Data quality as an antecedent for commercial viability of circular economy business models: a case study

The competitiveness of rural SMEs is low due to economic inefficiency and the lack of innovations. The main challenges faced by rural SMEs are the limited scale, the distance form larger sales markets, R&D and business support institutions, and the lack of innovative spirit. The circular and bio-economies are shaping the rural SMEs towards the environmentally friendly and eco-efficient production, the minimization of the generation of waste and less use of natural resources. This potential of the adoption of new business models within rural SMEs is not fully observed.The aim of this research is to analyse the opportunities of rural SMEs in introducing the innovative business models driven by the circular economy. This research explores the innovative business models of rural SMEs that transform the environmental challenges in business opportunities and keep a balance with the growing consumption needs. The results of the research are of both theoretical and practical value, providing recommendations for facilitation of innovative business models within rural SMEs. The research methods: desk research, statistical analysis, a grounded theory approach, case study, primary data gathering through seven focus groups with more than 200 stakeholders from six European countries.

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Circular Economy Model: Insights from a Case Study in South Italy

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su12083466 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (8) ◽

pp. 3466 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Nadia Palmieri ◽

Alessandro Suardi ◽

Vincenzo Alfano ◽

Luigi Pari

Keyword(s):

Power Plant ◽

Environmental Sustainability ◽

Circular Economy ◽

Business Models ◽

Ghg Emissions ◽

Value Added ◽

Economic Evaluations ◽

South Italy ◽

New Business

This study aims to analyze the economic and environmental sustainability of a case study of an energy power plant that produces electricity from pruning residues of olive groves from nine municipalities in southern Italy. To assess the economic sustainability of the agro-energetic chain, the profitability and efficiency ratios are calculated. Moreover, the GHG emissions of the agro-energetic pruning supply chain due to both the pruning collection at the field level, and their combustion for energy production at the power plant, are calculated. To put together the environmental and economic evaluations, the ecoefficiency ratio was calculated to measure the value added per 1Mg of GHG emitted into the atmosphere. The findings show the whole agro-energetic chain, namely the power plant and the collection company have both a good return on owner’s equity (ROE) ratio (15.89% and 31.48%, respectively) and ROI ratio (4.34% and 6.14% respectively). Moreover, the power plant’s ecoefficiency ratio (2.64€ per 1Mg of GHG) is slightly lower than harvest firm one (2.91€ per 1Mg of GHG). The findings could be useful to develop new business models based on the circular economy concept. In fact, the business model proposed could push entrepreneurs towards new income opportunities, at the same time, helping local farms and reducing the environmental impacts.

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Serious Games in Secondary Education to Introduce Circular Economy: Experiences With the Game EcoCEO

Frontiers in Sustainability ◽

10.3389/frsus.2021.690232 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 2 ◽

Author(s):

Julie Roba ◽

Tom Kuppens ◽

Lise Janssens ◽

Anse Smeets ◽

Saskia Manshoven ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Secondary Education ◽

Circular Economy ◽

Serious Games ◽

Business Models ◽

Resource Scarcity ◽

Difficulty Level ◽

Upper Secondary Education ◽

Upper Secondary ◽

Material Scarcity

The concept of the circular economy is being proposed as an alternative for the current linear economy. However, little research has been done on how to integrate this topic within education. Serious games are suggested as an appropriate way to create awareness about and stimulate behavioral change toward sustainable development. Therefore, the serious game ecoCEO has been developed to introduce the circular economy concept within upper secondary education. The game's intention is to introduce students to the challenge of resource scarcity, circular product design, sustainable entrepreneurship and circular business models. EcoCEO has been tested among 42 students, whose written reflections were qualitatively examined. EcoCEO appears successful, at least partially, in contrasting the circular economy with the linear economy and in conveying relevant concepts such as recycling and reuse. EcoCEO also illustrates the importance of the circular economy within the context of material scarcity. Moreover, most students in our case study seem to have a good impression of the role and responsibilities of a (sustainable) entrepreneur. Despite its difficulty level, the majority of the students reported having fun while playing ecoCEO.

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Circular Business Model Transformation: A Roadmap for Incumbent Firms

California Management Review ◽

10.1177/0008125618811926 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 61 (2) ◽

pp. 5-29 ◽

Cited By ~ 21

Author(s):

Johan Frishammar ◽

Vinit Parida

Keyword(s):

Business Model ◽

Circular Economy ◽

Model Transformation ◽

Business Models ◽

Multiple Case Study ◽

Manufacturing Firms ◽

Social Benefits ◽

Business Practices ◽

Multiple Case

To achieve positive economic, environmental, and social benefits, many incumbent manufacturing firms attempt to apply circular economy principles to their business practices. However, these firms often struggle to change their existing linear business models to circular models because the steps required for successful transformation are still poorly understood. Based on a multiple case study of eight business model transformation journeys, this article proposes a roadmap for circular business model transformation. It provides a step-by-step process to enable circular transition, allowing companies to meet environmental, social, and financial objectives and proactively address sustainability.

