Implementing and Monitoring Circular Business Models: An Analysis of Italian SMEs
Abstract
:1. Introduction
2. Literature Review
- What is the degree of awareness and knowledge about the CE in SMEs?
- Do SMEs attach strategic importance to the CE?
- Which CE practices are applied in SMEs?
- What are the benefits experienced by SMEs from the implementation of CE practices? Additionaly, what is the opinion of SMEs on the potential of the CE?
- What are the barriers to adopting a CE strategy in SMEs?
- Do SMEs use CE-related KPIs to establish corporate and individual targets and to inform stakeholders about the performance achieved?
3. Materials and Methods
Research Protocol
4. Results
4.1. Characteristics of Study Participants
4.2. Knowledge and Awareness of the CE Concept
4.3. Strategic Importance of the CE
4.4. Implementation of CE Practices
- Reuse of packaging and production off-cuts, a practice implemented in 54 companies, with the highest frequency in the manufacturing sector (66.67%) and in small businesses (65.2%);
- Recycle of waste, a process in progress in 50 SMEs, especially in the construction sector (58.33%) and in micro-businesses (57.38%);
- Energy recovery: incineration of residues for energy production, an uncommon operation implemented by only 11 enterprises, none of medium size. A similar result was obtained by Oncioiu et al. [42] for the Romanian context, where only 2.64% of the SMEs investigated had turned waste into energy.
4.5. Benefits and Potential of the CE
4.6. Barriers to the Deployment of a CE
4.7. Use of KPIs to Monitor CE-Related Performance and Transparency towards Stakeholders
5. Discussion
5.1. Need for Information and Training on the CE
5.2. Lack of a Clear Strategic Perspective concerning the CE
- Ensures greater resource efficiency,
- Reduces waste,
- Encourages new sources of revenues,
- Enhances corporate image,
- Strengthens employee loyalty,
- Improves investor interest in the company, and
- Attracts new financial resources.
5.3. Sub-Optimal Exploitation of the Potential of the CE
5.4. Need to Remove Barriers to the Extensive Implementation of a CE
5.5. Need to Rethink CE-Related KPIs and External Reporting
6. Conclusions
6.1. Limitations of This Study
6.2. Directions for Future Research
Author Contributions
Funding
Institutional Review Board Statement
Informed Consent Statement
Data Availability Statement
Acknowledgments
Conflicts of Interest
References
- Geissdoerfer, M.; Savaget, P.; Bocken, N.M.; Hultink, E.J. The Circular Economy—A new sustainability paradigm? J. Clean. Prod. 2017, 143, 757–768. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [Green Version]
- Stahel, W.R. The circular economy. Nat. News 2016, 531, 435. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed] [Green Version]
- Ghisellini, P.; Cialani, C.; Ulgiati, S. A review on circular economy: The expected transition to a balanced interplay of environmental and economic systems. J. Clean. Prod. 2016, 114, 11–32. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Mayer, A.; Haas, W.; Wiedenhofer, D.; Krausmann, F.; Nuss, P.; Blengini, G.A. Measuring progress towards a circular economy: A monitoring framework for economy-wide material loop closing in the EU28. J. Ind. Ecol. 2019, 23, 62–76. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed] [Green Version]
- Gregson, N.; Crang, M.; Fuller, S.; Holmes, H. Interrogating the circular economy: The moral economy of resource recovery in the EU. Econ. Soc. 2015, 44, 218–243. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Ma, S.; Wen, Z.; Chen, J.; Wen, Z. Mode of circular economy in China’s iron and steel industry: A case study in Wu’an city. J. Clean. Prod. 2014, 64, 505–512. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Teece, D.J. Business models, business strategy and innovation. Long Range Plan. 2010, 43, 172–194. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Salvioni, D.M.; Almici, A. Circular economy and stakeholder engagement strategy. Symph. Emerg. Issues Manag. 2020, 26–44. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Ünal, E.; Urbinati, A.; Chiaroni, D. Managerial practices for designing circular economy business models: The case of an Italian SME in the office supply industry. J. Manuf. Technol. Manag. 2019, 30, 561–588. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Murray, A.; Skene, K.; Haynes, K. The circular economy: An interdisciplinary exploration of the concept and application in a global context. J. Bus. Ethics 2017, 140, 369–380. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [Green Version]
- Marino, A.; Pariso, P. Comparing European countries’ performances in the transition towards the Circular Economy. Sci. Total Environ. 2020, 729, 138142. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Fehrer, J.A.; Wieland, H. A systemic logic for circular business models. J. Bus. Res. 2021, 125, 609–620. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Mura, M.; Longo, M.; Zanni, S. Circular economy in Italian SMEs: A multi-method study. J. Clean. Prod. 2020, 245, 118821. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Aguilar Esteva, L.C.; Kasliwal, A.; Kinzler, M.S.; Kim, H.C.; Keoleian, G.A. Circular economy framework for automobiles: Closing energy and material loops. J. Ind. Ecol. 2021, 25, 877–889. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Hopkinson, P.; Zils, M.; Hawkins, P.; Roper, S. Managing a complex global circular economy business model: Opportunities and challenges. Calif. Manag. Rev. 2018, 60, 71–94. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- David, A.; Thangavel, Y.D.; Sankriti, R. Recover, recycle and reuse: An efficient way to reduce the waste. Int. J. Mech. Prod. Eng. Res. Dev. (IJMPERD) 2019, 9, 31–42. [Google Scholar]
- Taylor, P. Tire Waste and Recycling. In The 4 Rs: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, and Recover; Letcher, T., Shulman, V., Amirkhanian, S., Eds.; Elsevier–Academic Press: London, UK, 2021; pp. 71–78. [Google Scholar]
- Rodrigues, B.V.; Henriques, P.G. International Scientific Conference PBE2016. In Reduce Reuse Recycle Recover—Need to Rethink Materials in Construction; PBE: Luhacovice, Czech Republic, 2016. [Google Scholar]
- Abella, T.A. Follow the Rs: Reduce, replace, reuse, recycle, recover, refuse and reject, rethink. Envirocites eMagazine A Mag. Environ. Cent. Arab Towns 2013, 4, 8–10. [Google Scholar]
- Harrold, M.J. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Recover: Techniques for Improved Regression Testing; IEEE—International Conference on Software Maintenance: Edmonton, AB, Canada, 2009. [Google Scholar]
- Yu, K.H.; Zhang, Y.; Li, D.; Montenegro–Marin, C.E.; Kumar, P.M. Environmental planning based on reduce, reuse, recycle and recover using artificial intelligence. Environ. Impact Assess. Rev. 2021, 86, 106492. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Salvioni, D.M.; Brondoni, S.M. Ouverture de ‘Circular economy & new business models’. Symph. Emerg. Issues Manag. 2020, 1–9. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Masson-Delmotte, V.; Zhai, P.; Pörtner, H.; Roberts, D.; Skea, J.; Shukla, P.R.; Pirani, A.; Moufouma-Okia, W.; Péan, C.; Pidcock, R. Global warming of 1.5 C. IPCC Spec. Rep. Impacts Glob. Warm. 2018, 1, 630. [Google Scholar]
- Martens, P.; McEvoy, D.; Chang, C.T. Climate Change: Responding to a Major Challenge for Sustainable Development. In Sustainability Science; Heinrichs, H., Martens, P., Michelsen, G., Wiek, A., Eds.; Springer: Dordrecht, The Netherlands, 2016; pp. 303–311. [Google Scholar]
- Pinkse, J.; Kolk, A. Addressing the Climate Change—Sustainable Development Nexus: The Role of Multistakeholder Partnerships. Bus. Soc. 2021, 51, 176–210. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [Green Version]
- Princiotta, F.T.; Loughlin, D.H. Global climate change: The quantifiable sustainability challenge. J. Air Waste Manag. Assoc. 2014, 64, 979–994. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Paolillo, A.; Sinval, J.; Silva, S.A.; Scuderi, V.E. The Relationship between Inclusion Climate and Voice Behaviors beyond Social Exchange Obligation: The Role of Psychological Needs Satisfaction. Sustainability 2021, 13, 10252. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Sánchez García, J.L.; Díez Sanz, J.M. Climate change, ethics and sustainability: An innovative approach. J. Innov. Knowl. 2018, 3, 70–75. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Werz, M.; Hoffman, M. Europe’s twenty-first century challenge: Climate change, migration and security. Eur. View 2016, 15, 145–154. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [Green Version]
- Brondoni, S.; Bosetti, L.; Civera, C. Ouverture de ‘CSR and multi-stakeholder management’. Symph. Emerg. Issues Manag. 2019, 1–15. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [Green Version]
- Bosetti, L. Transition towards a low-carbon economy: The contribution of Italian listed utilities. In Proceedings of the 34th EBES Conference, Athens, Greece, 6–8 January 2021. [Google Scholar]
- Clark, A.; Dennison, S.; Engström, M. Climate of Cooperation: How the EU Can Help Deliver a Green Grand Bargain—ECFR/421. 2021. Available online: https://ecfr.eu/wp-content/uploads/Climate-of-cooperation-How-the-EU-can-help-deliver-a-green-grand-bargain.pdf (accessed on 20 December 2021).
