*3.1. Descriptive Analysis*

Considering the research trend in environmental management, we combined data sources from six main areas to enhance the analysis and achieve the research objectives. Figure 2 presents information that the topic of the circular economy and sustainabilityoriented innovation began to be published in 2003, and then began to increase from year to year. There was especially a spike in publications in 2018 which doubled compared to that of 2017, increasing sharply in 2019 and 2021, and reaching a peak until this data was taken in 2022. This indicates that the linear transition of the economy to a circular economy has become the agenda of researchers in an effort to preserve the environment, especially in the context of the emerging need for a clean energy transition in the face of growing concerns about climate change and the need to increase access to energy [2,5,41–45].

The 1832 selected articles (Figures 3 and 4) were published in several journals including the following: Journal of Cleaner Production (939 articles—51.24%); Resources Conservation and Recycling (138—7.5%); Technological Forecasting and Social Change (131—7.1%); Sustainable Production and Consumption (126—6.8%); Journal of Business Research (88—4.8%); Journal of Environmental Management (73—3.9%); Science of the Total Environment (73—3.9%); Ecological Economics (59—3.22%); Environmental Innovation and Societal Transitions (44—2.4%); International Journal of Production Economics (41—2.2%); Industrial Marketing Management (38—2.1%); Technology in Society (35—1.8%); Waste Management (29—1.54%); and Forest Policy and Economics (28—1.5%). This provides information that this topic is a trending topic in line with environmental conservation efforts [46,47].

**Figure 2.** Annual growth in the number of publications.

**Figure 3.** Journal venue for related topic.

**Figure 4.** Percentage of article publication on journals.

Figures 3 and 4 show the increasing research on the circular economy as an alternative strategy to increase environmental awareness. This provides opportunities and challenges for every country, industry, and business entity to jointly maintain sustainability and environmental preservation. All stakeholders are involved in implementing circular economy practices. First, governments and countries that are concerned about the environment can apply for green subsidies to increase sustainable practices [48,49]. Second, for business managers, they must increase commitment to the environment, build a culture of action for sustainable development [17], and create sustainable business model innovations [50,51]. Third, there is an environment-oriented standard-operating procedure as environmental ethics guidance [2,15]. Thus, the increase in these publications is an important indication of increased environmental awareness and insight in related fields.
