<p>This study investigates eco-industrial parks (EIPs) contribution to the circular economy (CE) considering its recent evolutions. While traditional frameworks have primarily emphasized recycling, reduction, and recovery strategies, recent studies have expanded the scope to include additional principles such as refuse, reduce, rethink, reuse, repair, refurbish, remanufacture, and repurpose. Drawing from Industrial Ecology (IE) and Socio-Technical Transition (STT) theories, we conduct a theory-informed analysis which contrasts traditional EIPs frameworks, with EIPs aiming to reconsider their contribution to the CE and scholars’ new advancements. Material includes evidence from two EIPs with extended CE ambitions, institutional frameworks and academic literature. We identify critical gaps in conventional frameworks, particularly in supporting new circular business models (CBMs), integrating local ecosystems, and fostering circular-related innovation. We consequently show that EIPs can go beyond traditional recycling, recovery and infrastructure-sharing schemes to contribute more comprehensively to CE while generating holistic value. This implies complementing traditional frameworks around two axes. The first is fostering CBMs that address the full spectrum of CE principles while the second is enshrining EIPs locally as an economic and social CE platform. Moreover, the study contributes to IE and STT by respectively, expanding the role of EIPs in industrial symbiosis and strengthening their position as intermediaries in sustainability transitions. By synthesizing existing knowledge in a structured framework, this paper contributes to ongoing efforts to reconceptualize EIPs as catalysts of systemic CE transitions. The findings offer actionable insights for both policymakers and practitioners seeking to redesign EIPs as hubs of regional sustainability and innovation.</p> Graphical Abstract <p></p>