- Pineiro-Chousa, J.; Romero-Castro, N.; Vizcaíno-González, M. Inclusions in and exclusions from the S&P 500 environmental and socially responsible index: A fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis. Sustainability 2019, 11, 1211. [Google Scholar]
- Salvioni, D.M.; Almici, A. Transitioning toward a circular economy: The impact of stakeholder engagement on sustainability culture. Sustainability 2020, 12, 8641. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Rizos, V.; Behrens, A.; Van der Gaast, W.; Hofman, E.; Ioannou, A.; Kafyeke, T.; Flamos, A.; Rinaldi, R.; Papadelis, S.; Hirschnitz-Garbers, M. Implementation of circular economy business models by small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs): Barriers and enablers. Sustainability 2016, 8, 1212. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [Green Version]
- Atasu, A.; Dumas, C.; Van Wassenhove, L.N. The Circular Business Model. Pick a Strategy that Fits Your Resources and Capabilities. Available online: https://hbr.org/2021/07/the-circular-business-model (accessed on 10 December 2021).
- Ellen MacArthur Foundation The Circular Economy 100. Available online: https://circular-impacts.eu/library/1351 (accessed on 10 December 2021).
- Kyoto Club Kyoto Club. Available online: https://www.kyotoclub.org/en/projects-and-initiatives/#c (accessed on 10 December 2021).
- CE Club Circular Economy Club. Available online: https://www.circulareconomyclub.com/about/ (accessed on 10 December 2021).
- European Commission European Circular Economy Stakeholder Platform. Available online: https://circulareconomy.europa.eu/platform/en (accessed on 10 December 2021).
- DigiCirc. Available online: https://digicirc.eu/project/ (accessed on 10 December 2021).
- Oncioiu, I.; Căpuşneanu, S.; Türkeș, M.C.; Topor, D.I.; Constantin, D.O.; Marin-Pantelescu, A.; Ștefan Hint, M. The sustainability of Romanian SMEs and their involvement in the circular economy. Sustainability 2018, 10, 2761. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [Green Version]
- Prieto-Sandoval, V.; Jaca, C.; Santos, J.; Baumgartner, R.J.; Ormazabal, M. Key strategies, resources, and capabilities for implementing circular economy in industrial small and medium enterprises. Corp. Soc. Responsib. Environ. Manag. 2019, 26, 1473–1484. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [Green Version]
- Ormazabal, M.; Prieto-Sandoval, V.; Puga-Leal, R.; Jaca, C. Circular economy in Spanish SMEs: Challenges and opportunities. J. Clean. Prod. 2018, 185, 157–167. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Piñeiro-Chousa, J.; Vizcaíno-González, M.; Caby, J. Financial development and standardized reporting: A comparison among developed, emerging, and frontier markets. J. Bus. Res. 2019, 101, 797–802. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- McNabb, D.E. Research Methods in Public Administration and Nonprofit Management; Routledge: New York, NY, USA, 2017. [Google Scholar]
- Korhonen, J.; Honkasalo, A.; Seppälä, J. Circular economy: The concept and its limitations. Ecol. Econ. 2018, 143, 37–46. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Baldassarre, B.; Schepers, M.; Bocken, N.; Cuppen, E.; Korevaar, G.; Calabretta, G. Industrial Symbiosis: Towards a design process for eco-industrial clusters by integrating Circular Economy and Industrial Ecology perspectives. J. Clean. Prod. 2019, 216, 446–460. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Bruel, A.; Kronenberg, J.; Troussier, N.; Guillaume, B. Linking industrial ecology and ecological economics: A theoretical and empirical foundation for the circular economy. J. Ind. Ecol. 2019, 23, 12–21. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [Green Version]
- Saavedra, Y.M.; Iritani, D.R.; Pavan, A.L.; Ometto, A.R. Theoretical contribution of industrial ecology to circular economy. J. Clean. Prod. 2018, 170, 1514–1522. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Gallaud, D.; Laperche, B. Circular Economy, Industrial Ecology and Short Supply Chain; John Wiley & Sons: London, UK; Hoboken, NJ, USA, 2016. [Google Scholar]
- Su, B.; Heshmati, A.; Geng, Y.; Yu, X. A review of the circular economy in China: Moving from rhetoric to implementation. J. Clean. Prod. 2013, 42, 215–227. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Geng, Y.; Fu, J.; Sarkis, J.; Xue, B. Towards a national circular economy indicator system in China: An evaluation and critical analysis. J. Clean. Prod. 2012, 23, 216–224. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Korhonen, J.; Nuur, C.; Feldmann, A.; Birkie, S.E. Circular economy as an essentially contested concept. J. Clean. Prod. 2018, 175, 544–552. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Ning, D. Cleaner production, eco-industry and circular economy. Res. Environ. Sci. 2001, 14, 1–4. [Google Scholar]
- Laso, J.; García-Herrero, I.; Margallo, M.; Vázquez-Rowe, I.; Fullana, P.; Bala, A.; Gazulla, C.; Irabien, Á.; Aldaco, R. Finding an economic and environmental balance in value chains based on circular economy thinking: An eco-efficiency methodology applied to the fish canning industry. Resour. Conserv. Recycl. 2018, 133, 428–437. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Richa, K.; Babbitt, C.W.; Gaustad, G. Eco-efficiency analysis of a lithium-ion battery waste hierarchy inspired by circular economy. J. Ind. Ecol. 2017, 21, 715–730. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Nunes, B.T.; Pollard, S.J.; Burgess, P.J.; Ellis, G.; De los Rios, I.C.; Charnley, F. University contributions to the circular economy: Professing the hidden curriculum. Sustainability 2018, 10, 2719. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [Green Version]
- Climact. Net zero by 2050: Net Zero by 2050: From Whether to How—Zero Emission Pathways to the Europe We Want. 2018. Available online: https://europeanclimate.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/09-18-net-zero-by-2050-from-whether-to-how.pdf (accessed on 20 December 2021).
- Davis, S.J.; Lewis, N.S.; Shaner, M.; Aggarwal, S.; Arent, D.; Azevedo, I.L.; Benson, S.M.; Bradley, T.; Brouwer, J.; Chiang, Y.-M.; et al. Net-zero emissions energy systems. Science 2018, 360. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [Green Version]
- Faber, M.; Manstetten, R.; Proops, J. Ecological Economics: Concepts And Methods; Edward Elgar Publishing Ltd.: Cheltenham, UK, 1996. [Google Scholar]
- Common, M.; Stagl, S. Ecological Economics: An Introduction; Cambridge University Press: Cambridge, UK, 2005. [Google Scholar]
- Gowdy, J.; Erickson, J.D. The approach of ecological economics. Camb. J. Econ. 2005, 29, 207–222. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [Green Version]
- Ring, I. Evolutionary strategies in environmental policy. Ecol. Econ. 1997, 23, 237–249. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Costanza, R.; Cumberland, J.H.; Daly, H.; Goodland, R.; Norgaard, R.B. An Introduction to Ecological Economics; CRC Press—St. Lucie Press: Boca Raton, FL, USA, 1997. [Google Scholar]
- Rodriguez-Anton, J.M.; Rubio-Andrada, L.; Celemín-Pedroche, M.S.; Alonso-Almeida, M. Analysis of the relations between circular economy and sustainable development goals. Int. J. Sustain. Dev. World Ecol. 2019, 26, 708–720. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Liu, Q.; Li, H.; Zuo, X.; Zhang, F.; Wang, L. A survey and analysis on public awareness and performance for promoting circular economy in China: A case study from Tianjin. J. Clean. Prod. 2009, 17, 265–270. Available online: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2008.06.003 (accessed on 3 November 2021). [CrossRef]
- Ellen MacArthur Foundation. What We Do. Available online: https://ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/about-us/what-we-do (accessed on 3 November 2021).
