IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/spr/endesu/v26y2024i6d10.1007_s10668-023-03247-4.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Improving startups through excellence initiatives: addressing circular economy and innovation

Author

Listed:
  • Simone Sehnem

    (Universidade do Oeste de Santa Catarina-Unoesc
    Universidade do Sul de Santa Catarina-Unisul)

  • Ana Cláudia Lara

    (Universidade do Oeste de Santa Catarina-Unoesc)

  • Karen Benetti

    (Universidade do Oeste de Santa Catarina-Unoesc)

  • Kurt Schneider

    (Universidade do Oeste de Santa Catarina-Unoesc)

  • Maiara Lais Marcon

    (Universidade do Oeste de Santa Catarina-Unoesc)

  • Tiago Hilário Hennemann Silva

    (Universidade do Sul de Santa Catarina-Unisul)

Abstract

This study analyses how startups implement circular business models supported by innovation and Industry 4.0, in which strategic stakeholders for value creation are to be found in this specific business ecosystem. The theoretical framework of circular business models supported by innovation was used for analysing the startups based on some assumptions of stakeholder theory. Fifty-one startups were selected, which correspond to the unit of analysis for this study on the improvement of supply chains through circular business models supported by innovation aimed at sustainability in organizations. We conducted a multiple case study whose results suggest that: (i) circularity is strategic for the business to assume its commitment to a sustainable development agenda, especially regarding pollution prevention and proactive action; (ii) visionary entrepreneurs are actively engaged with circular economy practices and technological innovation to promote a circular flow for their business ecosystem; (iii) Industry 4.0 is still incipient, but it is synergistic and beneficial for a successful circular economy in startups; and (iv) primary stakeholders are the activators of circular cycles in the startups surveyed. The present study contributes to the literature in four ways by: (i) presenting a framework which brings together exploratory theoretical propositions on strategic stakeholders for startups, innovative capabilities and assumptions of circular business models; (ii) validating exploratory theoretical propositions with 51 startups; (iii) providing lessons learned so far by the startups which are in line with the assumptions of circular business models for triggering their innovation capabilities and promoting Industry 4.0; (iv) providing an original typology of circular economy assumptions and technological innovations adopted by startups. The originality of this study lies in presenting useful insights for motivating managers to: (i) invest in circular business to become one of the first entrants and earn extra profits; (ii) make investments in circular business and technological innovations to obtain efficiency, practicality and process optimization; (iii) internalize Industry 4.0 technologies concomitantly with technological innovations and circular economy to generate systemic effects; (iv) integrate relevant stakeholders of the business ecosystem to generate a synergistic and effective effect for sustainable development.

