How circular are large corporations? Evidence from a large-scale survey with senior leaders
(2025) In Resources, Conservation and Recycling 215.- Abstract
The circular economy has been promoted as a way for corporations to radically improve their resource efficiency and effectiveness by narrowing, slowing, closing and regenerating resource flows. However, the degree of implementation of these circular strategies across different geographies and industries is little understood. We conducted a large-scale survey with senior leaders in large corporations focused on the implementation of these circular strategies in different corporate functions. We find that the close the loop strategy is most implemented overall, followed by narrowing and slowing the loop. Regeneration is the least implemented. In companies’ own operations, narrow the loop strategies were far ahead of any other strategies.... (More)
The circular economy has been promoted as a way for corporations to radically improve their resource efficiency and effectiveness by narrowing, slowing, closing and regenerating resource flows. However, the degree of implementation of these circular strategies across different geographies and industries is little understood. We conducted a large-scale survey with senior leaders in large corporations focused on the implementation of these circular strategies in different corporate functions. We find that the close the loop strategy is most implemented overall, followed by narrowing and slowing the loop. Regeneration is the least implemented. In companies’ own operations, narrow the loop strategies were far ahead of any other strategies. In the supply chain function, narrow the loop strategies start earliest. In the products and services function, close the loop strategies have generally been prioritised. This study shows progress in circular implementation in corporations but also important gaps to move beyond low-hanging fruits.
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- author
- Bocken, Nancy M.P. LU ; Kimpimäki, Jaan Pauli ; Ritala, Paavo and Konietzko, Jan
- organization
- publishing date
- 2025-04
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- keywords
- Circular economy, Circular strategies, Corporations, Implementation, Maturity, Resource strategies, Survey
- in
- Resources, Conservation and Recycling
- volume
- 215
- article number
- 108151
- publisher
- Elsevier
- external identifiers
-
- scopus:85216557636
- ISSN
- 0921-3449
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.resconrec.2025.108151
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- 0832f600-f206-4350-832f-477daa8710a6
- date added to LUP
- 2025-03-24 13:54:01
- date last changed
- 2025-04-04 13:58:15
@article{0832f600-f206-4350-832f-477daa8710a6,
abstract = {{<p>The circular economy has been promoted as a way for corporations to radically improve their resource efficiency and effectiveness by narrowing, slowing, closing and regenerating resource flows. However, the degree of implementation of these circular strategies across different geographies and industries is little understood. We conducted a large-scale survey with senior leaders in large corporations focused on the implementation of these circular strategies in different corporate functions. We find that the close the loop strategy is most implemented overall, followed by narrowing and slowing the loop. Regeneration is the least implemented. In companies’ own operations, narrow the loop strategies were far ahead of any other strategies. In the supply chain function, narrow the loop strategies start earliest. In the products and services function, close the loop strategies have generally been prioritised. This study shows progress in circular implementation in corporations but also important gaps to move beyond low-hanging fruits.</p>}},
author = {{Bocken, Nancy M.P. and Kimpimäki, Jaan Pauli and Ritala, Paavo and Konietzko, Jan}},
issn = {{0921-3449}},
keywords = {{Circular economy; Circular strategies; Corporations; Implementation; Maturity; Resource strategies; Survey}},
language = {{eng}},
publisher = {{Elsevier}},
series = {{Resources, Conservation and Recycling}},
title = {{How circular are large corporations? Evidence from a large-scale survey with senior leaders}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2025.108151}},
doi = {{10.1016/j.resconrec.2025.108151}},
volume = {{215}},
year = {{2025}},
}