer Handbooks, 2025
  • Degrowth or barbarism? An exploration of four circular futures for 2050
    Martin Calisto Friant, Walter J. V. Vermeulen, Roberta Salomone
    Frontiers in Sustainability, 2025
    There are many competing visions regarding what a circular economy transition entails and how it would transform our social, economic, environmental, technological, and political systems. This paper sheds light on these different circular discourses by asking the following research questions: what future would different circularity discourses envision for 2050? To answer this question, this paper uses scenario planning methods to explore how four circular discourses developed in a 2x2 typology of circularity thinking would imagine the future. Results examine how these four discourses would organise and operationalise circular transport, energy, agriculture, and industrial systems in 2050. Results also explore the political systems and governance processes they would establish and the type of society, culture, worldview and lifestyles they would create. Moreover, the paper analyses each scenario’s desirability (in terms of their potential to foster socio-ecological well-being) and ecological plausibility, as well as the level of societal change potentially needed to bring them about. The paper concludes that there is a real danger in following growth-based circular discourses and scenarios because their visions cannot be implemented within the biophysical boundaries of the Earth. Indeed, over 50 years of academic research have demonstrated that decoupling economic growth from environmental degradation fast enough to prevent climate breakdown and biodiversity collapse is impossible. On the other hand, degrowth-oriented approaches to circularity might shed light on circular futures that can allow all present and future generations to live a good life within the ecological boundaries of the Earth. This research recommends fostering democratic transformations such as citizen assemblies, participatory budgeting and worker-owned non-profit cooperatives as potential avenues to more inclusive, sustainable and socially just futures. This paper is thereby valuable to researchers, citizens and practitioners who seek to better understand the socio-ecological implications of different circular futures and envision desirable and viable alternatives.
  • Connecting consumption and production systems from the perspective of the product user: a foundational multilevel systems model of circularity realized at the economy-scale
    Sahra Svensson-Hoglund, Jennifer D. Russell, Jessika Luth Richter, Marianna Lena Kambanou, Anne P. M. Velenturf, et al.
    Frontiers in Sustainability, 2025
    The Circular Economy (CE) concept continues to garner significant attention from stakeholders. Yet, what a CE entails in its realized state remains insufficiently articulated, particularly for product users. This study introduces a multilevel systems model that conceptualizes an economy-wide, fully implemented CE from the perspective of the product user. The focus is on the foundational tenets of CE theory, namely the flows of materials, products, and components in the specific context of durable consumer products. The model's development follows a sequential method and is empirically tested and refined through a Delphi study involving 14 experts in CE and sufficiency. First, this model clarifies the composition, elements, and structure of the consumption system in a realized CE. Notably, elements often relegated to the background, such as contextual settings, are foregrounded to enable a more comprehensive analysis of factors involved in CE behaviors. The model provides a structured foundation for systematic exploration of potential implications for product users, which can be expanded in future research to include additional dimensions (e.g., social and ecological). Second, the multileveled nature of the model and mapping of the diverse flows and interactions shaping product users' reality in a realized CE allows for systematic integration of consumption (i.e., more concrete from the perspective of the product user) and production (i.e., more abstract) systems. As such, the model introduces an integrated product-system lens for bridging multi- and interdisciplinary areas of sustainable consumption and production. The paper concludes by outlining avenues for future research and potential applications of the model.
