Dear Colleagues,

The established linear production and consumption economic system has been recently challenged by the circular economy (CE) paradigm (Geissdoerfer, 2017). This evolution arises from the need to cope with the continuous extraction of raw materials, mass consumption and waste disposal at the end of the product life stage, which has been increasingly considered unsustainable (Ghisellini et al., 2016). This paved the way for adopting a more circular economic model. Circular economy (CE) is defined as an economy designed to “regenerate itself”: biological materials are reinserted into the biosphere, and technical materials are designed to be reused with a minimum loss in quality (EMA, 2015). Circular economy can be seen as a framework for systems-level solutions that address issues including, among others, pollution, waste generation, biodiversity loss, and climate change (Yang et al., 2022).

In this context, the aim of the present Special Issue is to better understand how businesses can foster the transition towards a more regenerative circular economy. Indeed, CE changes the emphasis from extraction to regeneration; the aim of this paradigm is to create natural capital rather than destroy it, starting to resemble natural systems (Morsoletto, 2020). The wider attention to regeneration calls for a different approach in businesses. Firms should now concentrate on actively enhancing the environment rather than just minimizing harm done to it. By doing so, businesses can support ecosystem resilience by restoring and improving the quality of resources and cycles, which is also an essential natural capacity for coping with climate change (Gallego-Schmid et al., 2020).

Scholars and practitioners have documented how the CE paradigm is giving birth to entirely new and very innovative business models (Bocken et al., 2014). Several of these business models have the potential to profoundly change the current economic system (Corsini et al., 2020) and push regenerative circular loops (Esposito et al., 2018). However, traditional companies can also progress towards the CE through minor changes that strengthen the circularity of their value chains (Gusmerotti et al., 2019), thus revising their strategies to incorporate different CE approaches.

A deeper understanding of those business models and strategies is needed, and thus in this Special Issue we welcome the submission of original research articles and reviews. Research areas may include (but are not limited to) the following:

• Regenerative circular economy approaches;
• Circular business model;
• Circular strategies adoption;
• Innovation for fostering circular economy adoption in business;
• Circular economy and climate change mitigation in business strategies;
• Circular economy and climate change adaptation in business strategies;
• Indicators, tools and instruments to foster the adoption of circular economy in business.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

References:

• Bocken, N.M.; Short, S.W.; Rana, P.; Evans, S. A literature and practice review to develop sustainable business model archetypes. J. Clean. Prod. 2014, 65, 42–56.
• Corsini, F.; Gusmerotti, N.M.; Frey, M. Consumer’s circular behaviors in relation to the purchase, extension of life, and end of life management of electrical and electronic products: A review. Sustainability 2020, 12, 10443.
• Esposito, M.; Tse, T.; Soufani, K. Introducing a circular economy: New thinking with new managerial and policy implications. Calif. Manag. Rev. 2018, 60, 5–19.
• Gallego-Schmid, A.; Chen, H.M.; Sharmina, M.; Mendoza, J.M.F. Links between circular economy and climate change mitigation in the built environment. J. Clean. Prod. 2020, 260, 121115.
• Geissdoerfer, M.; Savaget, P.; Bocken, N.M.; Hultink, E.J. The Circular Economy–A new sustainability paradigm? J. Clean. Prod. 2017, 143, 757–768.
• Ghisellini, P.; Cialani, C.; Ulgiati, S. A review on circular economy: The expected transition to a balanced interplay of environmental and economic systems. J. Clean. Prod. 2016, 114, 11–32.
• Gusmerotti, N.M.; Testa, F.; Corsini, F.; Pretner, G.; Iraldo, F. Drivers and approaches to the circular economy in manufacturing firms. J. Clean. Prod. 2019, 230, 314–327.
• MacArthur, E.; Zumwinkel, K.; Stuchtey, M.R. Growth within: A circular economy vision for a competitive Europe. Ellen MacArthur Foundation. 2015. Available online: https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/sustainability/our-insights/growth-within-a-circular-economy-vision-for-a-competitive-europe (accessed on 10 July 2022).
• Morseletto, P. Restorative and regenerative: Exploring the concepts in the circular economy. J. Ind. Ecol. 2020, 24, 763–773.
• Yang, M.; Chen, L.; Wang, J.; Msigwa, G.; Osman, A.I.; Fawzy, S.; Yap, P.S. Circular economy strategies for combating climate change and other environmental issues. Environ. Chem. Lett. 2023, 21, 55–80.

Dr. Filippo Corsini
Dr. Natalia Gusmerotti
Guest Editors

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• circular economy
• sustainability
• regeneration
• natural capital
• climate change
• adaptation
• mitigation
• business model
• strategies