Suggested Citation

  • Simone Sehnem & Ana Cláudia Lara & Karen Benetti & Kurt Schneider & Maiara Lais Marcon & Tiago Hilário Hennemann Silva, 2024. "Improving startups through excellence initiatives: addressing circular economy and innovation," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 26(6), pages 15237-15283, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:endesu:v:26:y:2024:i:6:d:10.1007_s10668-023-03247-4
    DOI: 10.1007/s10668-023-03247-4
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s10668-023-03247-4
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1007/s10668-023-03247-4?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Antonino Galati & Giorgio Schifani & Maria Crescimanno & Demetris Vrontis & Giuseppina Migliore, 2018. "Innovation strategies geared toward the circular economy: A case study of the organic olive-oil industry," RIVISTA DI STUDI SULLA SOSTENIBILITA', FrancoAngeli Editore, vol. 2018(1), pages 137-158.
    2. de Vries, Jan, 2009. "Assessing inventory projects from a stakeholder perspective: Results of an empirical study," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 118(1), pages 136-145, March.
    3. Assunta Di Vaio & Sohail Hasan & Rosa Palladino & Rohail Hassan, 2023. "The transition towards circular economy and waste within accounting and accountability models: a systematic literature review and conceptual framework," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 25(1), pages 734-810, January.
    4. Di Vaio, Assunta & Trujillo, Lourdes & D'Amore, Gabriella & Palladino, Rosa, 2021. "Water governance models for meeting sustainable development Goals:A structured literature review," Utilities Policy, Elsevier, vol. 72(C).
    5. Yang, Yefei & Lau, Antonio K.W. & Lee, Peter K.C. & Cheng, T.C.E., 2020. "The performance implication of corporate social responsibility in matched Chinese small and medium-sized buyers and suppliers," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 230(C).
    6. Wanke, Peter Fernandes & Chiappetta Jabbour, Charbel José & Moreira Antunes, Jorge Junio & Lopes de Sousa Jabbour, Ana Beatriz & Roubaud, David & Sobreiro, Vinicius Amorim & Santibanez Gonzalez‬, Erne, 2021. "An original information entropy-based quantitative evaluation model for low-carbon operations in an emerging market," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 234(C).
    7. Wisdom Kanda & Martin Geissdoerfer & Olof Hjelm, 2021. "From circular business models to circular business ecosystems," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 30(6), pages 2814-2829, September.
    8. Vincenzo Basile & Nunzia Capobianco & Roberto Vona, 2021. "The usefulness of sustainable business models: Analysis from oil and gas industry," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 28(6), pages 1801-1821, November.
    9. Charbel Jose Chiappetta Jabbour & Stefan Seuring & Ana Beatriz Lopes De Sousa Jabbour & Daniel Jugend & Paula de Camargo Fiorini & Hengky Latan & Wagner Colucci Izeppi, 2020. "Stakeholders, innovative business models for the circular economy and sustainable performance of firms in an emerging economy facing institutional voids," Post-Print hal-04275092, HAL.
    10. P.F. Wanke & C.J. Chiappetta Jabbour & J.J. Moreira Antunes & Ana Beatriz Lopes de Sousa Jabbour & D. Roubaud & V.A. Sobreiro & E.D. Santibanez Gonzalez, 2021. "An Original Information Entropy-Based Quantitative Evaluation Model for Low-Carbon Operations in an Emerging Market," Post-Print hal-04275973, HAL.
    11. Li, Guo & Wu, Huamin & Sethi, Suresh P. & Zhang, Xiang, 2021. "Contracting green product supply chains considering marketing efforts in the circular economy era," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 234(C).
    12. Jean-Claude Boldrini & Nicolas Antheaume, 2021. "Designing and testing a new sustainable business model tool for multi-actor, multi-level, circular, and collaborative contexts," Post-Print hal-04360413, HAL.
    13. Assunta Di Vaio & Flavio Boccia & Loris Landriani & Rosa Palladino, 2020. "Artificial Intelligence in the Agri-Food System: Rethinking Sustainable Business Models in the COVID-19 Scenario," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(12), pages 1-12, June.
    14. Truong, Yann & Pinkse, Jonatan, 2019. "Opportunistic behaviors in green signaling: When do firms engage in symbolic green product preannouncement?," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 218(C), pages 287-296.
    15. Bai, Chunguang & Zhu, Qingyun & Sarkis, Joseph, 2021. "Joint blockchain service vendor-platform selection using social network relationships: A multi-provider multi-user decision perspective," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 238(C).
    16. V.G. Venkatesh & Abraham Zhang & Eric Deakins & Venkatesh Mani, 2021. "Antecedents of social sustainability noncompliance in the Indian apparel sector," Post-Print hal-04455594, HAL.
    17. Ji, Ping & Ma, Xin & Li, Gang, 2015. "Developing green purchasing relationships for the manufacturing industry: An evolutionary game theory perspective," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 166(C), pages 155-162.
    18. Kristoffersen, Eivind & Mikalef, Patrick & Blomsma, Fenna & Li, Jingyue, 2021. "The effects of business analytics capability on circular economy implementation, resource orchestration capability, and firm performance," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 239(C).
    19. Roy, Vivek & Silvestre, Bruno S. & Singh, Shubham, 2020. "Reactive and proactive pathways to sustainable apparel supply chains: Manufacturer's perspective on stakeholder salience and organizational learning toward responsible management," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 227(C).
    20. Mani, Venkatesh & Jabbour, Charbel Jose Chiappetta & Mani, Kavitha T.N., 2020. "Supply chain social sustainability in small and medium manufacturing enterprises and firms’ performance: Empirical evidence from an emerging Asian economy," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 227(C).
    21. Venkatesh, V.G. & Zhang, Abraham & Deakins, Eric & Mani, Venkatesh, 2021. "Antecedents of social sustainability noncompliance in the Indian apparel sector," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 234(C).
    22. Mani, Venkatesh & Gunasekaran, Angappa, 2018. "Four forces of supply chain social sustainability adoption in emerging economies," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 199(C), pages 150-161.
