Beyond the circular economy theory: implementation methodology for industrial SMEs

Purpose: The circular economy has multiple benefits and opportunities to achieve sustainability and abetter future for the next generations. The purpose of this paper is to propose a methodology that guidesstep-by-step any industrial SMEs in the transition from the linear to a circular model. Small...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Prieto Sandoval, Vanessa, Torres Guevara, Luz Elba, Ormazabal, Marta, Jaca, Carmen
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Fecha de publicación:2021
País:España
Institución:Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC)
Repositorio:UPCommons. Portal del coneixement obert de la UPC
Idioma:inglés
OAI Identifier:oai:upcommons.upc.edu:2117/356639
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/2117/356639
https://dx.doi.org/10.3926/jiem.3413
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Strategic planning
Small business
Circular economy implementation
Strategic management
Sustainable improvement
SMEs
Storyboarding
Economia circular
Planificació estratègica
Empreses petites i mitjanes
Àrees temàtiques de la UPC::Economia i organització d'empreses::Microeconomia::Empreses
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repository_id_str
spelling Beyond the circular economy theory: implementation methodology for industrial SMEsPrieto Sandoval, VanessaTorres Guevara, Luz ElbaOrmazabal, MartaJaca, CarmenStrategic planningSmall businessCircular economy implementationStrategic managementSustainable improvementSMEsStoryboardingEconomia circularPlanificació estratègicaEmpreses petites i mitjanesÀrees temàtiques de la UPC::Economia i organització d'empreses::Microeconomia::EmpresesPurpose: The circular economy has multiple benefits and opportunities to achieve sustainability and abetter future for the next generations. The purpose of this paper is to propose a methodology that guidesstep-by-step any industrial SMEs in the transition from the linear to a circular model. Small and mediumenterprises (SMEs) have a crucial role in the sustainable development transition, considering that theyrepresent most of the world's companies.Design/methodology/approach: To develop this methodology, two research techniques were used: afocus group and storyboarding.Findings: The resulting methodology, called Ecopyme, comprises five steps: 1) Firm identity, 2)Diagnosis, 3) Planning, 4) Get the ball rolling, and 5) Assessment and feedback. In addition, two keycriteria that must be included in the whole process were identified: value creation in the firm through acircular economy and organization commitment from the top management to the staff. Research limitations/implications: The Ecopyme methodology has two limitations: It does notpropose either implementation tools or involve consumers and actors at the meso (e.g., eco-industrialparks) and macro (e.g., cities, provinces, countries) levels. Practical implications: This study will help policymakers understand the SMEs' perspective and removebarriers that may hinder the paradigm shift. The methodology is also a useful tool for consultants andentrepreneurs to incorporate the circular economy (CE) principles into their business.Originality/value: In the CE literature, little attention has been paid to proposing a structuredmethodology to implement CE in SMEs. Thus, the study provides a step-by-step methodology thatguides any industrial SMEs to transition from linear to circular. Also, it provides additional evidenceconcerning the importance of human commitment in changing firms' paradigm because people canencourage the adoption of responsible production practices if firms commit CEOs, sustainabilitymanagers, and staffPeer ReviewedOmniaScience20212021-01-0120212021-11-18journal articlehttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_6501NAhttp://purl.org/coar/version/c_be7fb7dd8ff6fe43info:eu-repo/semantics/articleapplication/pdfhttps://hdl.handle.net/2117/356639https://dx.doi.org/10.3926/jiem.3413reponame:UPCommons. Portal del coneixement obert de la UPCinstname:Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC)Inglésengopen accesshttp://purl.org/coar/access_right/c_abf2https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccessoai:upcommons.upc.edu:2117/3566392026-05-27T15:37:01Z
dc.title.none.fl_str_mv Beyond the circular economy theory: implementation methodology for industrial SMEs
title Beyond the circular economy theory: implementation methodology for industrial SMEs
spellingShingle Beyond the circular economy theory: implementation methodology for industrial SMEs
Prieto Sandoval, Vanessa
Strategic planning
Small business
Circular economy implementation
Strategic management
Sustainable improvement
SMEs
Storyboarding
Economia circular
Planificació estratègica
Empreses petites i mitjanes
Àrees temàtiques de la UPC::Economia i organització d'empreses::Microeconomia::Empreses
