Circular Economy Opportunities Research Articles

Firm Reputation, Firm Resource Endowment, and Circular Economy Entrepreneurship: The Mediating Role of Managerial Commitment

Purpose: Environmental demands in today’s era have initiated circular economy (CE) initiatives to improve their reputation and provided a platform to exploit CE opportunities and develop circular economy entrepreneurship (CEE). While extant CE literature asserts that resources and managerial commitment (MC) are crucial for greater circular outcomes, studies that explore how firm reputation (FR) can promote a firm resource endowment (FRE) for enhanced CEE while investigating the mediating influences of MC are lacking. Bridging this gap, this study using the resource-based view investigates theassociations between FR, FRE, MC, and CEE in the context of Nepal. Design/methodology/approach: This study used a survey research design to collect data from managers of manufacturing SMEs and analysed it using partial least square structural equation modelling (PLS_SEM). Findings: The results indicated that FR has a significant impact on FRE, MC, and CEE. The findings particularly indicate that FRE and MC have a significant impact on CEE. However, the impact of FRE on MC is not significant. Furthermore, while it was observed that MC served as a mediating role in the connection between FR and CEE, there was no evidence of mediation between FRE and CEE. Conclusion: By leveraging FR and FRE, manufacturing SMEs in Nepal can promote CEE. In addition, firms enjoying superior reputations from the implementation of CE practices are likely to motivate managers’ commitment to CEE that ensure sustainability. Implications: The results highlight the theoretical and practical implications useful for scholars, policymakers, and managers. JEL Classification: D22, L26, M14, Q46

Unlocking solid waste circularity in urban settings: Insights from upcoming town in Kenya

Emerging and developing urban economies experience significant waste management challenges due to increased consumption rates, and limited capacity to manage waste. However, these challenges offer opportunities for waste circularity to raise valuation and reduces the amount of solid waste in the dumpsite. This study assessed the existing solid waste management (SWM) systems along circular economy (CE) at businesses, residential, and learning institutions, identified existing opportunities for CE in SWM, and assessed residents' attitudes toward CE in SWM in Othaya, a rural upcoming town in central Kenya. This study employed a descriptive cross-sectional design. 32 households, 19 premises, and 2 Key Informants were interviewed. First, the study findings revealed that the current waste practices in Othaya exhibit limited circularity, primarily influenced by convenience and a predominant linear approach results in substantial waste accumulation at the Gikeu dumpsite. Second, efforts from individuals and the government were progressively aligned to reduce waste disposal and promote circularity; however, the application of waste circularity governance through legal frameworks and agencies remained minimal. Third, challenges to CE progress were tied to the lack of CE awareness, absence of incentives, monetary valuation for participation, and inadequate waste sorting infrastructure. This study recommends raising awareness of CE principles and benefits to both individuals and businesses, enhancing waste governance that fosters CE principles through effective legal measures, fostering collaboration among stakeholders, and introducing incentives to encourage active participation in waste circularity.

Too good to waste: Examining circular economy opportunities, barriers, and indicators for sustainable construction and demolition waste management

There is a significant deficiency in addressing the unique characteristics of construction and demolition waste (C&DW) in the United Kingdom (UK) as it remains the primary contributor to landfills. Circular economy (CE) practices are explored to address this risk and shortfall in waste management practices and comprehend waste reduction strategies for C&DW. Using a Fuzzy Delphi approach, this study maps and assesses the uncertainties associated with identifying indicators and ranked CE adoption barriers to achieve agreement with twelve respondents. Consensus was also achieved for C&DW measurement indicators. Concurrently, eleven separate interviews were conducted to understand CE's effectiveness in improving construction waste management. The results indicated that the most significant barrier was inefficient recycling policies to ensure high-quality recycled materials. The findings underscore that the influence of design, managerial, and legal barriers surpasses that of social, knowledge, and culture. Despite interviews highlighting a focus on recycling, reusing, and reducing raw materials, deeply established tendencies that prioritise linear economic models exist widely, and resource conservation is less considered. This study provides concrete CE implementation strategies for responsible consumption and production, assesses the challenges associated with CE adoption, and offers 25 industry-specific indicators for measuring C&DW CE implementation.