- Wagner, H.M.; Whitin, T.M. Dynamic version of the economic lot size model. Manag. Sci. 1958, 5, 89–96. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Coomer, J.C. Quest for a Sustainable Society; Elsevier: New York, NY, USA, 1981. [Google Scholar]
- Min, Y. The German Circular Economy Act. Environ. Guid. News 1997, 3, 40–43. [Google Scholar]
- Leontief, W. The economy as a circular flow. Struct. Chang. Econ. Dyn. 1991, 2, 181–212. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Johnson, J.C.; Wood, D.F. (Eds.) Contemporary Logistics; Macmillan: New York, NY, USA, 1990. [Google Scholar]
- Garza-Reyes, J.A.; Salomé Valls, A.; Peter Nadeem, S.; Anosike, A.; Kumar, V. A circularity measurement toolkit for manufacturing SMEs. Int. J. Prod. Res. 2019, 57, 7319–7343. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Dey, P.K.; Malesios, C.; De, D.; Budhwar, P.; Chowdhury, S.; Cheffi, W. Circular economy to enhance sustainability of small and medium-sized enterprises. Bus. Strategy Environ. 2020, 29, 2145–2169. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Andersen, M.S. An introductory note on the environmental economics of the circular economy. Sustain. Sci. 2007, 2, 133–140. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Lieder, M.; Rashid, A. Towards circular economy implementation: A comprehensive review in context of manufacturing industry. J. Clean. Prod. 2016, 115, 36–51. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Kirchherr, J.; Reike, D.; Hekkert, M. Conceptualizing the circular economy: An analysis of 114 definitions. Resour. Conserv. Recycl. 2017, 127, 221–232. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Vanner, R.; Bicket, M.; Withana, S.; ten Brink, P.; Razzini, P.; van Dijl, E.; Watkins, E.; Hestin, M.; Tan, A.; Guilcher, S.; et al. Scoping Study to Identify Potential Circular Economy Actions, Priority Sectors, Material Flows & Value Chains (DG Environment’s Framework Contract for Economic Analysis ENV.F.1/FRA/2010/ 0044 No. Final Report). Policy Studies Institute (PSI), Institute for European Environmental Policy (IEEP), BIO and Ecologic Institute. 2014. Available online: https://op.europa.eu/en/publication-detail/-/publication/0619e465-581c-41dc-9807-2bb394f6bd07/language-en (accessed on 3 November 2021).
- European Parliament. Circular Economy: Definition, Importance and Benefits. 2015. Available online: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/headlines/economy/20151201STO05603/circular-econo-my-definition-importance-and-benefits (accessed on 3 November 2021).
- Ellen MacArthur Foundation. Growth Within: A Circular Economy Vision for a Competitive Europe. 2015. Available online: https://www.mckinsey.de/files/growth_within_report_circular_economy_in_europe.pdf (accessed on 3 November 2021).
- OECD. Forum 2016 Issues: International Collaboration. Available online: https://www.oecd.org/forum/issues/forum-2016-issues-international-collaboration.htm (accessed on 3 November 2021).
- Sauvé, S.; Bernard, S.; Sloan, P. Environmental sciences, sustainable development and circular economy: Alternative concepts for trans-disciplinary research. Environ. Dev. 2016, 17, 48–56. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [Green Version]
- Circular Academy. Circular Economy: Some Definitions. 2017. Available online: http://www.circular.academy/circular-economy-some-definitions/ (accessed on 3 November 2021).
- Lewandowski, M. Designing the business models for circular economy—Towards the conceptual framework. Sustainability 2016, 8, 43. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [Green Version]
- Roos Lindgreen, E.; Salomone, R.; Reyes, T. A critical review of academic approaches, methods and tools to assess circular economy at the micro level. Sustainability 2020, 12, 4973. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Elia, V.; Gnoni, M.G.; Tornese, F. Measuring circular economy strategies through index methods: A critical analysis. J. Clean. Prod. 2017, 142, 2741–2751. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Kristensen, H.S.; Mosgaard, M.A. A review of micro level indicators for a circular economy–moving away from the three dimensions of sustainability? J. Clean. Prod. 2020, 243, 118531. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Franco, M.A. Circular economy at the micro level: A dynamic view of incumbents’ struggles and challenges in the textile industry. J. Clean. Prod. 2017, 168, 833–845. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Saidani, M.; Yannou, B.; Leroy, Y.; Cluzel, F.; Kendall, A. A taxonomy of circular economy indicators. J. Clean. Prod. 2019, 207, 542–559. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [Green Version]
- Merli, R.; Preziosi, M.; Acampora, A. How do scholars approach the circular economy? A systematic literature review. J. Clean. Prod. 2018, 178, 703–722. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Maťová, H.; Kaputa, V.; Triznová, M. Responsible Consumer in the context of Circular Economy. Digitalisation and circular economy: Forestry and forestry based industry implications. Available online: http://www.woodema.org/proceedings/WoodEMA_2019_Proceedings.pdf (accessed on 3 November 2021).
- King, A.M.; Burgess, S.C.; Ijomah, W.; McMahon, C.A. Reducing waste: Repair, recondition, remanufacture or recycle? Sustain. Dev. 2006, 14, 257–267. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [Green Version]
- Brennan, G.; Tennant, M.; Blomsma, F. Business and Production Solutions: Closing Loops and the Circular Economy. In Sustainability. Key Issues, 1st ed.; Kopnina, H., Shoreman-Ouimet, E., Eds.; Routledge: Abingdon, UK; New York, NY, USA, 2015; pp. 219–240. [Google Scholar]
- Europen Parliament. Directive 2008/98/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 November 2008 on waste and repealing certain Directives. Off. J. Eur. Union L 2008, L312, 3–30. [Google Scholar]
- Sihvonen, S.; Ritola, T. Conceptualizing ReX for aggregating end-of-life strategies in product development. Procedia Cirp. 2015, 29, 639–644. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Van Buren, N.; Demmers, M.; Van der Heijden, R.; Witlox, F. Towards a circular economy: The role of Dutch logistics industries and governments. Sustainability 2016, 8, 647. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [Green Version]
- Ekins, P.; Domenech, T.; Drummond, P.; Bleischwitz, R.; Hughes, N.; Lotti, L. The Circular Economy: What, Why, How and Where. Available online: https://www.oecd.org/cfe/regionaldevelopment/Ekins-2019-Circular-Economy-What-Why-How-Where.pdf (accessed on 20 December 2021).
- Potting, J.; Hekkert, M.P.; Worrell, E.; Hanemaaijer, A. Circular Economy: Measuring Innovation in The Product Chain; PBL Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency: The Hague, The Netherlands, 2017. [Google Scholar]
- Europen Commission. First Circular Economy Action Plan. 2015. Available online: https://ec.europa.eu/environment/topics/circular-economy/first-circular-economy-action-plan_it (accessed on 3 November 2021).
- European Commission. A new Circular Economy Action Plan. 2020. Available online: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?qid=1583933814386&uri=COM:2020:98:FIN (accessed on 3 November 2021).
- European Commission. Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs. Available online: https://ec.europa.eu/growth/smes/sme-definition_en (accessed on 3 November 2021).
