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How Cooperatives Embed Circularity in Their Business Models and Governance—Results From an International Survey

Author

Listed:
  • Rafael Ziegler
  • Jonas Rey‐Sierro
  • Sonja Novkovic
  • Inmaculada Buendía‐Martínez
  • Justine Ballon
  • Simon Teasdale
  • Michael J. Roy

Abstract

Cooperatives as a democratic form of economic organization are an emerging focus in research on the social dimensions of circular economy. However, there is no international database on cooperatives and circular economy, impeding systematic analysis. Drawing on the first international database and survey of cooperatives and circular economy from 12 countries in Europe and the Americas, we explore how cooperatives embed circularity in their business models and governance, including the technology and partnership choices this involves, and how this uptake is currently facilitated. The analysis shows there to be a trend of new, usually small cooperatives that pursue circularity as a core value from inception, that tend to prefer upstream circularity strategies and that look for support from established cooperative networks. Already established, also larger cooperatives tend to explore circularity strategies both internally and by forming networks. There is potential for sectoral and intersectoral federations to facilitate circularity uptake.

Suggested Citation

  • Rafael Ziegler & Jonas Rey‐Sierro & Sonja Novkovic & Inmaculada Buendía‐Martínez & Justine Ballon & Simon Teasdale & Michael J. Roy, 2025. "How Cooperatives Embed Circularity in Their Business Models and Governance—Results From an International Survey," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 34(7), pages 8832-8846, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:bstrat:v:34:y:2025:i:7:p:8832-8846
    DOI: 10.1002/bse.70045
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    3. Beckert, Jens, 2007. "The Great Transformation of Embeddedness: Karl Polanyi and the New Economic Sociology," MPIfG Discussion Paper 07/1, Max Planck Institute for the Study of Societies.
    4. Sonja Novkovic, 2022. "Cooperative identity as a yardstick for transformative change," Annals of Public and Cooperative Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 93(2), pages 313-336, June.
    5. Ziegler, Rafael & Bauwens, Thomas & Roy, Michael J. & Teasdale, Simon & Fourrier, Ambre & Raufflet, Emmanuel, 2023. "Embedding circularity: Theorizing the social economy, its potential, and its challenges," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 214(C).
    6. Michael J. Roy & Suzanne Grant, 2020. "The Contemporary Relevance of Karl Polanyi to Critical Social Enterprise Scholarship," Journal of Social Entrepreneurship, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 11(2), pages 177-193, May.
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