Current Challenges and Opportunities for Circular Economy in the Beauty Industry. A Bibliometric Analysis

Abstract The beauty industry contributes not only to the pollution of the environment, because of the improper disposal of packaging, but to the users’ health as well, due to the harmful ingredients, which are used to mass-produce beauty and personal care products. Although sustainability has become an imperative worldwide, this industry still fails to adhere to such norms if we pay attention to the large volumes of plastic and the exaggerated impulse to buy without actually needing, which is a behavior driven by actual consumerism. This paper aims to disclose the current state of research in the academic field of circular economy in the beauty industry, by investigating the contributing authors, organizations and countries and the networks created until now, as a stepping stone for future research. By performing a bibliometric analysis using the VOSviewer software, it was found out that the current literature is not very rich in publications on the integration of circular economy in the beauty sector, mainly because the topic started to be of interest in the recent years with the most productive publication year being 2022. Our research shows that authors from countries like India, China, Indonesia, Italy and the United States have contributed to the literature by touching topics revolving around sustainability in cosmetics and beauty products and innovations regarding a clean development of such products. However, the theme of circular economy in the creation of a clean and safe beauty industry still needs attention from academics in order to fully attain sustainable development goals.

Implementation of circular economy principles to promote the development of rural areas

The relevance of the study lies in identifying and explaining the impact of implementing circular economy technologies on the development of rural areas within the framework of the state strategy for regional development in Ukraine, thereby contributing to ensuring the socio-economic stability of communities and the overall security of the country. The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of utilising circular economy opportunities on the development of rural territories. The abstract-logical method was employed to substantiate the research methodology and formulate theoretical conclusions. The analytical and comparative methods was utilised to organise researchers' scientific approaches to theoretical aspects of circular economy development, refine the methodological basis, and substantiate the applicability of circular economy principles in rural development. The research utilised a graphical method to illustrate the findings and an abstract-logical approach to draw conclusions and recommendations. The study was divided into three main stages. The literature on the contemporary definition of "circular economy" was examined, and the driving forces and barriers to systemic circular economy in rural areas were analysed. The study investigated how European Union countries apply strategies to address environmental and economic issues through the lens of circular economy. The analysis of the experience in implementing circular economy practices in EU countries revealed a clear trend towards more sustainable resource utilisation and reduced environmental impact. The implementation of the "Farm to Fork" strategy under the European Green Deal is a crucial step towards ensuring sustainable resource use and implementing environmentally friendly practices in agriculture and the food industry. An assessment of the impact of implementing circular economy on the socio-economic development of rural areas was conducted, indicating that the development of circular models can be key to optimising resource utilisation, creating new employment opportunities, improving production efficiency, and increasing the profitability of agricultural enterprises. The implementation of circular methods in agriculture can reduce resource costs and provide more stable conditions for development. The results can be beneficial for government bodies, local administrations, agricultural enterprises, and cooperatives in Ukraine striving to achieve sustainable development of rural territories through the implementation of circular approaches in the economy.

Cultivating Sustainable Construction: Stakeholder Insights Driving Circular Economy Innovation for Inclusive Resource Equity

