Atif Ali, Jennifer D. Russell
Abstract Purpose of Review This review synthesizes key insights emerging from wood-based circular bioeconomy research published between 2020 and 2025, with a focus on clarifying geographic, discipline, technology, application, and circular economy integration trends. Findings Analysis of reviewed literature ( N = 54) revealed that most wood-based circular bioeconomy publications originate at European institutions (83.4%), followed by institutions in China (11.1%). Research collaborations are widely interdisciplinary, with strong representation of forestry (11.6%), agricultural science (9.3%), and chemical engineering (8.1%) disciplines. Most studies focus on technologies that use wood-mixed biomass waste (26%) and forest residues (23%) as primary feedstocks, with 33% of these technologies currently at lab-scale. While 63% of studies adopt a technology or product-focused lens, 37% take a systems-view of circular bioeconomy and forest-wood supply chains, emphasizing stakeholder engagement and integration. Waste reduction is the primary stated environmental motivation for research (34%), followed by fossil fuel displacement (23%). Highlighted economic opportunities include new revenue streams for growth (32%) and cost savings (22%). Summary Wood-based circular bioeconomy has been advancing largely via research in biorefineries and co-production technologies, particularly lignin valorization, aromatic compound recovery, and end-of-life biomass waste valorization. Interdisciplinary collaboration and system-based approaches are improving the integration of bioeconomy with well-established circular economic methods. However, gaps remain: few studies address end-of-life (EOL) flows, chemically modified wood products, or circular reintegration of bio-based materials. Expanding research on underexplored flows and life cycle stages is essential to realize a fully circular wood-based bioeconomy.