IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v13y2021i3p1350-d488433.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Success Drivers for Implementing Circular Economy: A Case Study from the Building Sector in Colombia

Author

Listed:
  • Luz Elba Torres-Guevara

    (International School of Economic and Administrative Sciences, Universidad de La Sabana, Chía 140013, Colombia)

  • Vanessa Prieto-Sandoval

    (Business Department, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá 110231, Colombia)

  • Andres Mejia-Villa

    (International School of Economic and Administrative Sciences, Universidad de La Sabana, Chía 140013, Colombia)

Abstract

This paper contributes to the circular economy (CE) literature by investigating the drivers of success of the CE implementation in the construction sector and how those drivers can complement any implementation process in small and medium enterprises (SMEs). To do so, we analyzed the case of TECMO Estructuras Metálicas, using the methodology proposed by Jaca and colleagues to implement the CE in SMEs. It is a Colombian company with more than five decades of experience in the manufacture and installation of steel and aluminum structures for small and large building and infrastructure projects. The data were collected between August 2019 and November 2020 through direct communication with the company via workshops, meetings, and company reports. This research found that five drivers are relevant for implementing CE in the construction sector: fertile ecosystem, management commitment, identification of valuable materials, green teams, and CE intermediaries. Moreover, this study also contributes to teaching the implementation of the CE in companies, since it shows that through the methodology presented, implementation projects can be developed in postgraduate classes.

