Proceedings of the International scientific and practical conference ―Modern Research and Education‖ (May 2-4, 2026) / Publisher website: www.naukainfo.com. – Warsaw, Poland, 2026. - 523 p.

25 UDC 334.012.64:502.131.1:330.34 Kichuk Nadiia Vyacheslavivna PhD in Economics, associate professor Odesa National Economic University Odesa, Ukraine TRANSFORMATION OF SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN THE CONTEXT OF THE CIRCULAR ECONOMY In the current context of global environmental and socio-economic challenges, traditional economic models are undergoing a transformation toward sustainable and circular development. The linear economic model of ―production–consumption– disposal‖ is losing its effectiveness, which is confirmed by the low level of resource reuse: as of 2025, only 6.9% of materials in the global economy are secondary, indicating a critically low level of global circularity [1]. This creates the need to shift toward new economic approaches, among which social entrepreneurship plays an important role. Social entrepreneurship is a key element in transforming the economic system, combining economic activity with the solution of social and environmental problems. According to current estimates, there are about 10 million social enterprises worldwide, employing more than 200 million people (around 6% of the global workforce) and generating approximately 2 trillion USD in annual revenue. This demonstrates the significant economic potential of social entrepreneurship as a driver of sustainable development [2]. The circular economy, in turn, involves minimizing waste, reusing resources, and developing models of repair, recycling, and shared consumption. An important feature is its impact on employment: according to international organizations, in 2025, between 121 and 142 million people are employed in circular economy sectors, accounting for approximately 5–5.8% of global employment [1]. This highlights the