IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v15y2023i3p2530-d1052410.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Circular Economy and Cooperatives—An Exploratory Survey

Author

Listed:
  • Rafael Ziegler

    (Institut International des Coopératives Alphonse-et-Dorimène-Desjardins, HEC Montréal, Montréal, QC H3T 2A7, Canada)

  • Cynthia Poirier

    (Institut International des Coopératives Alphonse-et-Dorimène-Desjardins, HEC Montréal, Montréal, QC H3T 2A7, Canada
    Centre d’Études et de Recherches Intersectorielles en Économie Circulaire, ETS, Montréal, QC H3C 1K3, Canada)

  • Marie Lacasse

    (Conseil Québécois de la Coopération et de la Mutualité, Lévis, QC G6V 0P6, Canada)

  • Evan Murray

    (Coopérative de Développement Régional du Québec, Amos, QC J9T 1V3, Canada)

Abstract

Global sustainability assessments call for a rethinking of prevailing systems of production and consumption. We focus on the circular economy as an alternative system, and the role of cooperatives as transformative actors for sustainability. While cooperatives have been studied in relation to specific circularity strategies, notably recycling, we present the first study on cooperatives in relation to all circularity strategies. We ask how circular economy strategies and business models resonate with cooperatives. The research is based on an exploratory database and survey of 165 cooperatives in the Canadian province of Québec. Our research shows circularity to be anchored in the mutualisation at the heart of the cooperative model, which emphasizes a shared taking of responsibility in response to needs. The survey shows that cooperatives contribute comprehensively to the circular economy, not just to downstream categories of recycling and revalorization but also to upstream categories of rethinking production and consumption, sharing, and durable use. They can contribute to an embedding of circular economy in regional economies and circular societies. To advance this potential, further integration and improvement of circularity strategies and associated socio-technical questions, support with business model development and finance, as well as education and peer exchange are needed.

Suggested Citation

  • Rafael Ziegler & Cynthia Poirier & Marie Lacasse & Evan Murray, 2023. "Circular Economy and Cooperatives—An Exploratory Survey," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(3), pages 1-17, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:3:p:2530-:d:1052410
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/15/3/2530/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/15/3/2530/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Bauwens, Thomas & Hekkert, Marko & Kirchherr, Julian, 2020. "Circular futures: What Will They Look Like?," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 175(C).
    2. Stefano Zamagni & Vera Zamagni, 2010. "Cooperative Enterprise," Books, Edward Elgar Publishing, number 13842.
    3. Lucas Becerra & Sebastián Carenzo & Paula Juarez, 2020. "When Circular Economy Meets Inclusive Development. Insights from Urban Recycling and Rural Water Access in Argentina," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(23), pages 1-21, November.
    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. Linda Godfrey & Suzan Oelofse, 2017. "Historical Review of Waste Management and Recycling in South Africa," Resources, MDPI, vol. 6(4), pages 1-11, October.
    6. Josefina Fernandez-Guadaño & Manuel Lopez-Millan & Jesús Sarria-Pedroza, 2020. "Cooperative Entrepreneurship Model for Sustainable Development," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(13), pages 1-11, July.
    7. Francisca Castilla-Polo & M. Isabel Sánchez-Hernández, 2020. "Cooperatives and Sustainable Development: A Multilevel Approach Based on Intangible Assets," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(10), pages 1-14, May.
    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. Evaldo Costa & Margarida Fontes & Nuno Bento, 2023. "Transformative Business Models for Decarbonization: Insights from Prize-Winning Start-Ups at the Web Summit," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(18), pages 1-23, September.
    2. Asia Guerreschi & Fernando J. Díaz López, 2023. "A Bibliometric Analysis on Cooperatives in Circular Economy and Eco-Innovation Studies," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(21), pages 1-27, November.