  • Transition to a Sustainable Circular Society: More than Just Resource Efficiency
    Martin Calisto Friant, Walter J. V. Vermeulen, Roberta Salomone
    Circular Economy and Sustainability, 2024
    While the conceptual underpinnings of the circular economy (CE) date back to the 1970s, the concept has recently become a major discourse in contemporary sustainability debates. The idea of CE, as it is now understood, is thus rather new and remains in conceptual development. Moreover, it is a contested concept with many different circular visions competing in the discursive sphere. Many researchers have evidenced that dominant CE propositions focus on technocentric solutions and do not address crucial social, political, and ecological implications. This opinion paper seeks to help address this gap by going to the root of the CE metaphor and asking: What do circles, cycles, and flows mean for an economy and a society? To answer this question, this article unpacks the idea of cycles, loops, and flows by analysing what socio-ecological cycles are most relevant for sustainability and circularity. It thus finds a set of seven cycles that are key to better understanding CE and its relation to human and planetary well-being (biogeochemical, ecosystem, resource, power, wealth, knowledge, and care cycles). This article then analyses how and whether dominant CE discourses currently address these cycles. This paper proposes the idea of a circular society as an umbrella concept that can help us better address the critical ecological, social, and political implications of a circularity transition. Moreover, this article develops a set of interrelated strategies to operationalise the circular society concept. This paper thus hopes to contribute to expanding the imaginary regarding the concept of circularity that can help the cross-pollination of ideas, solutions, and approaches to face the manyfold socio-ecological challenges of the twenty-first century.
  • The Japanese Circular Economy and Sound Material-Cycle Society Policies: Discourse and Policy Analysis
    Risa Arai, Martin Calisto Friant, Walter J. V. Vermeulen
    Circular Economy and Sustainability, 2024
    Although the Japanese government is an early adopter of Circular Economy (CE) policies and developed the concept of the Sound Material-Cycle Society in the early 2000s, its CE policies have nonetheless been poorly researched and understood, especially in English academic literature. This article addresses this research gap by answering the following questions: What are the dominant discourses of key stakeholders in Japan regarding CE? And to what extent does the current CE policy in Japan relate to that? Methodologically, this paper conducted a discourse analysis through a mix of policy analysis, media analysis, stakeholder interviews, keyword mining, qualitative content analysis, and analysis of stakeholder presence. Results show that, while CE discourses in Japan are rather diverse, they mostly fall within the Reformist Circular Society discourse type, with some smaller Technocentric Circular Economy and Transformational Circular Society elements. Results also show that businesses and academics were over-represented in policy meetings and the media, compared to NGOs and local government actors, which are more likely to hold transformational circularity discourses. Most circularity discourses in Japan are thus focused on a growth-optimistic narrative that emphasises innovative technologies and lacks a stronger understanding of social justice and planetary boundaries. Based on these findings, this article suggests recommendations, such as revisiting Japanese ecological thinking and Buddhist philosophy, which can inspire degrowth-oriented circularity approaches, as well as encompassing more participation of neglected societal groups in the development and implementation of CE policies and practices. By highlighting the challenges in current CE discourse and implementation in Japan, this study presents implications for a more socially inclusive and ecologically sustainable path towards a circular society.
  • NAVIGATING DIVERSE UNDERSTANDINGS OF A CIRCULAR ECONOMY
    Walter J.V. Vermeulen, Martin Calisto Friant, Kieran Campbell-Johnston, Natacha Klein
    Circular Economy Realities Critical Perspectives on Sustainability, 2024
  • SOCIO-SPATIAL DIMENSIONS OF A CIRCULAR ECONOMY
    Pauline Deutz, Andrew E.G. Jonas, Sabrina Brullot, Martin Calisto Friant, Małgorzata Pusz, et al.
    Circular Economy Realities Critical Perspectives on Sustainability, 2024
  • POLICY CONSIDERATIONS FOR A CIRCULAR ECONOMY
    Walter J.V. Vermeulen, Martin Calisto Friant, Kieran Campbell-Johnston, Pauline Deutz, Aodhan Newsholme, et al.