Due to its intricate production processes, complex supply chains, and industry-specific characteristics, the construction industry faces unique challenges in adopting circular economy (CE) principles that promote resource equity. To address this issue, this study aims to delve into identifying stakeholders’ opinions and perceptions regarding key CE strategies across different stages of the building life cycle (BLC). Both European and non-European stakeholders within the “CircularB” COST Action network and beyond participated in this research. Three methods were employed to assess stakeholders’ opinions: an online survey, a structured survey with a semi-guided workshop, and creative thinking round table discussions. Natural language processing (NLP), specifically topic modelling and sentiment analysis, was used to analyse the data collected from the online survey, which gathered text-based opinions from 209 participants on the cost-benefit aspects of circularity strategies. The structured survey, which collected data from 43 workshop participants, evaluated the perceived importance of CE strategies across various BLC phases and assessed the adoption of selected CE strategies in current or past projects. Finally, the Six Thinking Hats® activity, employed in the round table discussions, generated ideas from 25 professionals regarding the broader implementation challenges and opportunities of CE in construction. The research findings highlight the need to bridge the gap between theory and practice by fostering active industry stakeholder involvement in the transition to a CE model. The analyses of the collected stakeholder opinions through the three activities contribute to proactive and collaborative efforts aimed at advancing resource equity in the construction sector and promoting just and inclusive resource use. In summary, this research offers a comprehensive understanding of stakeholders’ opinions on CE strategies and provides guidance for the development of targeted policies and strategies to accelerate the integration of CE principles in the construction industry.

Electronic Waste Problem in Developing Nations: Mismanagement, Health Implications, and Circular Economy Opportunities

Introduction: Electronic waste (e-waste) has emerged as a global concern due to the exponential growth in electronic consumption and inadequate disposal practices, specifically in developing countries. Among the various dimensions of this problem, the contamination of soil with e-waste has garnered significant attention, owing to its profound implications for environmental integrity and human health. Discussion: The soil contamination leads to diverse ecological repercussions, encompassing disruptions in the cycling of nutrients and biodiversity, as well as the potential for contaminants to accumulate in the food chain. Effective management strategies are imperative to address this multifaceted challenge, the implementation of governmental regulations, the adoption of sustainable e-waste recycling practices, and the raising of public awareness campaigns. The circular economy holds great potential for addressing the environmental and economic challenges. To build a more resilient and eco-friendly urban future, collaborative solutions are necessary to address infrastructural, policy, and awareness issues. In many circumstances, waste management is not primarily the government's duty. Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and the business sector actively participate in trash management efforts through public education events and charity initiatives. This significant revolution has the potential to meaningfully advance smart city development through the use of technology-driven initiatives. Conclusion: By proactively addressing and reducing e-waste contamination in soil, we can mitigate the effects of environmental hazards and safeguard human health from the negative consequences associated with this burgeoning predicament.

The potentials and opportunities of circular economy in Albania

The potentials and opportunities of circular economy in Albania

Sustainable Value Roadmap for the Plastics Industry

The plastics industry has revolutionized several sectors, from packaging to automotive, enabling companies to develop innovative products and enhance their economic competitiveness. However, the exponential growth of this industry has also resulted in a concerning increase in plastic waste, leading to environmental repercussions such as microplastic contamination, marine pollution and plastic landfills. Therefore, researchers, governments, and industrial stakeholders are starting to work collaboratively to address this sustainability issue by adopting a life cycle perspective. Nevertheless, plastic waste generation is not slowing down, and waste management strategies, along with other actions across the value chain, need to be improved. While limiting single-use plastics and promoting sustainable consumer practices is crucial, these measures alone may not be sufficient. Figuring out how to maximize products and materials' lifespan by exploring circular economy opportunities is just as important as minimizing global consumption. This research explores the challenges and opportunities faced by the plastics industry and draws a prototype roadmap to identify sustainable business opportunities and routes of implementation. It builds on previous works on sustainable value roadmapping by defining a vision, identifying drives, highlighting business opportunities and discussing enablers. Results systematize and expand opportunities and challenges identified in scientific literature and industrial reports whilst clearly outlining a vision.

Mapping the end-of-life of chemicals for circular economy opportunities

Material flow analysis of chemicals in the United States highlights low recycling rates, substantial climate change and human health impacts, and the potential for a circular economy to reduce waste and drive sustainability in the chemical industry.

