Drivers for circular economy development: making businesses more environmentally friendly

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Business Strategy
• Sustainable Development

Background:

• Growing pressure from stakeholders for environmentally friendly business solutions.
• The Circular Economy (CE) presents a promising alternative to traditional linear models.
• Companies are actively seeking strategies to mitigate the negative impacts of their operations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify and present key drivers for organizational transition from a linear economic model to a Circular Economy.
• To provide a framework for businesses aiming for greater sustainability.
• To contribute to the academic understanding of CE implementation.

Main Methods:

• Content analysis of 30 scientific articles on Circular Economy.
• Qualitative data interpretation to identify, cluster, and systematize themes.
• Systematization of 19 identified key CE elements into four overarching drivers.

Main Results:

• Identification of 19 key elements crucial for CE implementation.
• Grouping of these elements into four main drivers: decision-making, capacity and training, sustainable practices, and green supply chain.
• A structured framework for advancing CE research and practice.

Conclusions:

• The proposed drivers offer a roadmap for managers to implement greener practices.
• Successful CE transition can lead to improved organizational performance and positive environmental and social impact.
• This research advances the body of knowledge on Circular Economy, providing a basis for future studies.