Circular startups and the integration of social dimensions into business models
Article Sidebar
Main Article Content
Abstract
This research addresses how startups integrate the social dimension into circular business models, particularly in the Global South. Sustainable development necessitates equal consideration of economic, environmental, and social aspects. Investigative gaps in the social dimension of the Circular Economy in the Global South elevate the risk of excluding perspectives from regions where circular activities are prevalent. Startups in these regions hold promise for fostering circular and innovative societies. By analyzing 69 Latin American circular startups listed in the Circular Startup Index by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, we examined how they integrate the social dimension into their value propositions and operations. Our findings contribute to a comprehensive understanding of the social dimension of Circular Economy strategies, identifying patterns in business models capable of promoting social impact. They highlight the potential of startups to influence societal attributes, providing insights for academics, professionals, and policymakers aiming to promote sustainability and social impact through circular and innovative business models.
Downloads
Metrics
Article Details
A RAE compromete-se a contribuir com a proteção dos direitos intelectuais do autor. Nesse sentido:
- adota a licença Creative Commoms BY (CC-BY) em todos os textos que publica, exceto quando houver indicação de específicos detentores dos direitos autorais e patrimoniais;
- adota software de detecção de similaridades;
- adota ações de combate ao plagio e má conduta ética, alinhada às diretrizes do Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE)
References
Bardin, L. (2011). Análise de conteúdo. Edições 70.
Bocken, N. M., Niessen, L., & Short, S. W. (2022). The sufficiency-based circular economy-an analysis of 150 companies. Frontiers in Sustainability, 3, 899289. https://doi.org/10.3389/frsus.2022.899289
Bocken, N. M., Schuit, C. S., & Kraaijenhagen, C. (2018). Experimenting with a circular business model: Lessons from eight cases. Environmental Innovation and Societal Transitions, 28, 79-95. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eist.2018.02.001
Clube, R. K., & Tennant, M. (2022). Social inclusion and the circular economy: The case of a fashion textiles manufacturer in Vietnam. Business Strategy & Development, 5(1), 4-16. https://doi.org/10.1002/bsd2.179
Dewick, P., Mello, A. M. de, Sarkis, J., & Donkor, F. K. (2022). The puzzle of the informal economy and the circular economy. Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 187, 106602. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2022.106602
Ellen MacArthur Foundation. (2024). Circular startup index. https://www.ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/resources/business/circular-startup-index
Galatti, L. G., & Baruque-Ramos, J. (2022). Circular economy indicators for measuring social innovation in the Brazilian textile and fashion industry. Journal of Cleaner Production, 363, 132485. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2022.132485
Geels, F. W., & Schot, J. (2007). Typology of sociotechnical transition pathways. Research Policy, 36(3), 399-417. DOI: 10.1016/j.respol.2007.01.003
Geissdoerfer, M., Savaget, P., Bocken, N. M., & Hultink, E. J. (2017). The circular economy new sustainability paradigm? Journal of Cleaner Production, 143, 757-768. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2016.12.048
Henry, M., Bauwens, T., Hekkert, M., & Kirchherr, J. (2020). A typology of circular startups: An analysis of 128 circular business models. Journal of Cleaner Production, 245, 118528. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2019.118528
Jabbour, C. J. C., Sarkis, J., Jabbour, A. B. L. de S., Renwick, D. W. S., Singh, S. K., Grebinevych, O., Kruglianskas, I., & Godinho, M., Filho (2019). Who is in charge? A review and a research agenda on the 'human side ' of the Circular Economy. Journal of Cleaner Production, 222, 793-801. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2019.03.038
Kirchherr, J., Reike, D., & Hekkert, M. (2017). Conceptualizing the circular economy: An analysis of 114 definitions. Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 127, 221-232. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2017.09.005