- Rubio-Mozos, E.; García-Muiña, F.E.; Fuentes-Moraleda, L. Rethinking 21st-century businesses: An approach to fourth sector SMEs in their transition to a sustainable model committed to SDGs. Sustainability 2019, 11, 5569. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [Green Version]
- Moeuf, A.; Pellerin, R.; Lamouri, S.; Tamayo-Giraldo, S.; Barbaray, R. The industrial management of SMEs in the era of Industry 4.0. Int. J. Prod. Res. 2018, 56, 1118–1136. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [Green Version]
- Masroor, N.; Asim, M. SMEs in the contemporary era of global competition. Procedia Comput. Sci. 2019, 158, 632–641. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Ghenţa, M.; Matei, A. SMEs and the circular economy: From policy to difficulties encountered during implementation. Amfiteatru Econ. 2018, 20, 294–309. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Negri, M.; Neri, A.; Cagno, E.; Monfardini, G. Circular Economy Performance Measurement in Manufacturing Firms: A Systematic Literature Review with Insights for Small and Medium Enterprises and New Adopters. Sustainability 2021, 13, 9049. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Feil, A.A.; de Quevedo, D.M.; Schreiber, D. An analysis of the sustainability index of micro-and small-sized furniture industries. Clean Technol. Environ. Policy 2017, 19, 1883–1896. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Mitchell, S.; O’Dowd, P.; Dimache, A. Manufacturing SMEs doing it for themselves: Developing, testing and piloting an online sustainability and eco-innovation toolkit for SMEs. Int. J. Sustain. Eng. 2020, 13, 159–170. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Bajdor, P.; Pawełoszek, I.; Fidlerova, H. Analysis and assessment of sustainable entrepreneurship practices in Polish small and medium enterprises. Sustainability 2021, 13, 3595. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Matejun, M. The role of flexibility in building the competitiveness of small and medium enterprises. Management 2014, 18, 154–168. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [Green Version]
- Demirel, P.; Damisman, G.O. Eco-innovation and firm growth in the cricular economy: Evidence form European Small and Medium sized enterprises. Bus. Strategy Environ. 2019, 28, 1068–1618. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Principato, L.; Ruini, L.; Guidi, M.; Secondi, L. Adopting the circular economy approach on food loss and waste: The case of Italian pasta production. Resour. Conserv. Recycl. 2019, 144, 82–89. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Walker, A.M.; Opferkuch, K.; Roos Lindgreen, E.; Simboli, A.; Vermeulen, W.J.V.; Raggi, A. Assessing the social sustainability of circular economy practices: Industry perspectives from Italy and the Netherlands. Sustain. Prod. Consum. 2021, 27, 831–844. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Fonseca, L.M.; Domingues, J.P.; Pereira, M.T.; Martins, F.F.; Zimon, D. Assessment of circular economy within Portuguese organizations. Sustainability 2018, 10, 2521. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [Green Version]
- Kirchherr, J.; Piscicelli, L.; Bour, R.; Kostense-Smit, E.; Muller, J.; Huibrechtse-Truijens, A.; Hekkert, M. Barriers to the Circular Economy: Evidence from the European Union (EU). Ecol. Econ. 2018, 150, 264–272. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [Green Version]
- Rincón-Moreno, J.; Ormazábal, M.; Álvarez, M.J.; Jaca, C. Advancing circular economy performance indicators and their application in Spanish companies. J. Clean. Prod. 2021, 279, 123605. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Ferasso, M.; Beliaeva, T.; Kraus, S.; Clauss, T.; Ribeiro-Soriano, D. Circular economy business models: The state of research and avenues ahead. Bus. Strategy Environ. 2020, 29, 3006–3024. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Hair, J.F.; Page, M.; Brunsveld, N. Essentials of Business Research Methods; Routledge: New York, NY, USA; Abingdon, UK, 2019. [Google Scholar]
- Welman, C.; Kruger, F. Research Methodology for The Business & Administrative Sciences; Oxford University Press: Oxford, UK, 2001. [Google Scholar]
- Hoonakker, P.; Carayon, P. Questionnaire survey nonresponse: A comparison of postal mail and internet surveys. Int. J. Hum.–Comput. Interact. 2009, 25, 348–373. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Michalos, A.C. Encyclopedia of Quality of Life and Well-Being Research; Springer: Dordrecht, The Netherlands, 2014. [Google Scholar]
- Fan, W.; Yan, Z. Factors affecting response rates of the web survey: A systematic review. Comput. Hum. Behav. 2010, 26, 132–139. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Keusch, F. Why do people participate in Web surveys? Applying survey participation theory to Internet survey data collection. Manag. Rev. Q. 2015, 65, 183–216. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Zhou, R.; Wang, X.; Zhang, L.; Guo, H. Who tends to answer open-ended questions in an e-service survey? The contribution of closed-ended answers. Behav. Inf. Technol. 2017, 36, 1274–1284. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Lakatos, I.; Feyerabend, P. For and Against Method; University of Chicago Press: Chicago, IL, USA, 2010. [Google Scholar]
- Holzer, D.; Rauter, R.; Fleiß, E.; Stern, T. Mind the gap: Towards a systematic circular economy encouragement of small and medium-sized companies. J. Clean. Prod. 2021, 298, 126696. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Cameli, M.; Novo, G.; Tusa, M.; Mandoli, G.E.; Corrado, G.; Benedetto, F.; Antonini-Canterin, F.; Citro, R. How to Write a Research Protocol: Tips and Tricks. J. Cardiovasc. Echogr. 2018, 28, 151–153. [Google Scholar]
- Fathalla, M.F. A Practical Guide for Health Researchers; WHO Regional Publications, Eastern Mediterranean Series 30; World Health Organization; Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean: Cairo, Egypt, 2004; pp. 1–235. [Google Scholar]
- Rout, C.C.; Aldous, C. How to write a research protocol. S. Afr. J. Anaesth. Analg. 2016, 22, 101–107. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [Green Version]
- Taherdoost, H. Validity and reliability of the research instrument. How to test the validation of a questionnaire/survey in a research. Int. J. Acad. Res. Manag. 2016, 5, 28–36. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Deniz, M.S.; Alsaffar, A.A. Assessing the validity and reliability of a questionnaire on dietary fibre-related knowledge in a Turkish student population. J. Health Popul. Nutr. 2013, 31, 497–503. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [Green Version]
- Trochim, W.M.K. The Research Methods Knowledge Base. Available online: https://conjointly.com/kb/ (accessed on 13 December 2021).
- Oluwatayo, J. Validity and reliability issues in educational research. J. Educ. Soc. Res. 2012, 2, 391–400. [Google Scholar]
- Boudreau, M.; Gefen, D.; Straub, D. Validation in Information Systems research: A state-of-the-art assessment. MIS Q. 2001, 25, 1–16. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Wickström, G.; Bendix, T. The “Hawthorne effect”—What did the original Hawthorne studies actually show? Scand. J. Work Environ. Health 2000, 26, 363–367. Available online: https://www.jstor.org/stable/40967074 (accessed on 10 December 2021). [CrossRef]
- ISTAT. Permanent Census. 2019. Available online: https://www.istat.it/it/censimenti/imprese (accessed on 3 November 2021).
- Rincón-Moreno, J.; Ormazábal, M.; Jaca, C. Stakeholder Perspectives in Transitioning to a Local Circular Economy: A Case Study in Spain. Circ. Econ. Sustain. 2021, 1–19. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Svensson, N.; Funck, E.K. Management control in circular economy. Exploring and theorizing the adaptation of management control to circular business models. J. Clean. Prod. 2019, 233, 390–398. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- EASAC. Indicators for a Circular Economy. EASAC Policy Report 30. 2016. Available online: https://easac.eu/fileadmin/PDF_s/reports_statements/Circular_Economy/EASAC_Indicators_web_complete.pdf (accessed on 10 December 2021).
- Davila, T. An exploratory study on the emergence of management control systems: Formalizing human resources in small growing firms. Account. Organ. Soc. 2005, 30, 223–248. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Iacovidou, E.; Velis, C.A.; Purnell, P.; Zwirner, O.; Brown, A.; Hahladakis, J.; Millward-Hopkins, J.; Williams, P.T. Metrics for optimising the multi-dimensional value of resources recovered from waste in a circular economy: A critical review. J. Clean. Prod. 2017, 166, 910–938. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Elsayed, A.; Elbeltagi, I.; El-Masry, A.A. Online disclosure: An analysis of Egyptian listed companies. Corp. Ownersh. Control 2010, 8, 552–568. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Oyelere, P.B.; Kuruppu, N.T. Corporate characteristics of listed companies engaging in web-based financial reporting in emerging economies. Corp. Ownersh. Control 2016, 13, 66–80. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Dissanayake, D.; Weerasinghe, D. Towards Circular Economy in Fashion: Review of Strategies, Barriers and Enablers. Circ. Econ. Sust. 2021. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Adams, K.T.; Osmani, M.; Thorpe, T.; Thornback, J. Circular economy in construction: Current awareness, challenges and enablers. Proc. Inst. Civil. Eng.—Waste Resour. Manag. 2017, 170, 15–24. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [Green Version]
- European Commission. Italy—SME Fact Sheet 2021. Available online: https://ec.europa.eu/docsroom/documents/46080 (accessed on 3 November 2021).
- Hopkinson, P.; De Angelis, R.; Zils, M. Systemic building blocks for creating and capturing value from circular economy, Resources. Conserv. Recycl. 2020, 155, 104672. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Barros, M.V.; Salvador, R.; do Prado, G.F.; de Francisco, A.C.; Piekarski, C.M. Circular economy as a driver to sustainable businesses. Clean. Environ. Syst. 2021, 2, 100006. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Fortunati, S.; Martiniello, L.; Morea, D. The Strategic Role of the Corporate Social Responsibility and Circular Economy in the Cosmetic Industry. Sustainability 2020, 12, 5120. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Ritzén, S.; Sandström, G.Ö. Barriers to the Circular Economy–integration of perspectives and domains. Procedia Cirp. 2017, 64, 7–12. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Gennari, F.; Cassano, R. Circular economy and strategic risk. Symph. Emerg. Issues Manag. 2020, 136–148. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- European Commission: Flash Eurobarometer 441: European SMEs and the Circular Economy. Available online: https://data.europa.eu/data/datasets/s2110_441_eng?locale=en (accessed on 15 December 2021).