    Circular Economy Realities Critical Perspectives on Sustainability, 2024
  • Science for sale? Why academic marketization is a problem and what sustainability research can do about it
    Thomas Bauwens, Denise Reike, Martín Calisto-Friant
    Environmental Innovation and Societal Transitions, 2023
  • Sustainable circular cities? Analysing urban circular economy policies in Amsterdam, Glasgow, and Copenhagen
    Martin Calisto Friant, Katie Reid, Peppi Boesler, Walter J. V. Vermeulen, Roberta Salomone
    Local Environment, 2023
  • Correction:Transition to a Sustainable Circular Plastics Economy in The Netherlands: Discourse and Policy Analysis(Sustainability, (2022), 14, (190), 10.3390/su14010190)
    Martin Calisto Friant, Dirkjan Lakerveld, Walter J. V. Vermeulen, Roberta Salomone
    Sustainability Switzerland, 2022
  • Challenging dominant sustainability worldviews on the energy transition: Lessons from Indigenous communities in Mexico and a plea for pluriversal technologies
    Paola Velasco-Herrejón, Thomas Bauwens, Martin Calisto Friant
    World Development, 2022
  • Transition to a sustainable circular plastics economy in the netherlands: Discourse and policy analysis
    Martin Calisto Friant, Dirkjan Lakerveld, Walter J. V. Vermeulen, Roberta Salomone
    Sustainability Switzerland, 2022
  • Analysing European Union circular economy policies: words versus actions
    Martin Calisto Friant, Walter J.V. Vermeulen, Roberta Salomone
    Sustainable Production and Consumption, 2021
  • How circular is your tyre: Experiences with extended producer responsibility from a circular economy perspective
    Kieran Campbell-Johnston, Martin Calisto Friant, Kaustubh Thapa, Dirkjan Lakerveld, Walter J.V. Vermeulen
    Journal of Cleaner Production, 2020
  • A typology of circular economy discourses: Navigating the diverse visions of a contested paradigm
    Martin Calisto Friant, Walter J.V. Vermeulen, Roberta Salomone
    Resources Conservation and Recycling, 2020
  • Deliberating for sustainability: lessons from the Porto Alegre experiment with participatory budgeting
    Martin Calisto Friant
    International Journal of Urban Sustainable Development, 2019
  • The buen vivir: A policy to survive the anthropocene?
    Martin Calisto Friant, John Langmore
    Global Policy, 2015
  • Ecuador’s Yasuní-ITT initiative for mitigating the impact of climate change
    Environmental and Planning Law Journal, 2015

RECENT SCHOLAR PUBLICATIONS

  • Pluriversal technologies: A decolonial typology of knowledge integration for disruptive sustainability
    T Bauwens, MC Friant, K Beumer, P Velasco-Herrejón
    Research Policy 55 (4), 105458 , 2026
    2026
  • A global typology for assessing socioeconomic impacts of the circular economy
    G Foster, M Calisto Friant, B Leiputė, T King, TB Fischer, S Gaušas, ...
    Communications Sustainability 1 (1), 55 , 2026
    2026
  • Advancing Our Understanding of CE Loop Strategies: A Synthesizing Framework for Durable Consumer Products
    S Svensson-Hoglund, JD Russell, JL Richter, P Dewick, L Milios, ...
    Circular Economy and Sustainability 6 (2), 57 , 2026
    2026
  • Connecting consumption and production systems from the perspective of the product user: a foundational multilevel systems model of circularity realized at the economy-scale
    S Svensson-Hoglund, JD Russell, JL Richter, ML Kambanou, ...
    Frontiers in Sustainability 6, 1698624 , 2025
    2025
    Citations: 2
  • Circular Economy and Society
    M Calisto Friant, M Jaeger-Erben
    Vocabulary for Sustainable Consumption and Lifestyles: A Language for Our … , 2025
    2025
  • Identifying positive tipping points for a circular economy transition: A systematic analysis at an island scale
    D Flor, MC Friant, TWR Powell, CN Lewis, F Charnley, TS Galloway
    Journal of Cleaner Production 522, 146300 , 2025
    2025
    Citations: 1
  • Degrowth or barbarism? An exploration of four circular futures for 2050
    M Calisto Friant, WJV Vermeulen, R Salomone
    Frontiers in Sustainability 6, 1527052 , 2025
    2025
    Citations: 7
  • A Degrowth-Oriented Circular Society for Plastics
    M Calisto Friant, S Chakori
    Springer Handbook of Circular Plastics Economy, 1109-1120 , 2025
    2025
  • Circular Economy for Social Transformation: Economics: Sustainability and Circularity
    R Passaro, P Ghisellini, M Pansera, S Barca, M Calisto Friant
    Ledizioni-LediPublishing , 2025
    2025
  • Assessing Socio-economic Impacts of Circular Economy Policies in the EU
    G Foster, R Marschinski, M Calisto Friant, B Leiputė, T King, TB Fischer, ...