The pathway towards circular economy: Measuring circular advantage of eco‐innovations

AbstractEco‐Innovation (EI) emerges as an enabler of Circular Economy (CE). A shift to the CE is a powerful opportunity for companies to create significant financial and economic value for business and society: the so‐called “circular advantage”. Companies have a crucial role as accelerators of the CE transition, although the identification and exploitation of CE opportunities that derive from trasformative EI being essential. With the aim to develop a multidimensional and multi‐actor approach to innovation in CE the present paper proposes an integrated Multi‐Criteria Decision‐Making (MCDM) method based on fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) and Interval‐Valued Triangular Fuzzy Numbers Additive Ratio ASsessment (IVTFN‐ARAS). The proposed method is conceived as a tool to evaluate the ability of Eco‐Innovative solutions to trigger company adoption of CE business models, the exploitation of disruptive technologies, and the enforcement of dynamic capabilities, which are all recognized as drivers of CE advantage. An illustrative application to a set of EU‐funded Eco‐Innovative projects is presented to clarify how the method works in practice. Discussion and suggestions for future research offer guidance to use the method as a policy‐making instrument.

Does circular economy entrepreneurship drive technical capabilities for circular economy performance? The moderating role of environmental dynamism

Purpose Drawing on the resource-based view (RBV) and the dynamic capabilities view (DCV), this study investigates how circular economy entrepreneurship (CEE) drives technical capabilities (TC) in achieving greater circular economy (CE) performance for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) under the moderating influence of environmental dynamism. SMEs, facing resource constraints, need to promote CE due to growing stakeholder pressures. Thus, the authors recommend that SMEs via CEE can identify CE opportunities and then develop specific TC to exploit opportunities in the business environment to achieve CE performance. However, in doing so SMEs should pay attention to the varying degrees of environmental dynamism.Design/methodology/approach The RBV and DCV are used as a theoretical lens to investigate the direct and moderation effects between CEE, TC, CE performance and environmental dynamism tested via partial least square structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) using survey data from 152 managers of SMEs in Nepal.Findings The study results show that CEE directly has a positive and significant effect on the development of TC and CE performance. Similarly, the development of TC drives SMEs to achieve improved CE performance, as evidenced by the positive and significant effect. Interestingly, the results suggest that environmental dynamism significantly improves the relationship between TC and CE performance, but this effect is strongest at high levels of environmental dynamism rather than at low and moderate levels. Additionally, the findings reveal that while environmental dynamism has a positive effect on the relationship between CEE and TC, this effect is insignificant.Originality/value Based on the arguments of the RBV and the DCV, this study explores how environmental dynamism can reduce and amplify SMEs' ability to use CEE to develop TC and improve CEP. First, this study integrates the circular economy and entrepreneurship domains to suggest essential CEP and TC benefits for SMEs via CEE. Second, this study suggests that at low levels of environmental dynamism, CEE has less effect on the SMEs’ development of TC, compared to high levels. Third, this study is conducted in the novel institutional context of Nepal, providing insights regarding how SMEs' CE entrepreneurship impacts TC and CEP.

Sustainability and Operational Excellence opportunities with Industry 4.0, Lean and Circular Economy

We are delighted to present this comprehensive editorial note summarizing the seven papers published in response to our Call for Papers on "When Titans Meet – Industry 4.0, Lean, and Circular Economy opportunities towards operational excellence and sustainability." This special issue aimed to explore the convergence of Industry 4.0 (I4.0), Lean Management (LM), and Circular Economy (CE) practices and their implications for achieving sustainability in various domains. The papers selected for this special issue provide valuable insights into this evolving field. [...]