- Bassi, F.; Dias, J.G. The use of circular economy practices in SMEs across the EU. Resour. Conserv. Recycl. 2019, 146, 523–533. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- European Commission. Impacts of Circular Economy Policies on the Labour Market. Final Report and Annexes. 2018. Available online: https://op.europa.eu/it/publication-detail/-/publication/fc373862-704d-11e8-9483-01aa75ed71a1 (accessed on 3 November 2021).
- KPMG. Let’s Help SMEs to Go Circular. Part of the Project: Boosting the Circular Economy Amongst Smes In Europe—A Project of the European Commission—DG Environment. 2018. Available online: https://ec.europa.eu/environment/sme/pdf/Training%20materials_English.pdf (accessed on 3 November 2021).
- Govindan, K.; Hasanagic, M. A systematic review on drivers, barriers, and practices towards circular economy: A supply chain perspective. Int. J. Prod. Res. 2018, 56, 278–311. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- De Jesus, A.; Mendonça, S. Lost in transition? Drivers and barriers in the ecoinnovation road to the circular economy. Ecol. Econ. 2018, 145, 75–89. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [Green Version]
- UNDESA—United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs 2011. World Economic and Social Survey 2011—The Great Green Technological Transformation. Available online: https://www.un.org/en/development/desa/policy/wess/wess_current/2011wess.pdf (accessed on 15 December 2021).
- Nikolaou, I.E.; Tasopoulou, K.; Tsagarakis, K. A typology of green entrepreneurs based on institutional and resource-based views. J. Entrep. 2018, 27, 111–132. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Pheifer, A.G. Barriers and Enablers to Circular Business Models. 2017. Available online: https://www.circulairondernemen.nl/uploads/4f4995c266e00bee8fdb8fb34fbc5c15 (accessed on 3 November 2021).
- Mont, O.; Plepys, A.; Whalen, K.; Nußholz, J.L. Business Model Innovation for a Circular Economy: Drivers and Barriers for the Swedish Industry–The voice of REES companies. Institute for Industrial Environmental Economics, Lund University. 2017. Available online: https://lucris.lub.lu.se/ws/portalfiles/portal/33914256/MISTRA_REES_Drivers_and_Barriers_Lund.pdf (accessed on 3 November 2021).
- Hart, J.; Adams, K.; Giesekam, J.; Densley Tingley, D.; Pomponi, F. Barriers and drivers in a circular economy: The case of the built environment. Procedia CIRP 2019, 80, 619–624. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Liu, Y.; Bai, Y. An exploration of firms’ awareness and behavior of developing circular economy: An empirical research in China. Resour. Conserv. Recycl. 2014, 87, 145–152. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Mitchell, P.; Morgan, J. Employment and the Circular Economy. Job Creation in a More Resource Efficient Britain; Green Alliance: London, UK; WRAP: Banbury, UK, 2015. [Google Scholar]
- OECD. Employment Implications of Green Growth: Linking jobs, growth, and green policies. OECD Report for the G7 Environment Ministers. 2017. Available online: https://www.oecd.org/environment/Employment-Implications-of-Green-Growth-OECD-Report-G7-Environment-Ministers.pdf (accessed on 3 November 2021).
- Finkbeiner, M. Product environmental footprint breakthrough or breakdown for policy implementation of life cycle assessment? Int. J. Life Cycle Assess. 2014, 19, 266–271. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [Green Version]
- He, B.; Xiao, J.; Deng, Z. Product design evaluation for product environmental footprint. J. Clean. Prod. 2018, 172, 3066–3080. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Winans, K.; Kendall, A.; Deng, H. The history and current applications of the circular economy concept. Renew. Sustain. Energy Rev. 2017, 68, 825–833. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Ratnasabapathy, S.; Alashwal, A.; Perera, S. Exploring the barriers for implementing waste trading practices in the construction industry in Australia. Built Environ. Proj. Asset Manag. 2021, 11, 559–576. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Caldera, H.T.S.; Desha, C.; Dawes, L. Evaluating the enablers and barriers for successful implementation of sustainable business practice in ‘lean’ SMEs. J. Clean. Prod. 2019, 218, 575–590. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- D’Amato, D.; Veijonaho, S.; Toppinen, A. Towards sustainability? Forest-basedcircular bioeconomy business models in Finnish SMEs. For. Policy Econ. 2018, 110, 101848. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Garces-Ayerbe, C.; Rivera-Torres, P.; Suarez-Perales, I.; La Hiz, D.I.L.D. Is it possible to change from a linear to a circular economy? An overview of opportunities and barriers for European small and medium-sized enterprise companies. Int. J. Environ. Res. Publ. Health 2019, 16, 851. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [Green Version]
- Dieckmann, E.; Sheldrick, L.; Tennant, M.; Myers, R.; Cheeseman, C. Analysis of barriers to transitioning from a linear to a circular economy for end of life materials: A case study for waste feathers. Sustainability 2020, 12, 1725. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [Green Version]
- Briguglio, M.; Llorente-González, L.J.; Meilak, C.; Pereira, Á.; Spiteri, J.; Vence, X. Born or Grown: Enablers and Barriers to Circular Business in Europe. Sustainability 2021, 13, 13670. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Xue, B.; Chen, X.-P.; Geng, Y.; Guo, X.-J.; Lu, C.-P.; Zhang, Z.-L.; Lu, C.-Y. Survey of officials’ awareness on circular economy development in China: Based on municipal and county level, Resources. Conserv. Recycl. 2010, 54, 1296–1302. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- van Keulen, M.; Kirchherr, J. The implementation of the Circular Economy: Barriers and enablers in the coffee value chain. J. Clean. Prod. 2021, 281, 125033. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Singh, P.; Giacosa, E. Cognitive biases of consumers as barriers in transition towards circular economy. Manag. Decis. 2019, 57, 921–936. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Bovea, M.D.; Pérez-Belis, V. Identifying design guidelines to meet the circular economy principles: A case study on electric and electronic equipment. J. Environ. Manag. 2018, 228, 483–494. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Corsini, F.; Gusmerotti, N.M.; Frey, M. Consumer’s Circular Behaviors in Relation to the Purchase, Extension of Life, and End of Life Management of Electrical and Electronic Products: A Review. Sustainability 2020, 12, 10443. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Carra, G.; Magdani, N. Circular Business Models for the Built Environment, Arup, BAM, CE100. 2017. Available online: https://circulareconomy.europa.eu/platform/sites/default/files/knowledge_-_circular_business-models-for_the_environment.pdf (accessed on 10 December 2021).
- European Investment Bank. Access-to-finance conditions for Projects supporting Circular Economy. Prepared for DG Research and Innovation, European Commission by InnovFin Advisory. 2015. Available online: https://www.eib.org/attachments/pj/access_to_finance_study_on_circular_economy_en.pdf (accessed on 20 December 2021).
- Mishra, J.L.; Hopkinson, P.; Tidridge, G. Value creation from circular economy-led closed loop supply chains: A case study of fast-moving consumer goods. Prod. Plan. Control 2018, 29, 509–521. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Van Eijk, F. Barriers and Drivers Towards a Circular Economy—Literature Review. Acceleratio. 2015. Available online: https://circulareconomy.europa.eu/platform/en/knowledge/barriers-drivers-towards-circular-economy (accessed on 15 December 2021).
- Bocken, N.M.; Olivetti, E.A.; Cullen, J.M.; Potting, J.; Lifset, R. Taking the circularity to the next level: A special issue on the circular economy. J. Ind. Ecol. 2017, 21, 476–482. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Haas, W.; Krausmann, F.; Wiedenhofer, D.Y.; Heinz, M. How circular is the global economy? An assessment of material flows, waste production, and recycling in the European Union and the world in 2005. J. Ind. Ecol. 2015, 19, 765–777. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- European Commission. Closing the Loop—An EU Action Plan for the Circular Economy. The Circular Economy Package Proposal. 2015. Available online: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:52015DC0614 (accessed on 15 December 2021).
