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X-Shoring and the Circular Economy : Drivers, Synergies, and Geographic Interrelations

Stihl, Linda LU orcid ; Friedrich, Jonathan LU and Grillitsch, Markus LU orcid (2025) In Economic Geography
Abstract
In the wake of sustainability challenges and geopolitical tensions, the circular economy and x-shoring have received increasing attention as possible solutions or models for future development. Both concepts have an important geographic dimension and share other features such as foci on resilience and security. In this article, we elaborate on the two concepts and explore common drivers, potential synergies, and geographic interrelations. X-shoring is used here to refer to several related concepts such as reshoring, backshoring, or friendshoring. Drawing on insights about directionality, socioinstitutional change, technoeconomic change, and the resulting spatial implications, we highlight the differences and similarities between the two... (More)
In the wake of sustainability challenges and geopolitical tensions, the circular economy and x-shoring have received increasing attention as possible solutions or models for future development. Both concepts have an important geographic dimension and share other features such as foci on resilience and security. In this article, we elaborate on the two concepts and explore common drivers, potential synergies, and geographic interrelations. X-shoring is used here to refer to several related concepts such as reshoring, backshoring, or friendshoring. Drawing on insights about directionality, socioinstitutional change, technoeconomic change, and the resulting spatial implications, we highlight the differences and similarities between the two emerging empirical phenomena. We discuss how the economic and circular potentials of x-shoring can be reaped and how plausible negative spatial effects can be avoided. Finally, we highlight the important role of policy in navigating and negotiating these developments and their multiscalar outcomes, and outline promising research avenues to better understand the economic geographies of x-shoring and its opportunities for greener value chains. (Less)
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author
; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
epub
subject
keywords
Global production network, Circular Economy, Reshoring, Backshoring, Friendshoring, Nearshoring
in
Economic Geography
publisher
Taylor & Francis
ISSN
0013-0095
DOI
10.1080/00130095.2025.2589080
project
Circular Value & Supply Chains, Regional Development, and Multi-Level Policy Dynamics
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
72633187-4e4a-40d9-9070-13816deb8fc1
date added to LUP
2025-12-04 08:27:48
date last changed
2025-12-05 10:17:13
@article{72633187-4e4a-40d9-9070-13816deb8fc1,
  abstract     = {{In the wake of sustainability challenges and geopolitical tensions, the circular economy and x-shoring have received increasing attention as possible solutions or models for future development. Both concepts have an important geographic dimension and share other features such as foci on resilience and security. In this article, we elaborate on the two concepts and explore common drivers, potential synergies, and geographic interrelations. X-shoring is used here to refer to several related concepts such as reshoring, backshoring, or friendshoring. Drawing on insights about directionality, socioinstitutional change, technoeconomic change, and the resulting spatial implications, we highlight the differences and similarities between the two emerging empirical phenomena. We discuss how the economic and circular potentials of x-shoring can be reaped and how plausible negative spatial effects can be avoided. Finally, we highlight the important role of policy in navigating and negotiating these developments and their multiscalar outcomes, and outline promising research avenues to better understand the economic geographies of x-shoring and its opportunities for greener value chains.}},
  author       = {{Stihl, Linda and Friedrich, Jonathan and Grillitsch, Markus}},
  issn         = {{0013-0095}},
  keywords     = {{Global production network; Circular Economy; Reshoring; Backshoring; Friendshoring; Nearshoring}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{12}},
  publisher    = {{Taylor & Francis}},
  series       = {{Economic Geography}},
  title        = {{X-Shoring and the Circular Economy : Drivers, Synergies, and Geographic Interrelations}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00130095.2025.2589080}},
  doi          = {{10.1080/00130095.2025.2589080}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}