title_short Beyond the circular economy theory: implementation methodology for industrial SMEs
title_full Beyond the circular economy theory: implementation methodology for industrial SMEs
title_fullStr Beyond the circular economy theory: implementation methodology for industrial SMEs
title_full_unstemmed Beyond the circular economy theory: implementation methodology for industrial SMEs
title_sort Beyond the circular economy theory: implementation methodology for industrial SMEs
dc.creator.none.fl_str_mv Prieto Sandoval, Vanessa
Torres Guevara, Luz Elba
Ormazabal, Marta
Jaca, Carmen
author Prieto Sandoval, Vanessa
author_facet Prieto Sandoval, Vanessa
Torres Guevara, Luz Elba
Ormazabal, Marta
Jaca, Carmen
author_role author
author2 Torres Guevara, Luz Elba
Ormazabal, Marta
Jaca, Carmen
author2_role author
author
author
dc.subject.none.fl_str_mv Strategic planning
Small business
Circular economy implementation
Strategic management
Sustainable improvement
SMEs
Storyboarding
Economia circular
Planificació estratègica
Empreses petites i mitjanes
Àrees temàtiques de la UPC::Economia i organització d'empreses::Microeconomia::Empreses
topic Strategic planning
Small business
Circular economy implementation
Strategic management
Sustainable improvement
SMEs
Storyboarding
Economia circular
Planificació estratègica
Empreses petites i mitjanes
Àrees temàtiques de la UPC::Economia i organització d'empreses::Microeconomia::Empreses
description Purpose: The circular economy has multiple benefits and opportunities to achieve sustainability and abetter future for the next generations. The purpose of this paper is to propose a methodology that guidesstep-by-step any industrial SMEs in the transition from the linear to a circular model. Small and mediumenterprises (SMEs) have a crucial role in the sustainable development transition, considering that theyrepresent most of the world's companies.Design/methodology/approach: To develop this methodology, two research techniques were used: afocus group and storyboarding.Findings: The resulting methodology, called Ecopyme, comprises five steps: 1) Firm identity, 2)Diagnosis, 3) Planning, 4) Get the ball rolling, and 5) Assessment and feedback. In addition, two keycriteria that must be included in the whole process were identified: value creation in the firm through acircular economy and organization commitment from the top management to the staff. Research limitations/implications: The Ecopyme methodology has two limitations: It does notpropose either implementation tools or involve consumers and actors at the meso (e.g., eco-industrialparks) and macro (e.g., cities, provinces, countries) levels. Practical implications: This study will help policymakers understand the SMEs' perspective and removebarriers that may hinder the paradigm shift. The methodology is also a useful tool for consultants andentrepreneurs to incorporate the circular economy (CE) principles into their business.Originality/value: In the CE literature, little attention has been paid to proposing a structuredmethodology to implement CE in SMEs. Thus, the study provides a step-by-step methodology thatguides any industrial SMEs to transition from linear to circular. Also, it provides additional evidenceconcerning the importance of human commitment in changing firms' paradigm because people canencourage the adoption of responsible production practices if firms commit CEOs, sustainabilitymanagers, and staff
publishDate 2021
dc.date.none.fl_str_mv 2021
2021-01-01
2021
2021-11-18
dc.type.none.fl_str_mv journal article
http://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_6501
NA
http://purl.org/coar/version/c_be7fb7dd8ff6fe43
dc.type.openaire.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/article
format article
dc.identifier.none.fl_str_mv https://hdl.handle.net/2117/356639
https://dx.doi.org/10.3926/jiem.3413
url https://hdl.handle.net/2117/356639
https://dx.doi.org/10.3926/jiem.3413
dc.language.none.fl_str_mv Inglés
eng
language_invalid_str_mv Inglés
language eng
dc.rights.none.fl_str_mv open access
http://purl.org/coar/access_right/c_abf2

https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
dc.rights.openaire.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
rights_invalid_str_mv open access
http://purl.org/coar/access_right/c_abf2

https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
eu_rights_str_mv openAccess
dc.format.none.fl_str_mv application/pdf
dc.publisher.none.fl_str_mv OmniaScience
publisher.none.fl_str_mv OmniaScience
dc.source.none.fl_str_mv reponame:UPCommons. Portal del coneixement obert de la UPC
instname:Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC)
instname_str Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC)
reponame_str UPCommons. Portal del coneixement obert de la UPC
collection UPCommons. Portal del coneixement obert de la UPC
repository.name.fl_str_mv
repository.mail.fl_str_mv
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