Unlocking circular economy and green innovation pathways for sustainable biofuel: a global bibliometric analysis with insights from Indonesia’s B40 transition

Author: Susy Harjanti –  Doctoral Student, BINUS Business School Doctor of Research in Management, Bina Nusantara University.

This study highlights that while green innovation in the biofuel sector—such as biomass conversion, fuel optimization, and high-blend applications—has advanced significantly, the integration of circular economy principles remains limited and fragmented. The Indonesian case of the B40 biodiesel mandate mirrors global trends, demonstrating strong progress in innovation but limited adoption of circular practices beyond first-generation feedstocks. Emerging initiatives involving waste cooking oil and agricultural residues are promising but remain small in scale. Similar patterns are observed internationally, where circular approaches to waste valorization and life cycle assessment are still underdeveloped.

To advance sustainable biofuel transitions, it is essential to bridge the gap between technological innovation and circular economy strategies. Future research and policy design must prioritize integrated frameworks that combine waste utilization, resource efficiency, and systemic sustainability assessments with innovation pathways. Such convergence is vital to achieving scalable, resilient, and truly sustainable biofuel systems, particularly in fast-growing renewable energy markets such as Southeast Asia.

Open access article: https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/sustainability/articles/10.3389/frsus.2025.1668947/full