    23. Sara Moggi & Renata Paola Dameri, 2021. "Circular business model evolution: Stakeholder matters for a self‐sufficient ecosystem," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 30(6), pages 2830-2842, September.
    24. Zhu, Qinghua & Liu, Junjun & Lai, Kee-hung, 2016. "Corporate social responsibility practices and performance improvement among Chinese national state-owned enterprises," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 171(P3), pages 417-426.
    25. Rui Baptista, 1999. "The Diffusion of Process Innovations: A Selective Review," International Journal of the Economics of Business, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 6(1), pages 107-129.
    26. Glover, J.L. & Champion, D. & Daniels, K.J. & Dainty, A.J.D., 2014. "An Institutional Theory perspective on sustainable practices across the dairy supply chain," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 152(C), pages 102-111.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    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. Govindan, Kannan & Demartini, Melissa & Formentini, Marco & Taticchi, Paolo & Tonelli, Flavio, 2024. "Unravelling and mapping the theoretical foundations of sustainable supply chains: A literature review and research agenda," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 189(C).
    2. Rebeca B. Sánchez-Flores & Samantha E. Cruz-Sotelo & Sara Ojeda-Benitez & Ma. Elizabeth Ramírez-Barreto, 2020. "Sustainable Supply Chain Management—A Literature Review on Emerging Economies," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(17), pages 1-27, August.
    3. Jamalnia, Aboozar & Gong, Yu & Govindan, Kannan, 2023. "Sub-supplier's sustainability management in multi-tier supply chains: A systematic literature review on the contingency variables, and a conceptual framework," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 255(C).
    4. Michele M. O. Pereira & Minelle E. Silva & Linda C. Hendry, 2023. "Developing global supplier competences for supply chain sustainability: The effects of institutional pressures on certification adoption," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 32(7), pages 4244-4265, November.
    5. Venkatesh, V.G. & Zhang, Abraham & Deakins, Eric & Mani, Venkatesh, 2021. "Antecedents of social sustainability noncompliance in the Indian apparel sector," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 234(C).
    6. Culot, Giovanna & Battistella, Cinzia, 2024. "Future ecosystem business model tool: Design science and field test in the efuel ecosystem towards the sustainability transition," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 208(C).
    7. R. Rajesh, 2023. "Grey Markov Models for Predicting the Social Sustainability Performances of Firms," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 168(1), pages 297-351, August.
    8. Li, Miaomiao & Cao, Guikun & Cui, Li & Liu, Xiaoquan & Dai, Jing, 2023. "Examining how government subsidies influence firms’ circular supply chain management: The role of eco-innovation and top management team," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 261(C).
    9. V.G. Venkatesh & Abraham Zhang & Eric Deakins & Venkatesh Mani, 2021. "Antecedents of social sustainability noncompliance in the Indian apparel sector," Post-Print hal-04455594, HAL.
    10. Mariana Toussaint & Pablo Cabanelas & Alicia Blanco‐González, 2021. "Social sustainability in the food value chain: An integrative approach beyond corporate social responsibility," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 28(1), pages 103-115, January.
    11. Virginie Litaudon & Yiran Chen, 2023. "Transforming existing local ecosystems to circular economy ecosystems for plastics: The case of the PlastiCity ecosystem," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 27(5), pages 1406-1419, October.
    12. Kumari, Alka & Singh, Manvendra Pratap, 2023. "A journey of social sustainability in organization during MDG & SDG period: A bibliometric analysis," Socio-Economic Planning Sciences, Elsevier, vol. 88(C).
    13. Swee Kuik & Akhil Kumar & Li Diong & Joowon Ban, 2023. "A Systematic Literature Review on the Transition to Circular Business Models for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs)," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(12), pages 1-22, June.
    14. Maiara Marcon & Taís Provensi & Simone Sehnem & Lucila M. S. Campos & Adriane Angelica Farias Santos Lopes Queiroz, 2023. "The internalisation of the circular economy and ESG in Brazilian B Corps from the perspective of the Stakeholder Theory," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 31(5), pages 3513-3527, October.
    15. Mangla, Sachin Kumar & Luthra, Sunil & Rich, Nick & Kumar, Divesh & Rana, Nripendra P. & Dwivedi, Yogesh K., 2018. "Enablers to implement sustainable initiatives in agri-food supply chains," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 203(C), pages 379-393.
    16. Niu, Baozhuang & Xu, Haotao & Mu, Zihao, 2024. "To divide or not to divide: Impact of carbon market connections on firms’ resilient profitability and emission reduction," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 270(C).
    17. Bag, Surajit & Gupta, Shivam & Chan, Hau-Ling & Kumar, Ajay, 2024. "Building smart product-service systems capabilities for circular supply chains in the Industry 4.0 era," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 188(C).
    18. Sheng, Margaret L. & Saide, Saide, 2021. "Supply chain survivability in crisis times through a viable system perspective: Big data, knowledge ambidexterity, and the mediating role of virtual enterprise," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 137(C), pages 567-578.
    19. Mahesh Shaw & Abhijit Majumdar & Kannan Govindan, 2022. "Barriers of social sustainability: an improved interpretive structural model of Indian textile and clothing supply chain," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 30(6), pages 1616-1633, December.
    20. Priyabrata Chowdhury & Rezaul Shumon, 2020. "Minimizing the Gap between Expectation and Ability: Strategies for SMEs to Implement Social Sustainability Practices," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(16), pages 1-15, August.

    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:spr:endesu:v:26:y:2024:i:6:d:10.1007_s10668-023-03247-4. 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: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.springer.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.