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Circular Business Processes in the State-of-the-Practice: A Survey Study

Author

Listed:
  • Tanja van Engelenhoven

    (Information Technology Group, Wageningen University & Research, Hollandseweg 1, 6706 KN Wageningen, The Netherlands)

  • Ayalew Kassahun

    (Information Technology Group, Wageningen University & Research, Hollandseweg 1, 6706 KN Wageningen, The Netherlands)

  • Bedir Tekinerdogan

    (Information Technology Group, Wageningen University & Research, Hollandseweg 1, 6706 KN Wageningen, The Netherlands)

Abstract

Despite increasing global environmental concerns, we continue to consume large amounts of products with little regard to what happens before, during, and after their use. Roughly one-third of the food produced is wasted. Because the world’s population is expected to grow to 10 billion by 2050, adopting circular economy practices will become essential. The transition towards a circular economy requires adopting business processes that support circular economy practices across supply chains. Currently, the SCOR (Supply Chain Operations Reference) model is the most widely used, and widely known, approach for studying and evaluating supply chain business processes. It is, however, unclear to what extent circular principles are included in the SCOR model. Past studies indicating missing processes for circular supply chain management in the SCOR model have made limited efforts in capturing the current state-of-the-practice. We conducted an online survey of 60 companies engaged in 14 different types of economic activities to study the SCOR level 2 business processes adopted in practice. In addition to the 22 level 2 business processes documented in SCOR, we identified six additional level 2 circular business processes that the respondents recognized as being commonly applied within their businesses. The results clearly show that the current SCOR model does not fully represent circular business processes in the state-of-the-practice.

Suggested Citation

  • Tanja van Engelenhoven & Ayalew Kassahun & Bedir Tekinerdogan, 2021. "Circular Business Processes in the State-of-the-Practice: A Survey Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(23), pages 1-26, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:23:p:13307-:d:692877
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Ntabe, E.N. & LeBel, L. & Munson, A.D. & Santa-Eulalia, L.A., 2015. "A systematic literature review of the supply chain operations reference (SCOR) model application with special attention to environmental issues," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 169(C), pages 310-332.
    2. Kirchherr, Julian & Reike, Denise & Hekkert, Marko, 2017. "Conceptualizing the circular economy: An analysis of 114 definitions," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 127(C), pages 221-232.
    3. Will McDowall & Yong Geng & Beijia Huang & Eva Barteková & Raimund Bleischwitz & Serdar Türkeli & René Kemp & Teresa Doménech, 2017. "Circular Economy Policies in China and Europe," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 21(3), pages 651-661, June.
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    Cited by:

    1. Laura Montag, 2023. "Circular Economy and Supply Chains: Definitions, Conceptualizations, and Research Agenda of the Circular Supply Chain Framework," Circular Economy and Sustainability, Springer, vol. 3(1), pages 35-75, March.
    2. Aleksandra Kuzior & Olena Arefieva & Zarina Poberezhna & Oleksiy Ihumentsev, 2022. "The Mechanism of Forming the Strategic Potential of an Enterprise in a Circular Economy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(6), pages 1-13, March.

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