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The role of digital technologies to overcome Circular Economy challenges in PSS Business Models: an exploratory case study

Procedia CIRP ◽

10.1016/j.procir.2018.03.322 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 73 ◽

pp. 216-221 ◽

Cited By ~ 24

Author(s):

Gianmarco Bressanelli ◽

Federico Adrodegari ◽

Marco Perona ◽

Nicola Saccani

Keyword(s):

Circular Economy ◽

Business Models ◽

Digital Technologies ◽

Exploratory Case Study

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Toward circular economy of fashion

Journal of Fashion Marketing and Management ◽

10.1108/jfmm-04-2018-0059 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 23 (3) ◽

pp. 345-365 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Kerli Kant Hvass ◽

Esben Rahbek Gjerdrum Pedersen

Keyword(s):

Circular Economy ◽

Business Models ◽

Single Case ◽

Actual Process ◽

Content Type ◽

Fashion Brand ◽

Take Back ◽

Store Product ◽

Multiple Challenges

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the challenges and solutions emerging when fashion brands develop and test circular economy solutions within their existing business models. Design/methodology/approach The paper is based on a 34-month case study in a global fashion brand, which launched a new in-store product take-back initiative. Findings The results indicate that fashion brands need to cope with multiple challenges in the process of developing circular business models in the organization, including: diverging perspectives of value and unclear success criteria, poor alignment with existing strategy, limited internal skills and competences, and limited consumer interest. Research limitations/implications The results of this paper are grounded in a single case study and thus limitations associated with broad generalizations apply. In addition, the paper only investigated one aspect of circularity, namely, product take-back and did not investigate design for circularity, product reuse, recycle and other circularity related issues. Originality/value The findings derive from practical experiences of a fashion brand implementing an in-store product take-back system in the existing business model. The study reveals new insights into the actual process of making circular fashion operable.

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Drivers to implement the circular economy in born-sustainable business models: a case study in the fashion industry

Revista de Gestão ◽

10.1108/rege-03-2020-0017 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽

Author(s):

Cristina M. Ostermann ◽

Leandro da Silva Nascimento ◽

Fernanda Kalil Steinbruch ◽

Daniela Callegaro-de-Menezes

Keyword(s):

Circular Economy ◽

Quantitative Research ◽

Business Models ◽

Fashion Industry ◽

Sustainable Business ◽

Content Type ◽

Theoretical Scheme ◽

Available Technology ◽

Internal Drivers

PurposeThis study aims to identify the drivers for adopting the circular economy (CE) in a born-sustainable business of the fashion sector.Design/methodology/approachAn exploratory case study was carried out with a unique and relevant case: the only Brazilian company implementing circularity practices defined through a sectoral commitment, the 2020 Circular Fashion System Commitment.FindingsFrom an analysis of the literature, a theoretical scheme composed of internal and external drivers is proposed. In the case studied, there is a prevalence of internal drivers that led the company to implement the CE. Most of the internal drivers described by the literature were identified in this research, except for two: profitability and available technology. Regarding the external drivers, of the 12 listed, only laws and regulations were identified. Thus, the results suggest that internal drivers are more numerous and may be more prominent than external ones for CE adoption in the born-sustainable business.Research limitations/implicationsDue to its exploratory design and unique case study, the research does not allow generalizations, suggesting replication with a larger number of companies and carrying out quantitative research with born-sustainable companies and incumbent companies, for comparison. Considering that there is a difference between companies that decide for sustainable practices and companies that were already born sustainable, it can be questioned if the drivers for implementing CE for both companies are also different.Originality/valueThis study proposes a theoretical scheme that indicates the main internal and external drivers for companies' CE implementation. Developed from a literature review and applied in an empirical case, this scheme is comprehensive and can be adopted to analyze companies of different sizes and industries. Hence, this paper generates new perspectives for CE literature.

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Economic justification for the implementation of a circular economy

Economics ecology socium ◽

10.31520/2616-7107/2020.4.4-3 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 4 (4) ◽

pp. 16-27

Author(s):

Dzintra Atstāja ◽

Elīna Spāde

Keyword(s):

Business Model ◽

Circular Economy ◽

Theoretical Basis ◽

Business Models ◽

Investment Projects ◽

Company Value ◽

Business Operations ◽

Economic Justification ◽

The Impact

Introduction. This case study examines the economic justification for the implementation of a circular economy. The case study is structured in 2 parts. The first part describes the principles of circular economy and business models, covering the theoretical basis of this study. The theoretical basis includes a description of the principles of circular economy and the possible implementation of these principles in business operations. The second part evaluates the impact of the introduction of circular economy principles and business model on the company's financial performance and company value. The methods used are economic evaluation and investment decision methods and financial analysis, modeling and forecasting. The limitations are the research based on one company and the fact that the financial statement for 2019 was not submitted at the time of writing; however the results obtained are applicable to other companies and industries. The principles of circular economics and business models described in this case study can serve as a example for companies considering implementing the principles of circular economy in business operations. Aim and tasks. The purpose of the study is to determine what the principles of circular economy are, how to implement them in business and how their implementation affects business results and company value. Following tasks have been defined in order to achieve the aim: describe the principles of circular economy, business and financing models; to analyze the business models of the circular economy in Latvia and in the world and to evaluate the impact of the implementation of the principles of circular economy and business model on the company's financial indicators and the company's value. Results. Evaluating the investments made by the company AS “Cēsu Alus” and the planned investment projects related to the modernization of production equipment and improvement of efficiency, it can be concluded that the implementation of circular economy investment projects will be profitable. The company has opportunities to continue the investment project program; moreover, based on the experience of similar companies studied, AS “Cēsu Alus” can create additional revenue streams for the company when adopting circular economy principles. Conclusions. Investing the company's funds in investment projects designed to improve the company's efficiency, ensuring resource savings and efficient use, which in turn leads to financial savings, the company's value increases significantly, thus concluding that circular economy investment projects that save resources and improve the efficiency of the company will make the greatest contribution to increasing the value of the company.

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