    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. Nima Norouzi, 2022. "A Practical and Analytic View on Legal Framework of Circular Economics as One of the Recent Economic Law Insights: A Comparative Legal Study," Circular Economy and Sustainability,, Springer.
    2. Miha Dominko & Kaja Primc & Renata Slabe-Erker & Barbara Kalar, 2023. "A bibliometric analysis of circular economy in the fields of business and economics: towards more action-oriented research," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 25(7), pages 5797-5830, July.
    3. Odeh Al-Jayyousi & Hira Amin & Hiba Ali Al-Saudi & Amjaad Aljassas & Evren Tok, 2023. "Mission-Oriented Innovation Policy for Sustainable Development: A Systematic Literature Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(17), pages 1-21, August.
    4. Vibeke Grupe Larsen & Valentina Antoniucci & Nicola Tollin & Peter Andreas Sattrup & Krister Jens & Morten Birkved & Tine Holmboe & Giuliano Marella, 2023. "A Methodological Framework to Foster Social Value Creation in Architectural Practice," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(3), pages 1-25, January.
    5. Kasper Ampe & Erik Paredis & Lotte Asveld & Patricia Osseweijer & Thomas Block, 2021. "Power struggles in policy feedback processes: incremental steps towards a circular economy within Dutch wastewater policy," Policy Sciences, Springer;Society of Policy Sciences, vol. 54(3), pages 579-607, September.
    6. Asif Iqbal & Abdullah Yasar & Abdul-Sattar Nizami & Rafia Haider & Faiza Sharif & Imran Ali Sultan & Amtul Bari Tabinda & Aman Anwer Kedwaii & Muhammad Murtaza Chaudhary, 2022. "Municipal Solid Waste Collection and Haulage Modeling Design for Lahore, Pakistan: Transition toward Sustainability and Circular Economy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(23), pages 1-39, December.
    7. Giovanni Vinti & Valerie Bauza & Thomas Clasen & Kate Medlicott & Terry Tudor & Christian Zurbrügg & Mentore Vaccari, 2021. "Municipal Solid Waste Management and Adverse Health Outcomes: A Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(8), pages 1-26, April.
    8. Antonio Fici, 2015. "Cooperation among Cooperatives in Italian and Comparative Law," Journal of Entrepreneurial and Organizational Diversity, European Research Institute on Cooperative and Social Enterprises, vol. 4(2), pages 64-97, December.
    9. Monika Spychalska-Wojtkiewicz, 2020. "The Relation between Sustainable Development Trends and Customer Value Management," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(14), pages 1-18, July.
    10. Alejandro Aristi Capetillo & Fredric Bauer & Cristina Chaminade, 2023. "Emerging Technologies Supporting the Transition to a Circular Economy in the Plastic Materials Value Chain," Circular Economy and Sustainability,, Springer.
    11. Jungell-Michelsson, Jessica & Heikkurinen, Pasi, 2022. "Sufficiency: A systematic literature review," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 195(C).
    12. Monika Klein & Monika Spychalska-Wojtkiewicz, 2022. "The Role of Design Management in Creation of Sustainable Business Models," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(15), pages 1-17, July.
    13. Abderahman Rejeb & Karim Rejeb & John G. Keogh & Suhaiza Zailani, 2022. "Barriers to Blockchain Adoption in the Circular Economy: A Fuzzy Delphi and Best-Worst Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(6), pages 1-23, March.
    14. Inmaculada Buendía-Martínez & Carolina Hidalgo-López & Eric Brat, 2020. "Are Cooperatives an Employment Option? A Job Preference Study of Millennial University Students," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(17), pages 1-32, September.
    15. Felix Made & Vusi Ntlebi & Tahira Kootbodien & Kerry Wilson & Nonhlanhla Tlotleng & Angela Mathee & Mpume Ndaba & Spo Kgalamono & Nisha Naicker, 2020. "Illness, Self-Rated Health and Access to Medical Care among Waste Pickers in Landfill Sites in Johannesburg, South Africa," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(7), pages 1-10, March.
    16. Flavio Delbono, 2016. "Le cooperative di produzione e la stabilit? occupazionale," QUADERNI DI ECONOMIA DEL LAVORO, FrancoAngeli Editore, vol. 2016(105), pages 166-177.
    17. Hervé Corvellec & Alison F. Stowell & Nils Johansson, 2022. "Critiques of the circular economy," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 26(2), pages 421-432, April.
    18. Steven Liaros, 2021. "Circular Food Futures: What Will They Look Like?," Circular Economy and Sustainability,, Springer.
    19. John Devlin & Keri Hopeward & James Hopeward & Christopher Saint, 2023. "Leading the Circular Future: South Australia’s Potential Influence on Circular Economy Development in Asia-Pacific Region," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(18), pages 1-13, September.
    20. Ahmed Herab & Ahmad Al-Ghamdi & Khodran Alzahrani & Khalid M. Elhindi & Muhammad Muddassir & Hazem S. Kassem, 2022. "A Framework for Quantifying the Strength of Partnerships between Agricultural Cooperatives and Development Actors: A Case Study in Saudi Arabia," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(1), pages 1-27, December.

    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:15:y:2023:i:3:p:2530-:d:1052410. 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.