Transition to the Circular Economy

2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 33-53
Author(s):  
Ron Schipper ◽  
Gilbert Silvius
Keyword(s):  
Circular Economy ◽  
Business Models ◽  
Research Question ◽  
Program Management ◽  
Strategy Implementation ◽  
System Thinking ◽  
Sense Making ◽  
Conceptual Mapping ◽  
Systemic Transformation ◽  
Multiple Levels

Programmes are seen as vehicles for (internal) strategy implementation. However, organisations are existing within society, and their activities effect this society. Society itself also faces ‘strategic' challenges. One of these is the transition to a circular economy which requires organisations to organize themselves along circular business models (CBM). It can be expected that organisations would apply program management to pursue these CBM. A systemic transformation approach distinguishes multiple societal levels that need to evolve jointly over time. The research question is how this would influence the program management discipline. Therefore, a conceptual mapping of the circular economy and program management was performed. The findings reveal that taking a societal view on programs would urge PgM to address this challenge at multiple levels, within multi-dimensions and a system thinking perspective. It requires to position programs between the stakeholders at the meso-level and adopt to an explicit sense-making and learning cycle benefiting from short iterative interventions.

Going in circles: new business models for efficiency and value

2019 ◽  
Vol 40 (4) ◽  
pp. 36-43 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ana Beatriz Lopes de Sousa Jabbour
Keyword(s):  
Circular Economy ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Business Models ◽  
Business Case ◽  
Content Type ◽  
New Business ◽  
Key Issues ◽  
Conceptual Paper ◽  
Multiple Levels ◽  
New Business Models

Purpose This paper aims to explain what managers will want to know about the circular economy by covering some of the key issues and discussing an approach which may help organisations to move towards the circular economy. Design/methodology/approach This is a conceptual paper, which blends theory and hard facts to achieve its aims. Findings This paper presents a framework which uses multiple levels of analysis to explain how organisations can prepare for and implement circular economy practices. Originality/value This paper makes relevant contributions for both academics and practitioners by providing essential practical guidance on the “what”, “how” and “why” of the circular economy, which can help managers to plan and implement a convincing business case for this sustainable approach.

Digitisation and Sustainable Development: The Opportunities and Risks of Using Digital Technologies for the Implementation of a Circular Economy

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 17-23
Author(s):  
Benjamin Kottmeyer
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Circular Economy ◽  
Business Models ◽  
Research Question ◽  
Digital Technologies ◽  
Theory And Practice ◽  
Social Outcomes ◽  
Social Progress ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Critical Social

Digitisation is developing a transformational potential that is profoundly changing people, our societies and the planet. Like any major societal transformation, it offers both, significant opportunities for progress and significant risks with harmful consequences for societies. This paper, therefore, addresses the question: ‘What are the critical social outcomes and concerns flowing from the advances in digitisation on our work environment?’ To discuss the broad research question in sufficient depth, this paper focuses not only on specific critical social outcomes of digitisation but also on how some of them can be mitigated by combining digital tools with the concept of a circular economy (representing the abstract idea of sustainable development). The implementation of blockchain technologies and new business models shows that digital technologies have the potential to close the realisation gap between theory and practice of the circular economy concept by enhancing the information flow and the communication between stakeholders in the value chain. Nonetheless, the implementation of these technologies also entails social and economic risks, such as power abuse or regulatory arbitrage, which should be considered in advance. To avoid jeopardising digital innovations, future research should therefore develop a more holistic and interdisciplinary understanding of the complex interactions to exploit the potential of digitisation for social progress.

Robustness in the Business Models of the Organizations Embedded in the Circular Economy

2020 ◽  
pp. 19-53
Author(s):  
Adam Jabłoński
Keyword(s):  
Business Model ◽  
Circular Economy ◽  
High Performance ◽  
Business Models ◽  
Research Question ◽  
Business Continuity ◽  
Decision Making Processes ◽  
Short And Long Term

The dynamics of ongoing market changes require a new look at business management mechanisms. Often the key element of the organization's operation is to ensure business continuity, which is not easy. This requires strong embeddedness in the decision-making processes resulting from the properly built business model of the organization. A business model becomes a crucial determinant of the organizational success today. The aim of the chapter is to present the place and role of robustness in shaping the business models of organizations embedded in the circular economy. The scope of the chapter includes studies of listed companies that implement the principles of responsible business to ensure their robustness in the short and long term. In the chapter, the author poses a research question: Can the skillful use of the concept of business model robustness in circular economy companies guarantee the organization's ability to ensure business continuity and its high performance?

scholarly journals Intesa Sanpaolo Circular Economy Plafond: how to Support Companies’ Transformation