- Moraga, G.; Huysveld, S.; Mathieux, F.; Blengini, G.A.; Alaerts, L.; Van Acker, K.; De Meester, S.; Dewulf, J. Circular economy indicators: What do they measure? Resour. Conserv. Recycl. 2019, 146, 452–461. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Anthony, R.N.; Govindarajan, V.; Hartmann, F.G.; Kraus, K.; Nilsson, G. Management Control Systems; McGraw-Hill Education: London, UK, 2014. [Google Scholar]
- Otley, D.; Soin, K. Management control and uncertainty. In Management Control and Uncertainty; Palgrave Macmillan: Londo, UK, 2014; pp. 1–13. [Google Scholar]
- Salvioni, D.M.; Gennari, F.; Bosetti, L. Sustainability and convergence: The future of corporate governance systems? Sustainability 2016, 8, 1203. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [Green Version]
- Salvioni, D.; Gennari, F. Stakeholder perspective of corporate governance and CSR committees. Symph. Emerg. Issues Manag. 2019, 28–39. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [Green Version]
- Fornasari, T. Corporate social responsibility and ethics committees: A new form of embedding and monitoring ethical values and culture. Int. J. Curr. Res. 2018, 10, 74797–74802. [Google Scholar]
- Eccles, R.G.; Perkins, K.M.; Serafeim, G. How to become a sustainable company. MIT Sloan Manag. Rev. 2012, 53, 43. [Google Scholar]
- Ludwig, P.; Sassen, R. Which internal corporate governance mechanisms drive corporate sustainability? J. Environ. Manag. 2022, 301, 113780. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Walker, S.; Coleman, N.; Hodgson, P.; Collins, N.; Brimacombe, L. Evaluating the environmental dimension of material efficiency strategies relating to the circular economy. Sustainability 2018, 10, 666. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [Green Version]
- Sánchez-Ortiz, J.; Rodríguez-Cornejo, V.; Del Río-Sánchez, R.; García-Valderrama, T. Indicators to Measure Efficiency in Circular Economies. Sustainability 2020, 12, 4483. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Dagiliene, L.; Frendzel, M.; Sutiene, K.; Wnuk-Pel, T. Wise managers think about circular economy, wiser report and analyze it. Research of environmental reporting practices in EU manufacturing companies. J. Clean. Prod. 2020, 274, 121968. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Barnabè, F.; Nazir, S. Conceptualizing and enabling circular economy through integrated thinking. Corp. Soc. Responsib. Environ. Manag. 2021, 1–21. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Aureli, S. Relevance and usage of management control systems with reference to strategy formulation and control: Evidence from Italian SMEs. In Handbook of Research on Strategic Management in Small and Medium Enterprises; Todorov, K., Smallbone, D., Eds.; IGI Global: Hershey, PA, USA, 2014; pp. 349–371. [Google Scholar]
- Broccardo, L.; Giacosa, E.; Culasso, F.; Ferraris, A. Management control in Italian SMEs. Glob. Bus. Econ. Rev. 2017, 19, 632–647. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Sgrò, F.; Palazzi, F.; Ciambotti, M.; Gelsomini, L. Factors promoting and hindering the adoption of management accounting tools: Evidence from Italian manufacturing SMEs. Manag. Control 2020, (Suppl. 1), 19–38. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Netherlands Enterprise Agency. Circular Economy & SDGs. How Circular Economy Practices Help to Achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. 2020. Available online: https://circulareconomy.europa.eu/platform/sites/default/files/3228_brochure_sdg_-_hch_cmyk_a4_portrait_-_0520-012.pdf (accessed on 3 November 2021).
- O’Neill, D.W.; Fanning, A.L.; Lamb, W.F.; Steinberger, J.K. A good life for all within planetary boundaries. Nat. Sustain. 2018, 1, 88–95. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [Green Version]
Initiative | Description |
---|---|
The Circular Economy 100 [37] | A program established to enable organizations to develop new opportunities and fulfill their circular economy ambitions faster. It brings together companies, governments and cities, academic institutions, emerging innovators, and affiliates in a unique multi-stakeholder platform. |
Kyoto Club [38] | An organization devoted to the promotion of energy efficiency, renewable energy sources, waste reduction and reuse of resources, sustainable mobility, and climate change. |
Circular Economy Club [39] | An international network of the circular economy field, including professionals and organizations with over 280 CEC local clubs in 140 countries. |
European Circular Economy Stakeholder Platform [40] | A joint initiative by the European Commission and the European Economic and Social Committee to promote the exchange of ideas and information on the CE. |
DigiCirc [41] | A program to bring companies, public bodies, and researchers to work together to make our economy more sustainable. |
Author | Definition |
---|---|
European Commission (2014) [79] | “A development strategy that enables economic growth while optimising consumption of resources, deeply transforms production chains and consumption patterns, and redesigns industrial systems at the system level” |
European Parliament (2015) [80] | “The circular economy is a model of production and consumption, which involves sharing, leasing, reusing, repairing, refurbishing and recycling existing materials and products as long as possible. In this way, the life cycle of products is extended. In practice, it implies reducing waste to a minimum” |
Ellen MacArthur Foundation (2015) [81] | “The circular economy is one that is restorative and regenerative by design and aims to keep products, components, and materials at their highest utility and value at all times, distinguishing between technical and biological cycles. This new economic model seeks to ultimately decouple global economic development from finite resource consumption. It enables key policy objectives such as generating economic growth, creating jobs, and reducing environmental impacts, including carbon emissions” |
OECD (2016) [82] | “With an expected global population of 9 billion by 2030, including 3 billion middle-class consumers, future consumption demand will create unprecedented pressure on natural resources. The Forum reflected on the importance of the “circular economy” in decoupling economic growth and job creation from the use of natural resources. Turning the ambition of the SDGs into reality will require robust data to capture progress, ensure effective monitoring and provide evidence to inform decision making” |
Sauvé et al. (2016) [83] | “Model of production and consumption of goods through closed loop material flows that internalize environmental externalities linked to virgin resource extraction and the generation of waste (including pollution)” |
Circular Academy (2017) [84] | “A circular economy is a transformative economy redefining production and consumption patterns, inspired by ecosystems principles and restorative by design, which increases resilience, eliminates waste and creates shared value through an enhanced circulation of material and immaterial flows” |
Geissdoerfer et al. (2017) [1] | “We define the Circular Economy as a regenerative system in which resource input and waste, emission, and energy leakage are minimised by slowing, closing, and narrowing material and energy loops. This can be achieved through long-lasting design, maintenance, repair, reuse, remanufacturing, refurbishing, and recycling” |
Murray et al. (2017) [10] | “The Circular Economy is an economic model wherein planning, resourcing, procurement, production and reprocessing are designed and managed, as both process and output, to maximize ecosystem functioning and human well-being” |