Biomaterials and Regenerative Agriculture: A Methodological Framework to Enable Circular Transitions

Biomaterials, used here to signify 100% biobased and biodegradable materials, can offer a promising solution for transitioning away from fossil-based resources, addressing the climate crisis, and combating plastic pollution. To ensure their environmental benefits, biomaterials must derive from regenerative, non-polluting feedstocks that do not compete with food or feed production. From this perspective, agricultural residues and by-products present a favorable feedstock option for biomaterials production. Although this is an improvement over sourcing them from primary crops, the sustainability of underlying agricultural systems must be considered. Furthermore, the nutrient value of biomaterials for specific soil ecosystems is often overlooked despite their compostability. In this research, we investigate the linkages between biomaterials development and regenerative agriculture, a set of farming practices that can effectively sustain the growing human population while enhancing, rather than degrading, ecosystem health. We explore interdependencies between biomaterials’ production and regenerative agriculture for biomass sourcing and nutrient return and suggest a methodological framework to identify mutual benefits. The extent to which regenerative farms can provide biomaterial feedstocks without compromising crop cultivation and ecosystem health is analyzed together with the potential of biomaterials to deliver beneficial nutrients and services to regenerative systems. Applying this framework to the Great Lakes Region, Michigan, USA, an agricultural hub facing environmental degradation and plastic pollution, reveals synergistic linkages that unlock novel circular economy opportunities, including local production of renewable biomaterials for various applications, enhancing food security and bolstering socio-ecological systems.

Mapping circular economy principles and servitisation approach in business model canvas: an integrated literature review

It is a common perception that circular economy (CE) principles positively influence the servitisation strategy. The firms improve their productivity and resource/energy efficiency by engineering functional efficacy in a sustainable product. However, the managerial practices that support this distinctive business model (BM) are relatively sparse despite their liaisons. Therefore, this paper is focused on addressing this gap by investigating the managerial practices that firms can implement to explore the downstream opportunities of CE and servitisation BM. This paper uses a systematic literature review (SLR) approach to frame a theoretical model. The findings were improved by cross-validation using a text mining technique, demonstrating how organisations may co-create and extract value through CE and servitisation to develop a flexible management system. This study used the business model canvas antecedents to map a set of managerial practices to understand the mythography of the servitisation approach with CE principles. The findings show that identifying key stakeholders assists a firm in selecting an appropriate strategy based on sustainable value propositions that include cost structure and revenue streams to close the resource loop. Managerial commitment is critical in achieving the maximum economic, environmental, and societal potential. A few research agendas with distinct research orientations are proposed to mitigate the significant research gaps in CE and servitisation literature. This study provides managers and practitioners with some intriguing insights as it emphasises the need to select a suitable strategy to utilise a firm's resources successfully.

A call for a fashion pact: challenges and opportunities for circular economy in the brazilian fashion industry

A call for a fashion pact: challenges and opportunities for circular economy in the brazilian fashion industry

Sustainable bioconversion of synthetic plastic wastes to polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) bioplastics: recent advances and challenges

Millions of tons of chemical plastics are accumulated annually worldwide in terrestrial and marine environments due to inadequate recycling plants and facilities and low circular use. Their continuous accumulation and contamination of soil and water pose a severe threat to the environment and to human, animal and plant health. There is therefore an urgent need to develop effective eco-environmental strategies to overcome the significant environmental impacts of traditional plastic waste management practises (incineration, landfilling, and recycling). In recent years, reports on microbial strains equipped with the potential of degrading plastic materials, which can further be converted into usable products such as PHA bioplastics have sprung up, and these offer a possibility to develop microbial and enzymatic technologies for plastic waste treatment and then progressing plastics circularity. In this chapter, an overview of the reported microbial and enzymatic degradations of petroleum-based synthetic plastics, specifically polyethylene, polystyrene, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, polyurethane and polyethylene terephthalate, is detailed. Furthermore, the harvesting of depolymerization products to produce new PHA materials with high added industrial value can be considered as an innovative solution, helping to increase synthetic plastic recycling rate and creating new circular economy opportunities. Finally, the challenge of ending plastic pollution is still difficult, but sustainable, renewable, bio-based and completely biodegradable, PHA will hold enormous promise for replacing plastics made from petrochemicals.