    < bound method Organization. get_name_with_acronym of< Organization … , 2024
    2024
  • Towards a more comprehensive assessment of socio-economic impacts of Circular Economy policies
    F Gillian, M Robert, CF Martin, L Beatričė, K Thomas, G Simonas, ...
    JRC Research Reports , 2024
    2024
    Citations: 1
  • Weaving a Transformative Circular Textile Policy Through a Socio-Environmental Justice Lens
    LJ Suarez-Visbal, M Calisto Friant, A Härri, V Vermeyen, A Hendriks, ...
    Strengthening European Climate Policy: Governance Recommendations from … , 2024
    2024
    Citations: 5
  • Navigating diverse understandings of a circular economy
    WJV Vermeulen, MC Friant, K Campbell-Johnston, N Klein
    Circular Economy Realities, 45-63 , 2024
    2024
    Citations: 3
  • Socio-spatial dimensions of a circular economy
    P Deutz, AEG Jonas, S Brullot, MC Friant, M Pusz, A Newsholme, S Perez, ...
    Circular Economy Realities, 123-148 , 2024
    2024
    Citations: 7
  • Policy Considerations for a Circular Economy
    WJV Vermeulen, MC Friant, K Campbell-Johnston, P Deutz, ...
    Circular Economy Realities, 173-202 , 2024
    2024
    Citations: 2
  • The Japanese circular economy and sound material-cycle society policies: Discourse and policy analysis
    R Arai, M Calisto Friant, WJV Vermeulen
    Circular Economy and Sustainability 4 (1), 619-650 , 2024
    2024
    Citations: 31
  • Transition to a sustainable circular society: more than just resource efficiency
    M Calisto Friant, WJV Vermeulen, R Salomone
    Circular economy and sustainability 4 (1), 23-42 , 2024
    2024
    Citations: 129
  • Circular economy for social transformation: multiple paths to achieve circularity
    R Passaro, P Ghisellini, M Pansera, S Barca, MC Friant
    Ledizioni , 2024
    2024
    Citations: 5
  • A Framework to Critically Understand the Multidimensional Social Justice Implications of a Circular Economy Transition
    MC Friant, M Ripa, M Pansera, T Doezema
    2024
  • Visioning four different circular futures: what could 2050 look like?
    M Calisto Friant, WVJ Vermeulen
    Circular Economy for Social Transformation: Multiple Paths to Achieve … , 2024
    2024

MOST CITED SCHOLAR PUBLICATIONS

  • A typology of circular economy discourses: Navigating the diverse visions of a contested paradigm
    M Calisto Friant, WJV Vermeulen, R Salomone
    Resources, Conservation and Recycling 161, 104917 , 2020
    2020
    Citations: 969
  • Analysing European Union circular economy policies: words versus actions
    M Calisto Friant, WJV Vermeulen, R Salomone
    Sustainable Production and Consumption 27, 337-353 , 2021
    2021
    Citations: 573
  • Sustainable circular cities? Analysing urban circular economy policies in Amsterdam, Glasgow, and Copenhagen
    M Calisto Friant, K Reid, P Boesler, WJV Vermeulen, R Salomone
    Local Environment 28 (10), 1331-1369 , 2023
    2023
    Citations: 166
  • How circular is your tyre: Experiences with extended producer responsibility from a circular economy perspective
    K Campbell-Johnston, M Calisto Friant, K Thapa, D Lakerveld, ...
