Small Business Strategies for Sustainable and Circular Economy
A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Economic and Business Aspects of Sustainability".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 2 February 2026 | Viewed by 99
Special Issue Editors
Interests: sustainable consumption; circular economy; sustainability education; sustainable retail strategies
Interests: sustainable textile supply chain; raw material sourcing; consumer socialization; small business vitality
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Transitioning to a sustainable and circular economy requires dramatic shifts in current business practices. Micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) will play an important role in this ambitious transformation. MSMEs support a robust economy by driving innovation, creating jobs, and contributing to economic growth. These enterprises will be particularly important in developing sustainable and circular economy practices due to their flexibility and ability to adapt quickly to new business models and technologies. Therefore, there is a need to find valuable insights and practical guidance for small businesses, policymakers, and researchers, in order to foster a deeper understanding of how small businesses can effectively contribute to a sustainable and circular economy.
This Special Issue will explore the multifaceted approaches small businesses can adopt to contribute to a sustainable and circular economy by inviting researchers and practitioners to submit original research articles, case studies, and theoretical or conceptual papers on a broad range of topics related to small business strategies. The purpose is to highlight the critical role small businesses play in advancing sustainable and circular economy principles. Topics may include (but are not limited to) the following:
- Circular Economy Business Models: Investigating innovative business models that emphasize reuse, recycling, and resource efficiency, showcasing successful implementations by small businesses.
- Sustainable Supply Chain Management: Exploring strategies for creating sustainable supply chains, focusing on ethical sourcing and waste reduction.
- Product Life Cycle Management: Examining approaches to design products for longevity and recyclability, featuring case studies of small businesses that have extended product life cycles.
- Waste Reduction and Resource Efficiency: Presenting techniques for minimizing waste in small business operations and implementing resource-efficient practices to reduce environmental impact.
- Eco-Innovation and Green Technologies: Analyzing the adoption of green technologies by small businesses and the impact of eco-innovation on business sustainability and profitability.
- Consumer Behavior and Sustainable Consumption: Understanding consumer attitudes towards sustainable products and developing strategies for small businesses to influence sustainable consumption patterns.
- Collaborative Networks and Partnerships: Highlighting the role of collaboration in achieving sustainability goals, with case studies of successful partnerships between small businesses and other stakeholders.
- Sustainable Marketing and Branding: Discussing marketing strategies that emphasize sustainability efforts and building a brand around sustainable and circular economy principles.
- Economic and Social Impacts of Circular Economy: Evaluating the economic benefits of circular economy practices for small businesses and the social implications of adopting sustainable business strategies.
All methodologies are welcome, as we seek diverse perspectives and approaches to advance knowledge and action in this sector.
Prof. Dr. Melody Lanette Adkins LeHew
Dr. Jennifer Johnson Jorgensen
Dr. Yue Teng Vaughan
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.
Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.
Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.
Keywords
- circularity
- business models
- sustainability
- SMEs
- consumer behavior
- supply chain
- eco-innovation
- economic impact
- product life cycle
- zero waste
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