Teaching the Circular Economy in Schools: Contributions to Citizenship and the Sustainable Transition

ABSTRACT
The discussion on the circular economy has gained increasing prominence in the educational field due to its direct
relationship with the environmental, social, and formative challenges faced by contemporary society. Within the
context of basic education, this debate is particularly relevant as it enables the articulation of curricular content,
pedagogical practices, and values oriented toward sustainability and citizenship, thereby contributing to the
development of critical and socially responsible individuals. For the development of the research, a qualitative
approach was adopted, as it allows for an interpretative understanding of the meanings, concepts, and
orientations present in the academic production analyzed. The methodological procedure employed was a
bibliographic review, understood as a rigorous process of identifying, selecting, and critically analyzing scientific
literature related to environmental education, the circular economy, interdisciplinarity, and citizenship education
within the school context. The general objective of the study is to analyze how the teaching of the circular economy
in basic education can contribute to citizenship formation and to the construction of a school culture oriented
toward a sustainable transition. Overall, the analyses indicate that teaching the circular economy, when
articulated with pedagogical practices and the dimensions of socio-environmental citizenship, promotes the
development of a school culture committed to more responsible forms of interaction with the environment and
with the community. By integrating strategies appropriate to the different stages of basic education, the theme
proves capable of connecting curricular content, concrete experiences, and ethical values, contributing to the role
of the school as a space for critical education and social engagement. Thus, the article demonstrates that the
circular economy is not limited to a specific environmental topic, but rather is consolidated as a formative axis
that engages with citizenship education and with the need to rethink social and educational practices in light of
contemporary challenges.
Keywords: circular economy; basic education; citizenship; sustainability.