Dear Colleagues,

The so far adopted linear ‘take, make, dispose’ economic model relies on two main assumptions, namely: (i) the availability of unlimited (and possibly cheap) quantities of materials and energy and (ii) environmental and social costs managed as externalities. These assumptions represent the main limits of the linear economic model and are, to some extent, the reasons for the main problems (e.g., environmental disasters, climate change, and social inequalities) caused by its adoption. The problems have alerted to the necessity of rethinking the traditional economic model to take advantage of the benefits of a circular economy (CE)—an economy that is restorative and regenerative by design, seeks to ultimately decouple global economic development from finite resource consumption, generates growth, creates jobs, and reduces environmental impacts, including carbon emissions (Ellen MacArthur Foundation, 2014).

By promoting the adoption of closing-the-loop production and consumption patterns (through narrowing, slowing, closing and regenerating strategies) within an economic system, CE aims to increase the efficiency of resource use and reduce the waste and emission leakage out of any organization to achieve a better balance between economy, environment and society (Geissdoerfer et al., 2020; Ghisellini et al., 2016; Konietzko et al., 2020;)

Rethinking value creation in a circular perspective often requires the innovation of business models. The widespread adoption of sustainable and circular business models is indeed required to accelerate the transition to a more sustainable society. The literature supporting the process of business model innovation for circular economy (or the circular economy business model (CEBM)) is still in its infancy (Geissdoerfer et al., 2020; Santa-Maria et al., 2021). Yet, CEBM classifications and taxonomies have already been developed (e.g., Henry et al., 2020; Lewandowski, 2016, Lüdeke-Freund et al., 2019; Pieroni et al., 2020; Urbinati et al. 2017).

Some classifications involve business models (e.g., platform-based business models) based on digital technologies (DTs). CE has the potential to capitalize upon DTs such as big data, artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain and the Internet of things (IoT), amongst others.

DTs combined with business model innovation offer interesting and innovative solutions for the circular economy transformation (Chauhan et al., 2022; Ranta et al., 2021). To emphasize such aspects, some scholars (e.g., Kristoffersenet al., 2021; Magrini et al., 2021; Rosa et al., 2020) introduced the notion of digital circular economy (digital CE).

Digitalisation can boost the transformation by facilitating the closing of material loops (e.g., by providing accurate information on the availability, location and condition of products), enabling more efficient processes, minimising waste, promoting longer life for products, minimising transaction costs and increasing resource efficiency, supporting servitization, facilitating coordination among companies and collaboration with stakeholders (Antikainen et al., 2018; UNEP, na). Hence, DTs have the potential to dramatically influence social and environmental sustainable development (Bai et al., 2020; Ellen MacArthur Foundation, 2019).

This Special Issue intends to (i) explore challenges and opportunities offered by digital technologies in the context of business model innovations for circular economy; (ii) further investigate classifications, peculiarities, benefits and criticalities of digital circular business models; and to (iii) assess the potential of digital circular economy to implement the EU Industry 5.0 vision (https://ec.europa.eu/info/research-and-innovation/research-area/industrial-research-and-innovation/industry-50_en), both in developed and developing countries.

We encourage submissions of both theoretical and practical contributions.

Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:

• Organizational and managerial challenges to develop digital circular business models;
• Classification or taxonomies of digital circular business models;
• Criticalities and benefits of DTs adoption in the CE context;
• Coordination and collaboration models for digital circular economy;
• Digital circular business models to achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs);
• Digital circular business models to foster EU Industry 5.0;
• Digital circular business models to foster industrial symbiosis;
• Digital circular business models that leverage on blockchain;
• Digital circular business models to foster the development of sustainable innovations;
• Environmental and social impact of digital circular business models;
• Frameworks and tools to assess the environmental and social impact of digital circular business models.