Suggested Citation

  • Luz Elba Torres-Guevara & Vanessa Prieto-Sandoval & Andres Mejia-Villa, 2021. "Success Drivers for Implementing Circular Economy: A Case Study from the Building Sector in Colombia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(3), pages 1-17, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:3:p:1350-:d:488433
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/13/3/1350/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/13/3/1350/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Qinghua Zhu & Yong Geng & Joseph Sarkis & Kee-Hung Lai, 2015. "Barriers to Promoting Eco-Industrial Parks Development in China," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 19(3), pages 457-467, June.
    2. Johan Graafland, 2020. "Women in management and sustainable development of SMEs: Do relational environmental management instruments matter?," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 27(5), pages 2320-2328, September.
    3. Marian Chertow & John Ehrenfeld, 2012. "Organizing Self‐Organizing Systems," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 16(1), pages 13-27, February.
    4. Cabeza, Luisa F. & Rincón, Lídia & Vilariño, Virginia & Pérez, Gabriel & Castell, Albert, 2014. "Life cycle assessment (LCA) and life cycle energy analysis (LCEA) of buildings and the building sector: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 29(C), pages 394-416.
    5. David Gibbs & Pauline Deutz & Amy Proctor, 2005. "Industrial ecology and eco-industrial development: A potential paradigm for local and regional development?," Regional Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 39(2), pages 171-183.
    6. Md. Abdul Moktadir & Anil Kumar & Syed Mithun Ali & Sanjoy Kumar Paul & Razia Sultana & Jafar Rezaei, 2020. "Critical success factors for a circular economy: Implications for business strategy and the environment," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 29(8), pages 3611-3635, December.
    7. Huang, Lizhen & Krigsvoll, Guri & Johansen, Fred & Liu, Yongping & Zhang, Xiaoling, 2018. "Carbon emission of global construction sector," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 81(P2), pages 1906-1916.
    8. Mariale Moreno & Carolina De los Rios & Zoe Rowe & Fiona Charnley, 2016. "A Conceptual Framework for Circular Design," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 8(9), pages 1-15, September.
    9. Frank Schiller & Alexandra Penn & Angela Druckman & Lauren Basson & Kate Royston, 2014. "Exploring Space, Exploiting Opportunities," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 18(6), pages 792-798, December.
    10. Elkhan Richard Sadik-Zada & Mattia Ferrari, 2020. "Environmental Policy Stringency, Technical Progress and Pollution Haven Hypothesis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(9), pages 1-20, May.
    11. Vanessa Prieto‐Sandoval & Marta Ormazabal & Carmen Jaca & Elisabeth Viles, 2018. "Key elements in assessing circular economy implementation in small and medium‐sized enterprises," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 27(8), pages 1525-1534, December.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Govindan, Kannan, 2023. "How digitalization transforms the traditional circular economy to a smart circular economy for achieving SDGs and net zero," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 177(C).
    2. Mar?a Bernarda Alvarado-Bawab & Sandra Villa Marenco, 2023. "Industrial perspective regarding circular economy activities in Atlántico-Colombia," Economia agro-alimentare, FrancoAngeli Editore, vol. 25(1), pages 191-117.
    3. Shrouk Gharib & Osama Moselhi, 2025. "A Conceptual Framework for Enabling Structural Steel Reuse Utilizing Circular Economy in Modular Construction," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(19), pages 1-28, October.
    4. Khaled Alhosani, 2025. "Leveraging Public–Private Partnerships for a Circular Industry Economy: Advancing Economic Sustainability in Industrial Waste Management in the Emirate of Ajman, UAE," Challenges, MDPI, vol. 16(3), pages 1-21, July.
    5. Alvarado-Bawab, María Bernarda & Marenco, Sandra Villa, . "Industrial perspective regarding circular economy activities in Atlántico-Colombia," Economia agro-alimentare / Food Economy, Italian Society of Agri-food Economics/Società Italiana di Economia Agro-Alimentare (SIEA), vol. 25(01).
    6. Mahmoud Alhawamdeh & Juan A. Ferriz-Papi & Angela Lee, 2024. "Examining the Drivers to Support Improved Construction and Demolition Waste Management for a Circular Economy: A Comprehensive Review Using a Systematic Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(14), pages 1-17, July.
    7. Gómez Montoya, Juan Pablo & Castillo Alvarez, Yoisdel & Fernandes De Magalhães, Ruane & Henrique Lermen, Fernando, 2024. "A thermo-economic analysis of a circular economy model for biomass in South America producing biofertilizers and biogas from municipal solid waste," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 225(C).
    8. Jhon Pinedo-López & Rubén Baena-Navarro & Nini Durán-Rojas & Lina Díaz-Cogollo & Luis Farak-Flórez, 2024. "Energy Transition in Colombia: An Implementation Proposal for SMEs," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(17), pages 1-17, August.
    9. Iniobong Beauty John & Samuel A. Adekunle & Clinton O. Aigbavboa, 2023. "Adoption of Circular Economy by Construction Industry SMEs: Organisational Growth Transition Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(7), pages 1-13, March.
    10. Lukas Alexander Benz, 2022. "Critical Success Factors for Circular Business Model Innovation from the Perspective of the Sustainable Development Goals," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(10), pages 1-18, May.
    11. Mhatre, Purva & Gedam, Vidyadhar V. & Unnikrishnan, Seema, 2021. "Material circularity potential for construction materials – The case of transportation infrastructure in India," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 74(C).
