Modern Circular Economy: Corporate Strategy, Supply Chain, and Industrial Symbiosis

• Main Authors: Cristina Maranesi, Pietro De Giovanni
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2020-11-01
• Series: Sustainability
• Subjects: circular economy; corporate strategies; performance; eco-innovation; industrial symbiosis
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/12/22/9383

This paper analyses the firms’ chances to consider circular economy as a part of the corporate strategy. The analysis of four Italian firms engaged in circular economy programs allows us to detect its connections with the corporate strategy, the real activities involved, the supply chain network ensuring circularity, the industrial symbiosis, as well as the links with performance. Our findings highlight that circular economy is a true business lever when the corporate strategy complements and supports its development. This allows firms to achieve high level targets that go beyond the traditional targets of social, environmental, and economic performance, and include circular supply chain, eco-innovations, and industrial symbiosis.