<![CDATA[The escalating depletion of finite natural resources and the mounting volume of industrial waste have intensified the need to embed circularity principles within engineering design practice. This article examines how sustainable engineering design can be systematically operationalized to support circular economy (CE) applications across manufacturing, construction, and materials-intensive sectors. Rather than relying on a systematic literature review, the study adopts a Design Science Research (DSR) approach combined with comparative case analysis, integrating life cycle assessment data, circular design strategies framed by the 9R hierarchy, and triple-bottom-line evaluation criteria. Findings indicate that closed-loop product architectures, modular and disassembly-oriented design, digital product passports, and material-substitution strategies substantially reduce embodied carbon, extend product service life, and recover residual material value, although implementation remains constrained by economic trade-offs, regulatory fragmentation, and limited design-stage circularity metrics. The novelty of this study lies in proposing an integrated engineering design framework that couples multi-criteria circularity assessment with digital traceability tools to bridge the persistent gap between conceptual circular economy principles and applied engineering practice. The framework offers engineers and policymakers a replicable decision-support structure for evaluating design alternatives across environmental, economic, and social dimensions, advancing the transition from theoretical circularity discourse toward measurable, design-stage sustainability outcomes.]]>