    Journal of Cleaner Production 270, 122042 , 2020
    2020
    Citations: 150
  • Challenging dominant sustainability worldviews on the energy transition: Lessons from Indigenous communities in Mexico and a plea for pluriversal technologies
    P Velasco-Herrejón, T Bauwens, M Calisto Friant
    World Development 150, 105725 , 2022
    2022
    Citations: 137
  • Transition to a sustainable circular society: more than just resource efficiency
    M Calisto Friant, WJV Vermeulen, R Salomone
    Circular economy and sustainability 4 (1), 23-42 , 2024
    2024
    Citations: 129
  • Transition to a Sustainable Circular Plastics Economy in The Netherlands: Discourse and Policy Analysis
    M Calisto Friant, D Lakerveld, WJV Vermeulen, R Salomone
    Sustainability 14 (1), 190 , 2022
    2022
    Citations: 98
  • Deliberating for sustainability: lessons from the Porto Alegre experiment with participatory budgeting
    M Calisto Friant
    International Journal of Urban Sustainable Development 11 (1), 81-99 , 2019
    2019
    Citations: 93
  • The Buen Vivir : A Policy to Survive the Anthropocene?
    M Calisto Friant, J Langmore
    Global policy 6 (1), 64-71 , 2015
    2015
    Citations: 88
  • Comercio justo, seguridad alimentaria y globalización: construyendo sistemas alimentarios alternativos
    M Calisto Friant
    Íconos: Revista de Ciencias Sociales, 215-240 , 2016
    2016
    Citations: 83
  • Science for sale? Why academic marketization is a problem and what sustainability research can do about it
    T Bauwens, D Reike, M Calisto-Friant
    Environmental Innovation and Societal Transitions 48, 100749 , 2023
    2023
    Citations: 39
  • The Japanese circular economy and sound material-cycle society policies: Discourse and policy analysis
    R Arai, M Calisto Friant, WJV Vermeulen
    Circular Economy and Sustainability 4 (1), 619-650 , 2024
    2024
    Citations: 31
  • From Circular Economy to Circular Society: Analysing Circularity Discourses and Policies and Their Sustainability Implications
    PM Calisto Esquetini-Friant
    Utrecht University , 2022
    2022
    Citations: 15
  • Pluriversal Technologies: Innovation Inspired by Indigenous Worldviews
    M Calisto Friant, P Velasco-Herrejón, T Bauwens
    E-International Relations , 2023
    2023
    Citations: 11
  • Ecuador’s Yasuní-ITT initiative for mitigating the impact of climate change
    T Vallejo Silva, M Calisto Friant
    Environmental and Planning Law Journal 32, 278-293 , 2015
    2015
    Citations: 11
  • The circular economy: transformative vision or oxymoronic illusion?
    M Calisto Friant
    2020
    Citations: 8
  • Degrowth or barbarism? An exploration of four circular futures for 2050
    M Calisto Friant, WJV Vermeulen, R Salomone
    Frontiers in Sustainability 6, 1527052 , 2025
    2025
    Citations: 7
  • Socio-spatial dimensions of a circular economy
    P Deutz, AEG Jonas, S Brullot, MC Friant, M Pusz, A Newsholme, S Perez, ...
    Circular Economy Realities, 123-148 , 2024
    2024
    Citations: 7
  • Weaving a Transformative Circular Textile Policy Through a Socio-Environmental Justice Lens
    LJ Suarez-Visbal, M Calisto Friant, A Härri, V Vermeyen, A Hendriks, ...
    Strengthening European Climate Policy: Governance Recommendations from … , 2024
    2024
    Citations: 5
  • Circular economy for social transformation: multiple paths to achieve circularity
    R Passaro, P Ghisellini, M Pansera, S Barca, MC Friant
    Ledizioni , 2024
    2024
    Citations: 5