Global sustainability challenges are increasingly constraining and driving industrial development. Eco-efficiency and circular economy are powerful concepts providing guiding principles to achieve superior environmental performance. However, they are not systematically integrated into the design, planning, development, management and improvement of industrial systems, potentially resulting in increased environmental impacts and other unintended consequences. This paper presents a thematic research framework based on workshops with manufacturers and researchers in the field of production engineering and management. The framework aims to establish a stronger foundation to advance research and technological development for eco-efficient and circular industrial systems, embracing environmental sustainability as core operating principles.