2020 ◽  
pp. 117
Author(s):  
Anna Monticelli
Keyword(s):  
Financial Institutions ◽  
Circular Economy ◽  
Business Models ◽  
Industrial Revolution ◽  
Development Model ◽  
Business And Society ◽  
New Paradigm ◽  
Doing Business ◽  
The People ◽  
Systemic Transformation

The present development model, born with the industrial revolution, has been extremely successful in supporting growth, innovation, wealth for hundreds of years. But not for all the Countries and not for all the people, in an equal way. A new paradigm is envisaged to transform the development model through an economy that follows the same principles used by the Nature and that aims to reconnect business and society. A Circular Economy, regenerative by design and committed to design out waste and pollution, through innovation in materials, in production processes and moreover in business models, is a big opportunity for companies and financial institutions, if they transform the way they’re doing business. Intesa Sanpaolo is committed in re-thinking financial instruments and processes to support companies and accelerate a systemic transformation, within the limits of our Planet, focusing on thrive for all more than on growth for someone.

scholarly journals Abfallwirtschaftliche Geschäftsmodelle für Textilien in der Circular Economy

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rebecca Niebler
Keyword(s):  
Waste Management ◽  
Circular Economy ◽  
Business Models ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
Research Question ◽  
Work Conditions ◽  
Macro Level ◽  
Actual State ◽  
Design Guideline ◽  
Framework Conditions

This master thesis explores the challenges for waste management business models in the field of textiles regarding the requirements of the circular economy, as well as improvement potentials in the current framework conditions. It is concerned with the research question: "Is it advisable to change the frame-work conditions at meso or macro level, with regard to business models for waste management companies in the textile sector that are oriented towards the requirements of the circular economy, and - if so - in what way?” The approach of the study is based on the delta analysis of the e Society for Institutional Analysis at the Darmstadt University of Applied Sciences. It compares the target state of the normative requirements with the actual state of the textile and waste management framework conditions and attempts to identify the gaps (the delta). Based on the delta, it develops approaches that are intended to help reduce the gaps. The thesis develops three business models for the target year 2025 in different areas: an exchange platform for sorters, recyclers and designers, an automatic sorting plant and a plant for fibre-to-fibre recycling of mixed materials. It is becoming clear that these business models cannot meet the target requirements for the circular economy. The analysis identifies the remaining gaps in the framework conditions as the main problem. For example, insufficient innovation impulses and the lack of competitiveness of secondary raw materials inhibit the actors from applying and using new technologies and business models. Restricted access to knowledge and information, as well as a lack of transparency between the actors, also prove to be problematic. In order to answer the research question, the study recommends altering the framework conditions at meso and macro level. It proposes a platform for cooperation between designers, the introduction of a material declaration system and an eco-design guideline for textiles as possible development options. In addition, this work offers a matrix of criteria to help the actors test and improve their new waste management business models regarding their suitability for the circular economy. The analysis is carried out from an outsider's perspective on the entire textile industry. It therefore cannot cover and deal with all aspects and individual circumstances of each player in detail. The necessary changes in the framework conditions that have been identified can therefore be used as a basis for further investigations.

Emerging Industrial Revolution: Symbiosis of Industry 4.0 and Circular Economy: The Role of Universities

2020 ◽  
Vol 25 (3) ◽  
pp. 505-525 ◽  
Author(s):  
Seeram Ramakrishna ◽  
Alfred Ngowi ◽  
Henk De Jager ◽  
Bankole O. Awuzie
Keyword(s):  
Economic Growth ◽  
Circular Economy ◽  
Industry 4.0 ◽  
Business Models ◽  
Industrial Revolution ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Fourth Industrial Revolution ◽  
New Jobs

Growing consumerism and population worldwide raises concerns about society’s sustainability aspirations. This has led to calls for concerted efforts to shift from the linear economy to a circular economy (CE), which are gaining momentum globally. CE approaches lead to a zero-waste scenario of economic growth and sustainable development. These approaches are based on semi-scientific and empirical concepts with technologies enabling 3Rs (reduce, reuse, recycle) and 6Rs (reuse, recycle, redesign, remanufacture, reduce, recover). Studies estimate that the transition to a CE would save the world in excess of a trillion dollars annually while creating new jobs, business opportunities and economic growth. The emerging industrial revolution will enhance the symbiotic pursuit of new technologies and CE to transform extant production systems and business models for sustainability. This article examines the trends, availability and readiness of fourth industrial revolution (4IR or industry 4.0) technologies (for example, Internet of Things [IoT], artificial intelligence [AI] and nanotechnology) to support and promote CE transitions within the higher education institutional context. Furthermore, it elucidates the role of universities as living laboratories for experimenting the utility of industry 4.0 technologies in driving the shift towards CE futures. The article concludes that universities should play a pivotal role in engendering CE transitions.

