Circular Economy and Digital Platforms: New Models for Organizational Innovation
Keywords:
circular economy, digital platforms, organizational innovation, sustainability, organizational capabilities, digital transformation
Abstract
The convergence between circular economy and digital platforms is reshaping organizational innovation models amid increasing environmental pressures and accelerated digital transformation. This article explores how digital platforms serve as enablers of circular practices by integrating operational efficiency, traceability, multi-stakeholder collaboration, and internal organizational capabilities. A mixed-methods approach was used, combining the analysis of digital performance metrics (circular participation, traceability, reuse rates, avoided emissions) with semi-structured interviews involving leaders from five active digital platforms in Latin America. The results show a significant relationship between digital performance and organizational maturity, validating a conceptual model that links technology, sustainability, and innovation. This study advances the field of digital circular economy by offering practical indicators and empirical evidence for the sustainable transformation of organizations.Downloads
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References
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Brynjolfsson, E., & McAfee, A. (2014). The second machine age: Work, progress, and prosperity in a time of brilliant technologies. W. W. Norton & Company.
Chirumalla, K., Chaudhuri, A., Slepniov, D., & Parida, V. (2024). Circular product innovation: A literature review and research agenda. Journal of Cleaner Production, 436, 140886. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2023.140886
Del Vecchio, P., Secundo, G., Ndou, V., & Passiante, G. (2021). Mobilizing intellectual capital to improve sustainability in smart cities: A meta-analytic review. Journal of Cleaner Production, 278, 123806. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2020.123806
Dicuonzo, G., Garzoni, A., & Gatti, C. (2022). Innovation and sustainability: Exploring digital transformation for circular economy. Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 180, 121712. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techfore.2022.121712
Evans, S., & Gao, J. (2016). The influence of big data and digital technologies on business model innovation. Technovation, 48–49, 1–3. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.technovation.2015.12.005
Geissdoerfer, M., Savaget, P., Bocken, N. M. P., & Hultink, E. J. (2017). The Circular Economy – A new sustainability paradigm? Journal of Cleaner Production, 143, 757–768. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2016.12.048
Geissdoerfer, M., Savaget, P., Bocken, N. M. P., & Hultink, E. J. (2017). The Circular Economy – A new sustainability paradigm? Journal of Cleaner Production, 143, 757–768. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2016.12.048
Khan, M. T. I., Zhou, M., Khan, M. M. H., & Waqas, M. (2024). Digital technology adoption, innovation, and globalization for sustainable economic growth: Evidence from Asia-Pacific. Environmental Challenges, 9, 100876. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envc.2024.100876
Kirchherr, J., Reike, D., & Hekkert, M. (2018). Conceptualizing the circular economy: An analysis of 114 definitions. Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 127, 221–232. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2017.09.005
Köhler, J., Zilker, R., & Mignon, I. (2022). Dynamic capabilities for circular business model transformation. Journal of Business Research, 150, 160–172. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2022.06.024
Liu, Y., Lim, M. K., & Tan, K. H. (2021). Towards circular economy: The roles of digitalization and sustainability orientation. Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 168, 105267. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2021.105267
Mishra, A. R., Singh, R., & Lim, M. K. (2024). Overcoming barriers to digital technologies for sustainable food supply chains: A hybrid MCDM approach. Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 194, 106865. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2023.106865
Nambisan, S., Wright, M., & Feldman, M. (2017). The digital transformation of innovation and entrepreneurship: Progress, challenges and key themes. Research Policy, 46(3), 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.respol.2017.01.003
Popescu, D., Mihai, M., & Scarlat, C. (2022). Eco-innovation and circular business models in the context of sustainable development. Sustainable Futures, 4, 100075. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sftr.2022.100075
Sgarbossa, F., Osborn, L., & Romero, D. (2024). Digital technologies for achieving SDGs in production systems: A multi-level analysis. Sustainable Production and Consumption, 42, 125–136. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.spc.2024.03.004
Wu, S., Lin, Y., & Chien, C. (2024). Digital platforms and circular business model innovation: Evidence from smart manufacturing ecosystems. Journal of Cleaner Production, 430, 140415. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2023.140415
Zhao, Z., Zhang, J., & Liu, W. (2024). Circular economy practices and corporate sustainability performance: A systematic review. Journal of Environmental Management, 350, 120274. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.120274
Published
2025-01-21
How to Cite
Campo, C. (2025). Circular Economy and Digital Platforms: New Models for Organizational Innovation. IJMSOR: International Journal of Management Science & Operation Research, 10(1), 126-138. Retrieved from https://ijmsoridi.com/index.php/ijmsor/article/view/140
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