In:
Österreichische Wasser- und Abfallwirtschaft, Springer Science and Business Media LLC, Vol. 74, No. 1-2 ( 2022-02), p. 51-63
Abstract:
The circular economy (CE) concept has been a top priority on the European agenda since 2015. Consequently, research on business transformation towards a CE has grown significantly in the last years. However, up to now, literature is dominated by conceptual research, and available empirical research mainly consists of single or multiple case studies. Empirical studies based on larger samples are rare and, so far, no study has investigated the state of implementation of the circular economy in Austrian firms. This research gap is addressed by this study, which provides the results of telephone interviews with 120 CEOs and 100 sustainability executives of Austrian firms. The focus lies on companies from the manufacturing sector. The interview questions were derived from literature and build on established concepts such as the 10-Rs or the ReSOLVE framework. The results, first, reveal the strategic CE orientation of Austrian companies by detailing to which extent CE considerations are integrated into corporate strategies, innovation, human resources, and operations. Second, the degree of implementation of 26 specific CE and sustainability-oriented practices is illustrated. These practices cover a full life cycle perspective and comprise interventions in different areas of the firm. For instance, it is portrayed to which extent firms engage in sustainable supply chain management, change their product design (e.g., design for recycling/reuse/repair, …), optimize their production (e.g., use of recyclates, closing of internal resource loops, …), change their business models (e.g., via dematerialization or the sale of by-products), or reuse/recycle post-consumer products. Third, it is shown how CEOs evaluate the impact of implementing these strategies on the overall financial and sustainability performance of their companies. Finally, the CEOs’ perception of the Austrian market’s readiness for a CE is provided. This is done by illustrating how the interviewees evaluated competitive pressure, technological developments, and demand for circular products. In summary, the study reveals that the CE adoption in Austrian firms is still primarily compliance and efficiency driven. More radical changes on the product level, the production and especially the business models are seldom. These and the other descriptive insights of this study provide practitioners and researchers with a comprehensive approximation of the maturity of the circular economy in Austrian firms from different perspectives. Thus, it may serve as a basis for further research and business engagement on the CE implementation—a requirement for unlocking the full potentials of a circular economy in Austria.
Type of Medium:
Online Resource
ISSN:
0945-358X
,
1613-7566
DOI:
10.1007/s00506-021-00828-3
Language:
German
Publisher:
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Publication Date:
2022
detail.hit.zdb_id:
1186984-7
detail.hit.zdb_id:
2383304-X
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