Kirchherr, J., Yang, N. H. N., Schulze-Spüntrup, F., Heerink, M. J., & Hartley, K. (2023). Conceptualizing the circular economy (revisited): An analysis of 221 definitions. Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 194, 107001. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2023.107001
Korhonen, J., Honkasalo, A., & Sepp¨al¨a, J. (2018). Circular Economy: The concept and its limitations. Ecological Economics, 143, 37-46. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolecon.2017.06.041
LinkedIn. (2024). Company search results on LinkedIn. https://www.linkedin.com/search/results/companies/
Lüdeke‐Freund, F., Gold, S., & Bocken, N. M. (2019). A review and typology of circular economy business model patterns. Journal of Industrial Ecology, 23(1), 36-61. https://doi.org/10.1111/jiec.12763
Marreiros-Barbosa, N., Hellmeister, P. I., Mello, A. M. De, & Braz, A. C. (2024). Managing circular ecosystems in imperfect contexts–the case of extractive fishing in the Brazilian Amazon region. RAUSP Management Journal, 59(2), 154-170. https://doi.org/10.1108/RAUSP-09-2023-0187
Mies, A., & Gold, S. (2021). Mapping the social dimension of the Circular Economy. Journal of Cleaner Production, 321, 128960. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2021.128960
Murray, A., Skene, K., & Haynes, K. (2017). The Circular Economy: An interdisciplinary exploration of the concept and application in a global context. Journal of Business Ethics, 140, 369-380. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-015-2693-2
Nazir, S., & Doni, F. (2024). Nexus of circular economy R0 to R9 principles in integrated reporting: Insights from a multiple case study comparison. Business Strategy and the Environment, 33, 4058-4085. https://doi.org/10.1002/bse.3684
Opstal, W. Van, & Borms, L. (2023). Startups and circular economy strategies: Profile differences, barriers, and enablers. Journal of Cleaner Production, 396, 136510. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2023.136510
Ostermann, C. M., Nascimento, L. D. S., & Zen, A. C. (2021). Business model innovation for circular economy in the fashion industry: A startups' perspective. Frontiers in Sustainability, 2, 766614. https://doi.org/10.3389/frsus.2021.766614
Padilla-Rivera, A., Carmo, B. B. T. do, Arcese, G., & Merveille, N. (2021). Social circular economy indicators: Selection through fuzzy Delphi method. Sustainable Production and Consumption, 26, 101-110. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.spc.2020.09.015
Padilla-Rivera, A., Russo-Garrido, S., & Merveille, N. (2020). Addressing the social aspects of a circular economy: A systematic literature review. Sustainability, 12(19), 7912. https://doi.org/10.3390/su12197912
Pieroni, M. P., McAloone, T. C., & Pigosso, D. C. (2019). Business model innovation for circular economy and sustainability: A review of approaches. Journal of Cleaner Production, 215, 198-216. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2019.01.036
Saliba, M., Glutting J. R., Brown E. G. (2023). Decent work in the Circular Economy: An overview of the existing evidence base. Circle Economy, Amsterdam. https://www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/public/---ed_dialogue/---sector/documents/publication/wcms_881337.pdf
Schröder, P., Lemille, A., & Desmond, P. (2020). Making the Circular Economy work for human development. Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 156, 104686. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2020.104686
Sehnem, S., Bispo, D. S., João, J. O., Souza, M. A. L. de, Bertoglio, O., Ciotti, R., & Deon, S. M. (2022). Upscaling circular economy in food techs businesses in emergent countries: Towards sustainable development through natural resource-based view. Sustainable Development, 30(5), 1200-1221. https://doi.org/10.1002/sd.2311
Teece, D. J. (2010). Business models, business strategy, and innovation. Long Range Planning, 43(2/3), 172-194. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lrp.2009.07.003
Valencia, M., Bocken, N., Loaiza, C., & Jaeger, S. De. (2023). The social contribution of the circular Economy. Journal of Cleaner Production, 408, 137082. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2023.137082
Walker, A. M., Opferkuch, K., Lindgreen, E. R., Simboli, A., Vermeulen, W. J., & Raggi, A. (2021). Assessing the social sustainability of circular economy practices: Industry perspectives from Italy and the Netherlands. Sustainable Production and Consumption, 27, 831-844. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.spc.2021.01.030
Yin, R. K. (2014). Case study research: Design and methods (5th ed.). Sage.