scholarly journals Circular Bioeconomy Business Models to Overcome the Valley of Death. A Systematic Statistical Analysis of Studies and Projects in Emerging Bio-Based Technologies and Trends Linked to the SME Instrument Support

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 1899
Author(s):  
Fabiana Gatto ◽  
Ilaria Re
Keyword(s):  
Circular Economy ◽  
Success Factors ◽  
Business Models ◽  
Raw Materials ◽  
Action Plan ◽  
Future Perspective ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Strategic Orientations ◽  
Start Ups ◽  
Valley Of Death

Reducing the environmental pressure along the products life cycle, increasing efficiency in the consumption of resources and use of renewable raw materials, and shifting the economic system toward a circular and a climate-neutral model represent the heart of the current macro-trends of the European Union (EU) policy agendas. The circular economy and bioeconomy concepts introduced in the EU’s Circular Economy Action Plan and the Bioeconomy Strategy support innovation in rethinking economic systems focusing on market uptaking of greener solutions based on less-intensive resource consumption. In recent decades, industrial research has devoted enormous investments to demonstrate sustainable circular bio-based business models capable of overcoming the “Valley of Death” through alternative strategic orientations of “technological-push” and “market-pull”. The study highlights industrial research’s evolution on bio-based circular business model validation, trends, and topics with particular attention to the empowering capacity of start-ups and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to close the loops in renewable biological use and reduce dependence on fossil fuels. The research methodology involves a bibliographic search based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) approach and the European Innovation Council (EIC) Accelerator Data Hub investigation to understand SMEs’ key success factors and start-ups of the circular bioeconomy sector. Eco and bio-based materials, nutraceuticals, and microalgae represent the most sustainable industry applications, leading to circular bioeconomy business models’ future perspective.

scholarly journals Living lab on sharing and circular economy: The case of Turin

2021 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 146045822098727
Author(s):  
Federico Cuomo ◽  
Nadia Lambiase ◽  
Antonio Castagna
Keyword(s):  
Circular Economy ◽  
Common Ground ◽  
Swot Analysis ◽  
Research Question ◽  
Environmental Benefits ◽  
Production Cycle ◽  
Living Lab ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
Living Labs ◽  
Past Experiences

Cities with their innovative capacity are key places to address critical climate, environmental and health challenges. Urban experimentations, such as Living Labs, can represent a starting point to reintroduce resources into the production cycle and reduce environmental impacts, embracing the paradigm of the circular economy (CE). According to recent studies, Living Labs at a city scale could generate significant environmental benefits, improvements in quality of life and positive impacts on citizens’ health.1 This paper aims at presenting the case of the Torino Living Lab on Sharing and Circular Economy (LLSC) to point out possible future scenarios of urban sustainable policies. The case study is analysed in five sections: (1) the description of the new permanent laboratory proposed by the City of Turin; (2) the past experiences of Living Labs in Turin; (3) the birth of LLSC and the involvement strategy; (4) the introduction of the eight admitted experimentations. In the light of the results collected, the last paragraph (5) came up with the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Treaths (SWOT) analysis in the LLSC. Eventually, it deals with the research question by offering a common ground for global and local policies focused on sustainability and CE.

scholarly journals From Barriers to Enablers: The Role of Organizational Learning in Transitioning SMEs into the Circular Economy

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 1021
Author(s):  
Sara Scipioni ◽  
Meir Russ ◽  
Federico Niccolini
Keyword(s):  
Organizational Learning ◽  
Circular Economy ◽  
Business Models ◽  
Small And Medium Enterprises ◽  
Sustainable Business ◽  
Fine Grained ◽  
Contextual Elements ◽  
Transfer And Retention ◽  
Multi Level ◽  
Medium Enterprises

To contribute to small and medium enterprises’ (SMEs) sustainable transition into the circular economy, the study proposes the activation of organizational learning (OL) processes—denoted here as multi-level knowledge creation, transfer, and retention processes—as a key phase in introducing circular business models (CBMs) at SME and supply chain (SC) level. The research employs a mixed-method approach, using the focus group methodology to identify contextual elements impacting on CBM-related OL processes, and a survey-based evaluation to single out the most frequently used OL processes inside Italian construction SMEs. As a main result, a CBM-oriented OL multi-level model offers a fine-grained understanding of contextual elements acting mutually as barriers and drivers for OL processes, as possible OL dynamics among them. The multi-level culture construct—composed of external stakeholders’, SC stakeholders’, and organizational culture—identify the key element to activate CBM-oriented OL processes. Main implications are related to the identification of cultural, structural, regulatory, and process contextual elements across the external, SC, and organizational levels, and their interrelation with applicable intraorganizational and interorganizational learning processes. The proposed model would contribute to an improved implementation of transitioning into the circular economy utilizing sustainable business models in the construction SMEs.

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