    12. Roope Husgafvel & Daishi Sakaguchi, 2021. "Circular Economy Development in the Construction Sector in Japan," World, MDPI, vol. 3(1), pages 1-26, December.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Lukas Alexander Benz, 2022. "Critical Success Factors for Circular Business Model Innovation from the Perspective of the Sustainable Development Goals," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(10), pages 1-18, May.
    2. Lisa Stelzer & Friederike Hoberg & Vanessa Bach & Bertram Schmidt & Sven Pfeiffer & Vera Meyer & Matthias Finkbeiner, 2021. "Life Cycle Assessment of Fungal-Based Composite Bricks," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(21), pages 1-17, October.
    3. Jiaojiao Yang & Ting Wang & Yujie Hu & Qiyun Deng & Shu Mo, 2023. "Comparative Analysis of Research Trends and Hotspots of Foreign and Chinese Building Carbon Emissions Based on Bibliometrics," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(13), pages 1-24, June.
    4. Luca Marrucci & Fabio Iannone & Tiberio Daddi & Fabio Iraldo, 2022. "Antecedents of absorptive capacity in the development of circular economy business models of small and medium enterprises," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 31(1), pages 532-544, January.
    5. Ipek Kazancoglu & Muhittin Sagnak & Sachin Kumar Mangla & Yigit Kazancoglu, 2021. "Circular economy and the policy: A framework for improving the corporate environmental management in supply chains," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 30(1), pages 590-608, January.
    6. Malik, Ashish & Sharma, Piyush & Sharma, Piyush & Vinu, Ajayan & Karakoti, Ajay & Kaur, Kamalpreet & Gujral, Harpreet Singh & Munjal, Surender & Laker, Benjamin, 2022. "Circular economy adoption by SMEs in emerging markets: Towards a multilevel conceptual framework," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 142(C), pages 605-619.
    7. Vanessa Prieto-Sandoval & Andres Mejia-Villa & Carmen Jaca & Marta Ormazabal, 2022. "The Case of an Agricultural Crop Business Association in Navarra as Circular Economy Intermediary," Circular Economy and Sustainability, Springer, vol. 2(2), pages 713-729, June.
    8. Corinna Vera Hedwig Schmidt & Bastian Kindermann & Cassian Felix Behlau & Tessa Christina Flatten, 2021. "Understanding the effect of market orientation on circular economy practices: The mediating role of closed‐loop orientation in German SMEs," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 30(8), pages 4171-4187, December.
    9. Soni, Vivek & Gnekpe, Christian & Roux, Mélanie & Anand, Rashmi & Vann Yaroson, Emilia & Kumar Banwet, Devinder, 2023. "Adaptive distributed leadership and circular economy adoption by emerging SMEs," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 156(C).
    10. Yuxi Dai & Steven Day & Donato Masi & Ismail Gölgeci, 2022. "A synthesised framework of eco‐industrial park transformation and stakeholder interaction," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 31(7), pages 3122-3151, November.
    11. Piera Centobelli & Roberto Cerchione & Davide Chiaroni & Pasquale Del Vecchio & Andrea Urbinati, 2020. "Designing business models in circular economy: A systematic literature review and research agenda," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 29(4), pages 1734-1749, May.
    12. Rohit Agrawal & Vishal A. Wankhede & Anil Kumar & Sunil Luthra, 2021. "Analysing the roadblocks of circular economy adoption in the automobile sector: Reducing waste and environmental perspectives," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 30(2), pages 1051-1066, February.
    13. Davide Bruno & Marinella Ferrara & Felice D’Alessandro & Alberto Mandelli, 2022. "The Role of Design in the CE Transition of the Furniture Industry—The Case of the Italian Company Cassina," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(15), pages 1-20, July.
    14. Junlong Peng & Zhuo Su & Xiao Liu & Chongsen Ma, 2025. "Promoting Low-Carbonization in the Construction Supply Chain: Key Influencing Factors and Sustainable Practices," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(8), pages 1-36, April.
    15. Patricia van Loon & Luk N. Van Wassenhove & Ales Mihelic, 2022. "Designing a circular business strategy: 7 years of evolution at a large washing machine manufacturer," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 31(3), pages 1030-1041, March.
    16. Matthias Kalverkamp & Alexandra Pehlken & Thorsten Wuest, 2017. "Cascade Use and the Management of Product Lifecycles," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(9), pages 1-23, August.
    17. Luis M. López-Ochoa & Jesús Las-Heras-Casas & Luis M. López-González & César García-Lozano, 2020. "Energy Renovation of Residential Buildings in Cold Mediterranean Zones Using Optimized Thermal Envelope Insulation Thicknesses: The Case of Spain," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(6), pages 1-34, March.
    18. Xin Nie & Jianxian Wu & Han Wang & Weijuan Li & Chengdao Huang & Lihua Li, 2022. "Contributing to carbon peak: Estimating the causal impact of eco‐industrial parks on low‐carbon development in China," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 26(4), pages 1578-1593, August.
    19. Patricia González-Vallejo & Radu Muntean & Jaime Solís-Guzmán & Madelyn Marrero, 2020. "Carbon Footprint of Dwelling Construction in Romania and Spain. A Comparative Analysis with the OERCO2 Tool," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(17), pages 1-22, August.
    20. Panos T. Chountalas & Stamatios K. Chrysikopoulos & Konstantina K. Agoraki & Natalia Chatzifoti, 2025. "Modeling Critical Success Factors for Green Energy Integration in Data Centers," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(8), pages 1-22, April.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:3:p:1350-:d:488433. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.