The circular economy of electric vehicle batteries: a Finnish case study

AbstractThe automotive industry faces challenges because of the electrification of vehicles and the rapidly increasing need for electric vehicle batteries (EVBs). Raw materials availability is limited; however, there will also be a significant number of end-of-life (EOL) batteries. This creates various circular economy (CE) business opportunities for EVB manufacturers, third-party providers, and other stakeholders. However, not all CE solutions are sustainable or economically feasible. In this study, through the use of case studies, expert interviews, and a survey, we determined the current state of the EVB CE in Finland, the possible options for utilizing EOL vehicle batteries, and the greatest barriers for the EVB CE. We found that some EVB-related CE applications are not supported by the government and legislation, for example environmental regulations and building standards. CE opportunities include a shorter lead time for some components, which makes them attractive for EOL applications.

Evaluation of the Use of a Material with Struvite from a Wastewater Treatment Plant as N Fertilizer in Acid and Basic Agricultural Soils

Struvite (MgNH4PO4 ∙ 6H2O) has been widely studied as an emerging recycled phosphorous fertilizer despite its low solubility. However, there are few studies on the use of this mineral as an N fertilizer. This article evaluates the use of two powder struvite-containing materials from wastewater treatment as an N fertilizer in agricultural soils. A 9-week soil incubation experiment was conducted to compare the effectiveness of this mineral as an N fertilizer in two soils with different pH values (8.2 and 6.7), using two different doses and a control soil. The use of these materials has a positive effect on soil fertility, especially in acidic soils where struvite seems to be more soluble. Thus, struvite can be a potential N fertilizer for agricultural soils and can promote circular economy opportunities for the wastewater industry, especially in acid soils (concentrations of mineral N between 453–339 mg/kg were obtained in the mixtures with acid soil, and values between 408–212 mg/kg in the mixtures with the basic soil after 6 weeks of soil incubation). However, associated with this process, an increase in soil salt content was observed (EC values reaching 3.9 dS/cm in mixtures with the acid soil and 2.8 dS/cm in the mixtures with the basic soil after nine weeks of soil incubation). Therefore, this parameter should be controlled in the case of continuous applications of the amendments, especially in conditions of poor drainage and/or non-percolating water regime, since it can be a limiting factor in crop development. These processes should be studied in detail in the future considering that the N soil cycle has a significant impact on soil chemistry and fertility and on the soil microbiological community.

The green circularity: Life cycle assessments for the space industry

The rapid growth of the global space industry opens the door to an increasing volume and variety of space activities at the same time that companies are increasingly recognizing the value of environmentally responsible business practices. The environmental impacts of space activities are particularly challenging to understand and address given their complexity and distribution across different domains and industries. Multiple key areas still suffer from a lack of research, leaving critical knowledge gaps. Environmental life cycle assessments (E-LCAs) are one tool that can be applied to understand the space sector's cradle-to-grave impacts across space and terrestrial environments. Specifically, an E-LCA can identify circular economy opportunities to reduce waste and pollution by quantifying the environmental impacts of space missions or systems over their entire life cycle.11“Life cycle” as a term is in a state of flux. ISO standardized this term as two words. However, in the United States, this term is still often a single word: “lifecycle.”This paper provides an overview of environmental and sustainability trends and offers options for the U.S. government, and Department of Defense (DOD) in particular, to consider and adopt E-LCAs in space acquisitions. As both DOD and civilian spacefaring agencies seek reduced environmental footprints, E-LCAs can motivate the space industry to improve designs, practices, and realize operational and economic efficiencies.Additionally, the U.S. government is in a strong position, as a large and influential buyer of space systems, to support the harmonization of E-LCA methodologies and frameworks with international partners. Such efforts could catalyze a sustainable space industry while building transparency and trust for all stakeholders.