Kirchherr et al. (2017) [78] | “A circular economy describes an economic system that is based on business models which replace the ‘end-of-life’ concept with reducing, alternatively reusing, recycling and recovering materials in production/distribution and consumption processes, thus operational at the micro level (products, companies, consumers), meso level (eco-industrial parks) and macro level (city, region, nation and beyond), with the aim to accomplish sustainable development, which implies creating environmental quality, economic prosperity and social equity, to the benefit of current and future generations” |
Korhonen et al. (2018) [47] | “Circular Economy is a sustainable development initiative with the objective of reducing the societal production-consumption systems’ linear material and energy throughput flows by applying materials cycles, renewable and cascade-type energy flows to the linear system. Circular economy promotes high value material cycles alongside more traditional recycling and develops systems approaches to the cooperation of producers, consumers, and other societal actors in sustainable development work” |
Action | Description |
---|---|
Regenerate | Shift to renewable energy and materials; reclaim, retain, and restore health of ecosystems; return recovered biological resources to the biosphere |
Share | Keep the product loop speed low and maximize the utilization of products by sharing them among users, reusing them throughout their technical lifetime, and prolonging their life through maintenance, repair, and design for durability |
Optimize | Increase the performance/efficiency of a product and remove waste in production and the supply chain |
Loop | Keep components and materials in closed loops, and prioritize inner loops. In the case of finite materials, this means remanufacturing products or components, and, as a last resort, recycling materials |
Virtualize | Dematerialize directly and indirectly |
Exchange | Replace old materials with advanced non-renewable materials and apply new technologies |
Framework | 3Rs | 4Rs | 6Rs | 9Rs |
---|---|---|---|---|
Strategies | Reuse Repair Recycle | Reuse Repair Recycle Refurbish | Reuse Repair Recycle Refurbish Rethink Remanufacture | Reuse Repair Recycle Refurbish Rethink Remanufacture Repurpose Recover Reduce |
Rationale for research |
|
|
Objectives |
|
|
Methodology |
|
|
Data management and analysis |
|
|
Ethical considerations |
|
CE Knowledge | Total | Micro | Small | Medium | Manufacturing | Construction | Services | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
Accurate | 55 | 8.83% | 44 | 8.59% | 8 | 8.08% | 3 | 25.00% | 20 | 8.20% | 7 | 7.29% | 28 | 9.89% |
Average | 263 | 42.22% | 205 | 40.04% | 50 | 50.51% | 8 | 66.67% | 111 | 45.49% | 47 | 48.96% | 105 | 37.10% |
Modest | 305 | 48.96% | 263 | 51.37% | 41 | 41.41% | 1 | 8.33% | 113 | 46.31% | 42 | 43.75% | 150 | 53.00% |
Total | 623 | 100% | 512 | 100% | 99 | 100% | 12 | 100% | 244 | 100 % | 96 | 100% | 283 | 100% |
Acquisition of Knowledge on the CE 1 | Total | Micro | Small | Medium | Manufacturing | Construction | Services | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
Business experience | 156 | 52.35% | 68 | 54.84% | 29 | 58.00% | 59 | 47.58% | 118 | 50.86% | 33 | 57.89% | 5 | 55.56% |
Training and information promoted by trade associations | 49 | 16.44% | 19 | 15.32% | 11 | 22.00% | 19 | 15.32% | 35 | 15.09% | 13 | 22.81% | 1 | 11.11% |
Higher education, university, advanced courses | 46 | 15.44% | 15 | 12.10% | 7 | 14.00% | 24 | 19.35% | 32 | 13.79% | 11 | 19.30% | 3 | 33.33% |
Other | 98 | 32.89% | 42 | 33.87% | 12 | 24.00% | 44 | 35.48% | 82 | 35.34% | 13 | 22.81% | 3 | 33.33% |
Strategic Importance of the CE | Total | Micro | Small | Medium | Manufacturing | Construction | Services | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
Yes | 149 | 50.00% | 113 | 48.71% | 31 | 54.39% | 5 | 55.56% | 58 | 46.77% | 25 | 50.00% | 66 | 53.23% |
No | 149 | 50.00% | 119 | 51.29% | 26 | 45.61% | 4 | 44.44% | 66 | 53.23% | 25 | 50.00% | 58 | 46.77% |
Total | 298 | 100% | 232 | 100% | 57 | 100% | 9 | 100% | 124 | 100% | 50 | 100% | 124 | 100% |
Years of Experience | Total | Micro | Small | Medium | Manufacturing | Construction | Services | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
1 year | 22 | 3.89% | 15 | 3.23% | 7 | 7.69% | 0 | 0.00% | 11 | 5.00% | 3 | 3.45% | 8 | 3.09% |
2–3 years | 45 | 7.95% | 32 | 6.88% | 10 | 10.99% | 3 | 30.00% | 15 | 6.82% | 9 | 10.34% | 21 | 8.11% |
4–5 years | 27 | 4.77% | 21 | 4.52% | 6 | 6.59% | 0 | 0.00% | 15 | 6.82% | 2 | 2.30% | 10 | 3.86% |
>5 years | 77 | 13.60% | 58 | 12.47% | 18 | 19.78% | 1 | 10.00% | 34 | 15.45% | 9 | 10.34% | 34 | 13.13% |
CE will be introduced soon | 75 | 13.25% | 56 | 12.04% | 16 | 17.58% | 3 | 30.00% | 38 | 17.27% | 11 | 12.64% | 26 | 10.04% |
Not considering introducing CE | 320 | 56.54% | 283 | 60.86% | 34 | 37.36% | 3 | 30.00% | 107 | 48.64% | 53 | 60.92% | 160 | 61.78% |
Total | 566 | 100% | 465 | 100% | 91 | 100% | 10 | 100% | 220 | 100% | 87 | 100% | 259 | 100% |
Total | Micro | Small | Medium | Manufacturing | Construction | Services | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
Internal recovery of materials in production processes (reuse, recycle, recover) | ||||||||||||||
Yes | 93 | 60.00% | 61 | 54.95% | 30 | 75.00% | 2 | 50.00% | 43 | 60.56% | 12 | 60.00% | 38 | 59.38% |
Will do soon | 26 | 16.77% | 21 | 18.92% | 4 | 10.00% | 1 | 25.00% | 13 | 18.31% | 5 | 25.00% | 8 | 12.50% |
No, and not considering in short term | 36 | 23.23% | 29 | 26.13% | 6 | 15.00% | 1 | 25.00% | 15 | 21.13% | 3 | 15.00% | 18 | 28.13% |
Total | 155 | 100% | 111 | 100% | 40 | 100% | 4 | 100% | 71 | 100% | 20 | 100% | 64 | 100% |
Purchase of recycled materials or products (reduce) | ||||||||||||||
Yes | 85 | 55.19% | 58 | 52.25% | 23 | 58.97% | 4 | 100.00% | 35 | 50.00% | 8 | 40.00% | 42 | 65.63% |
Will do soon | 37 | 24.03% | 29 | 26.13% | 8 | 20.51% | 0 | 0.00% | 22 | 31.43% | 6 | 30.00% | 9 | 14.06% |
No, and not considering in short term | 32 | 20.78% | 24 | 21.62% | 8 | 20.51% | 0 | 0.00% | 13 | 18.57% | 6 | 30.00% | 13 | 20.31% |
Total | 154 | 100% | 111 | 100% | 39 | 100% | 4 | 100% | 70 | 100% | 20 | 100% | 64 | 100% |
Redesign of processes, products and services according to CE principles (refuse) | ||||||||||||||
Redesign of production processes | 46 | 32.39% | 27 | 26.47% | 19 | 51.35% | 0 | 0.00% | 32 | 47.76% | 3 | 15.79% | 11 | 19.64% |
Redesign of products and services | 53 | 37.32% | 43 | 42.16% | 8 | 21.62% | 2 | 66.67% | 12 | 17.91% | 10 | 52.63% | 31 | 55.36% |
Will do soon | 22 | 15.49% | 16 | 15.69% | 5 | 13.51% | 1 | 33.33% | 11 | 16.42% | 5 | 26.32% | 6 | 10.71% |
No, and not considering in short term | 21 | 14.79% | 16 | 15.69% | 5 | 13.51% | 0 | 0.00% | 12 | 17.91% | 1 | 5.26% | 8 | 14.29% |
Total | 142 | 100% | 102 | 100% | 37 | 100% | 3 | 100% | 67 | 100% | 19 | 100% | 56 | 100% |
Benefits of the CE 1 | Total | Micro | Small | Medium | Manufacturing | Construction | Services | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
Improved operating efficiency and cost reduction | 63 | 40.65% | 40 | 36.04% | 21 | 52.50% | 2 | 50.00% | 27 | 38.03% | 8 | 40.00% | 28 | 43.75% |
Increase in revenues | 22 | 14.19% | 13 | 11.71% | 8 | 20.00% | 1 | 25.00% | 13 | 18.31% | 3 | 15.00% | 6 | 9.38% |
Easier access to credit | 3 | 1.94% | 3 | 2.70% | 0 | 0.00% | 0 | 0.00% | 1 | 1.41% | 0 | 0.00% | 2 | 3.13% |
Easier access to public funds | 4 | 2.58% | 3 | 2.70% | 1 | 2.50% | 0 | 0.00% | 3 | 4.23% | 0 | 0.00% | 1 | 1.56% |
Tax relief | 3 | 1.94% | 3 | 2.70% | 0 | 0.00% | 0 | 0.00% | 0 | 0.00% | 0 | 0.00% | 3 | 4.69% |
Development of partnerships | 16 | 10.32% | 10 | 9.01% | 6 | 15.00% | 0 | 0.00% | 11 | 15.49% | 0 | 0.00% | 5 | 7.81% |
