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Digital Technology Deployment and the Circular Economy

Author

Listed:
  • Martin Wynn

    (School of Computing and Engineering, University of Gloucestershire, Cheltenham GL50 2RH, UK)

  • Peter Jones

    (The Business School, University of Gloucestershire, Cheltenham GL50 2RH, UK)

Abstract

The relationship between digital technologies and the circular economy, both characterised as disruptive, is attracting increasing attention in company boardrooms, policy and pressure groups and in academic communities. Nevertheless, studies to date highlight a lack of understanding of how digital technologies enable organisations to improve their resource flows and value creation to promote the circular economy. This article looks to address this gap in the academic literature by an examination of if and how a small number of organisations are using digital technologies to support their sustainability objectives and circular economy initiatives. The research approach is inductive, using questionnaires and interviews with IT professionals employed in a range of organisations. The article concludes that where organisations are pursuing circular economy initiatives, the connection with digital technology deployment is not evident, even though a more general association with sustainability is. Digital technologies are bringing about greater efficiencies, improved processes and better data management, which are supporting and enabling sustainability objectives, but a more direct linkage with the circular economy will require clearer use cases of how specific digital technologies can progress the circular economy, both within organisations and across the supply chain. Enhanced information systems that facilitate the reporting and analysis of the operational performance of circular economy activities against set objectives will also be needed.

Suggested Citation

  • Martin Wynn & Peter Jones, 2022. "Digital Technology Deployment and the Circular Economy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(15), pages 1-15, July.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:15:p:9077-:d:870749
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    4. Ivanir Costa & Rosangela Riccotta & Paola Montini & Eduardo Stefani & Roberto de Souza Goes & Marcos Antonio Gaspar & Fellipe Silva Martins & Aguinaldo Aragon Fernandes & Celso Machado & Rodrigo Loçan, 2022. "The Degree of Contribution of Digital Transformation Technology on Company Sustainability Areas," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(1), pages 1-27, January.
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    6. Gianmarco Bressanelli & Marco Perona & Nicola Saccani, 2019. "Challenges in supply chain redesign for the Circular Economy: a literature review and a multiple case study," International Journal of Production Research, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 57(23), pages 7395-7422, December.
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    Cited by:

    1. Tina Wiegand & Martin Wynn, 2023. "Sustainability, the Circular Economy and Digitalisation in the German Textile and Clothing Industry," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-30, June.
    2. Shaolun Zeng & Huili Yang, 2023. "A Bibliometric and Visualization Analysis of Knowledge Mapping in Digital Economy Research, 1992–2022," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(8), pages 1-15, April.
    3. Victoria Akberdina & Wadim Strielkowski & Natalia Linder & Sergey Kashirin & Lyudmila Shmeleva, 2023. "Information Technology and Digital Sufficiency for Building the Sustainable Circular Economy," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(3), pages 1-14, January.
    4. Alessandra Neri & Marta Negri & Enrico Cagno & Simone Franzò & Vikas Kumar & Tommaso Lampertico & Carlo Andrea Bassani, 2023. "The role of digital technologies in supporting the implementation of circular economy practices by industrial small and medium enterprises," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 32(7), pages 4693-4718, November.
    5. Louisa von der Assen, 2023. "Digitalization as a Provider of Sustainability?—The Role and Acceptance of Digital Technologies in Fashion Stores," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(5), pages 1-20, March.

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