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Family Businesses Transitioning to a Circular Economy Model: The Case of “Mercadona”

Author

Listed:
  • Pedro Núñez-Cacho

    (Polytechnic School of Linares, University of Jaén, 23071 Jaén, Spain)

  • Valentín Molina-Moreno

    (Faculty of Business and Management, University of Granada, 18010 Granada, Spain)

  • Francisco A. Corpas-Iglesias

    (Polytechnic School of Linares, University of Jaén, 23071 Jaén, Spain)

  • Francisco J. Cortés-García

    (Faculty of Business and Management, Universidad Autónoma de Chile, 7500912 Santiago, Chile)

Abstract

Sustainability addresses environmental and social issues affecting this and future generations. When family businesses perceive that the community is disrupted, recognize an environmental problem and respond by implementing new environmental policies or regulations, the family business’s socio-emotional values press to transition to a more sustainable production system, such as the ‘Circular Economy.’ Drawing on the Dubin (1978) methodology—a paradigm for building models through deduction—we design a sustainable model, which shows family businesses’ responses to changes in the environment. It explains the reasons why family firms transition to the Circular Economy, based on the theory of Socio-Emotional Wealth (SEW). We check the model through the case study of the food retail leader in the Spanish market—Mercadona—which applies policies about energy, resources and waste to become a Circular Economy business model. Because of the strong family character of Mercadona, this case can be useful for the decision-making of other family businesses.

Suggested Citation

  • Pedro Núñez-Cacho & Valentín Molina-Moreno & Francisco A. Corpas-Iglesias & Francisco J. Cortés-García, 2018. "Family Businesses Transitioning to a Circular Economy Model: The Case of “Mercadona”," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(2), pages 1-19, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:10:y:2018:i:2:p:538-:d:132314
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    References listed on IDEAS

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