Other | 17 | 10.97% | 13 | 11.71% | 3 | 7.50% | 1 | 25.00% | 5 | 7.04% | 1 | 5.00% | 11 | 17.19% |
None | 55 | 35.48% | 46 | 41.44% | 8 | 20.00% | 1 | 25.00% | 24 | 33.80% | 9 | 45.00% | 22 | 34.38% |
Barriers to a CE 1 | Total | Micro | Small | Medium | Manufacturing | Construction | Services | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
Lack of knowledge and expertise | 156 | 32.30% | 121 | 31.03% | 31 | 36.90% | 4 | 44.44% | 66 | 35.11% | 24 | 30.00% | 66 | 30.70% |
Difficulty making changes to processes, products and services | 78 | 16.15% | 55 | 14.10% | 21 | 25.00% | 2 | 22.22% | 43 | 22.87% | 11 | 13.75% | 24 | 11.16% |
Prohibitive investments | 92 | 19.05% | 76 | 19.49% | 16 | 19.05% | 0 | 0.00% | 41 | 21.81% | 13 | 16.25% | 38 | 17.67% |
Lack of incentives and support | 118 | 24.43% | 99 | 25.38% | 16 | 19.05% | 3 | 33.33% | 58 | 30.85% | 17 | 21.25% | 43 | 20.00% |
Excessive bureaucracy | 91 | 18.84% | 72 | 18.46% | 17 | 20.24% | 2 | 22.22% | 35 | 18.62% | 23 | 28.75% | 33 | 15.35% |
Other | 150 | 31.06% | 129 | 33.08% | 21 | 25.00% | 0 | 0.00% | 51 | 27.13% | 27 | 33.75% | 72 | 33.49% |
Adoption of CE-Related KPIs | Total | Micro | Small | Medium | Manufacturing | Construction | Services | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
KPIs adopted | 43 | 10.14% | 30 | 8.85% | 11 | 14.47% | 2 | 22.22% | 15 | 8.93% | 8 | 11.94% | 20 | 10.58% |
KPIs not adopted | 381 | 89.86% | 309 | 91.15% | 65 | 85.53% | 7 | 77.78% | 153 | 91.07% | 59 | 88.06% | 169 | 89.42% |
Total | 424 | 100.00% | 339 | 100.00% | 76 | 100.00% | 9 | 100.00% | 168 | 100.00% | 67 | 100.00% | 189 | 100.00% |
Adoption of KPIs | Total | Micro | Small | Medium | Manufacturing | Construction | Services | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
Amount of waste recycled within the company 1 | ||||||||||||||
Already used | 21 | 60.00% | 15 | 57.69% | 6 | 66.67% | 0 | 0.00% | 7 | 58.33% | 6 | 85.71% | 8 | 50.00% |
To be introduced | 11 | 31.43% | 9 | 34.62% | 2 | 22.22% | 0 | 0.00% | 5 | 41.67% | 0 | 0.00% | 6 | 37.50% |
Quantity of recycled materials purchased externally to be used in internal processes 1 | ||||||||||||||
Already used | 16 | 45.71% | 10 | 40.00% | 6 | 66.67% | 0 | 0.00% | 6 | 54.55% | 4 | 57.14% | 6 | 35.29% |
To be introduced | 15 | 42.86% | 13 | 52.00% | 2 | 22.22% | 0 | 0.00% | 5 | 45.45% | 2 | 28.57% | 8 | 47.06% |
Number of industrial, distribution and administrative processes and number of products that have been redesigned according to CE principles 2 | ||||||||||||||
Already used | 15 | 41.67% | 4 | 33.33% | 3 | 42.86% | 8 | 47.06% | 12 | 46.15% | 2 | 22.22% | 1 | 100.00% |
To be introduced | 16 | 44.44% | 6 | 50.00% | 3 | 42.86% | 7 | 41.18% | 10 | 38.46% | 6 | 66.67% | 0 | 0.00% |
Revenues from sales of products containing recycled materials or parts, and revenues from direct sales of internally recovered materials 2 | ||||||||||||||
Already used | 13 | 36.11% | 9 | 34.62% | 3 | 33.33% | 1 | 100.00% | 4 | 33.33% | 3 | 42.86% | 6 | 35.29% |
To be introduced | 16 | 44.44% | 12 | 46.15% | 4 | 44.44% | 0 | 0.00% | 7 | 58.33% | 3 | 42.86% | 6 | 35.29% |
Quality of products containing recycled materials 2 | ||||||||||||||
Already used | 16 | 44.44% | 13 | 50.00% | 3 | 33.33% | 0 | 0.00% | 6 | 50.00% | 3 | 42.86% | 7 | 41.18% |
To be introduced | 14 | 38.89% | 10 | 38.46% | 4 | 44.44% | 0 | 0.00% | 5 | 41.67% | 3 | 42.86% | 6 | 35.29% |
Number of employees devoted to CE processes 2 | ||||||||||||||
Already used | 15 | 41.67% | 11 | 42.31% | 3 | 33.33% | 1 | 100.00% | 5 | 41.67% | 4 | 57.14% | 6 | 35.29% |
To be introduced | 11 | 30.56% | 8 | 30.77% | 3 | 33.33% | 0 | 0.00% | 4 | 33.33% | 1 | 14.29% | 6 | 35.29% |
Number of new staff recruited to deal with CE processes 2 | ||||||||||||||
Already used | 11 | 30.56% | 7 | 26.92% | 3 | 33.33% | 1 | 100.00% | 2 | 16.67% | 2 | 28.57% | 7 | 41.18% |
To be introduced | 13 | 36.11% | 10 | 38.46% | 3 | 33.33% | 0 | 0.00% | 8 | 66.67% | 0 | 0.00% | 5 | 29.41% |
Total | Micro | Small | Medium | Manufacturing | Construction | Services | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
KPIs are used to establish corporate targets 1 | 24 | 68.57% | 18 | 72.00% | 6 | 66.67% | 0 | 0.00% | 8 | 72.73% | 5 | 71.43% | 11 | 64.71% |
KPIs are used to measure corporate results 2 | 23 | 67.65% | 15 | 62.50% | 7 | 77.78% | 1 | 100.00% | 9 | 81.82% | 3 | 42.86% | 11 | 68.75% |
KPIs are used to assign individual targets and assess individual performances 2 | 23 | 67.65% | 16 | 66.67% | 7 | 77.78% | 0 | 0.00% | 8 | 80.00% | 4 | 57.14% | 11 | 64.71% |
KPIs are periodically examined by the company’s owner or board of directors 2 | 26 | 76.47% | 17 | 70.83% | 8 | 88.89% | 1 | 100.00% | 9 | 90.00% | 3 | 42.86% | 14 | 82.35% |
KPIs are illustrated to the employees to explain the targets that must be pursued and the results achieved 1 | 25 | 71.43% | 16 | 66.67% | 8 | 80.00% | 1 | 100.00% | 10 | 90.91% | 4 | 57.14% | 11 | 64.71% |
Factors Hindering the Use of CE-Related KPIs 1 | Total | Micro | Small | Medium | Manufacturing | Construction | Services | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
Limited knowledge of KPIs | 245 | 59.04% | 194 | 58.43% | 45 | 60.81% | 6 | 66.67% | 98 | 60.12% | 35 | 53.85% | 112 | 59.89% |
Excessive costs and complexity of compiling KPIs | 143 | 34.46% | 116 | 34.94% | 25 | 33.78% | 2 | 22.22% | 62 | 38.04% | 26 | 40.00% | 55 | 29.41% |
No benefit perceived | 135 | 32.53% | 113 | 34.04% | 18 | 24.32% | 4 | 44.44% | 53 | 32.52% | 22 | 33.85% | 60 | 32.09% |
Dissemination of Data on CE-Related Practices and Performance 1 | Total | Micro | Small | Medium | Manufacturing | Construction | Services | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
Transparency on CE | ||||||||||||||
Companies reporting externally on the CE | 66 | 15.98% | 44 | 13.33% | 20 | 27.03% | 2 | 22.22% | 31 | 19.02% | 7 | 10.77% | 28 | 15.14% |
Companies not reporting externally on the CE | 347 | 84.02% | 286 | 86.67% | 54 | 72.97% | 7 | 77.78% | 132 | 80.98% | 58 | 89.23% | 157 | 84.86% |
Total | 413 | 100.00% | 330 | 100.00% | 74 | 100.00% | 9 | 100.00% | 163 | 100.00% | 65 | 100.00% | 185 | 100.00% |
Tools adopted to report about CE 1 | ||||||||||||||
Sustainability report | 10 | 15.15% | 5 | 11.36% | 4 | 20.00% | 1 | 50.00% | 5 | 16.13% | 1 | 14.29% | 4 | 14.29% |
Environmental statement prepared in accordance with a standard of environmental certification | 14 | 21.21% | 8 | 18.18% | 4 | 20.00% | 2 | 100.00% | 4 | 12.90% | 4 | 57.14% | 6 | 21.43% |
Management discussion and analysis accompanying the annual report | 8 | 12.12% | 6 | 13.64% | 1 | 5.00% | 1 | 50.00% | 3 | 9.68% | 0 | 0.00% | 5 | 17.86% |
Reports for third parties (banks, suppliers, etc.) | 17 | 25.76% | 13 | 29.55% | 4 | 20.00% | 0 | 0.00% | 7 | 22.58% | 3 | 42.86% | 7 | 25.00% |
Corporate website | 36 | 54.55% | 23 | 52.27% | 13 | 65.00% | 0 | 0.00% | 19 | 61.29% | 3 | 42.86% | 14 | 50.00% |
Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations. |
© 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
Share and Cite
Salvioni, D.M.; Bosetti, L.; Fornasari, T. Implementing and Monitoring Circular Business Models: An Analysis of Italian SMEs. Sustainability 2022, 14, 270. https://doi.org/10.3390/su14010270
Salvioni DM, Bosetti L, Fornasari T. Implementing and Monitoring Circular Business Models: An Analysis of Italian SMEs. Sustainability. 2022; 14(1):270. https://doi.org/10.3390/su14010270
Chicago/Turabian StyleSalvioni, Daniela M., Luisa Bosetti, and Tommaso Fornasari. 2022. "Implementing and Monitoring Circular Business Models: An Analysis of Italian SMEs" Sustainability 14, no. 1: 270. https://doi.org/10.3390/su14010270