Main References

Antikainen, M., Uusitalo, T., & Kivikytö-Reponen, P. (2018). Digitalisation as an Enabler of Circular Economy. Procedia CIRP,  73, pp. 45-49. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.procir.2018.04.027

Bai, C., Dallasega, P., Orzes, G., & Sarkis, J. (2020). Industry 4.0 technologies assessment: A sustainability perspective. International Journal of Production Economics, 229. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpe.2020.107776

Chauhan, C., Parida, V., & Dhir, A. (2022). Linking circular economy and digitalisation technologies: A systematic literature review of past achievements and future promises. Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 177. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techfore.2022.121508

Ellen MacArthur Foundation. (2014). Towards the Circular Economy: Vol. 1: Economic and business rationale for an accelerated transition. Url: https://emf.thirdlight.com/link/x8ay372a3r11-k6775n/@/preview/1?o (last access: June 6, 2022)

Ellen MacArthur Foundation. (2019). Artificial Intelligence and the Circular Economy: Ai As a Tool To Accelerate the transition. url:  https://emf.thirdlight.com/link/dl06eujbcbet-wx40o7/@/preview/1?o (last access: June 6. 2022)

Geissdoerfer, M., Pieroni, M. P., Pigosso, D. C., & Soufani, K. (2020). Circular business models: A review, Journal of Cleaner Production, 277, 123741.

Ghisellini, P., Cialani, C., & Ulgiati, S. (2016). A review on circular economy: The expected transition to a balanced interplay of environmental and economic systems. Journal of Cleaner Production. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2015.09.007

Henry, M., Bauwens, T., Hekkert, M., & Kirchherr, J. (2020). A typology of circular start-ups: An Analysis of 128 circular business models. Journal of Cleaner Production, 245, 118528.

Konietzko, J., Baldassarre, B., Brown, P., Bocken, N., Hultink, E. J. (2020). Circular business model experimentation: Demystifying assumptions. Journal of Cleaner Production,  277, 122596, doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2020.122596.

Kristoffersen, E., Blomsma, F., Mikalef, P., & Li, J. (2020). The smart circular economy: A digital-enabled circular strategies framework for manufacturing companies. Journal of Business Research, 120. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2020.07.044

Kristoffersen, E., Mikalef, P., Blomsma, F., & Li, J. (2021). The effects of business analytics capability on circular economy implementation, resource orchestration capability, and firm performance. International Journal of Production Economics, 239. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpe.2021.108205

Lewandowski, M., 2016. Designing the business models for circular economydtowards the conceptual framework. Sustainability 8 (1), 43. http://www.mdpi. com/2071-1050/8/1/43

Lüdeke-Freund, F., Stefan, G., Bocken, N.M.P., 2019. A review and typology of circular economy business model patterns. Journal of Industial Ecology 23 (1), 36e61. https://doi.org/ 10.1111/jiec.12763.

Magrini, Chiara, Jana Nicolas, Holger Berg, Alberto Bellini, Enrico Paolini, Nazarena Vincenti, Luca Campadello, and Alessandra Bonoli. 2021. "Using Internet of Things and Distributed Ledger Technology for Digital Circular Economy Enablement: The Case of Electronic Equipment" Sustainability 13, no. 9: 4982. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13094982

Pieroni, M. P., McAloone, T. C., & Pigosso, D. C. (2020). From theory to practice: systematising and testing business model archetypes for circular economy.  Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 162, 105029.

Ranta, V., Aarikka-Stenroos, L., Väisänen, J. M. (2021). Digital technologies catalyzing business model innovation for circular economy—Multiple case study. Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 164.

Rosa, P., Sassanelli, C., Urbinati, A., Chiaroni, D., & Terzi, S. (2020). Assessing relations between Circular Economy and Industry 4.0: a systematic literature review. International Journal of Production Research, 58(6). https://doi.org/10.1080/00207543.2019.1680896

Santa-Maria, T., Vermeulen, W. J. V., & Baumgartner, R. J. (2021). Framing and assessing the emergent field of business model innovation for the circular economy: A combined literature review and multiple case study approach. Sustainable Production and Consumption, 26. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.spc.2020.12.037

UNEP, na. The role of product service systems in a sustainable society https://www.unep.org/resources/report/role-product-service-systems-sustainable-society

Urbinati, A., Chiaroni, D., Chiesa, V., 2017. Towards a new taxonomy of circular economy business models. Jornal of Cleaner Production, 168, 487e498. https://doi.org/10.1016/ j.jclepro.2017.09.047.

Dr. Barbara Scozzi
Dr. Rosa Maria Dangelico
Prof. Dr. Pierpaolo Pontrandolfo
Guest Editors

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• circular economy
• digital technologies
• Industry 5.0
• business model
• digital circular economy