IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/spr/circec/v4y2024i1d10.1007_s43615-023-00270-5.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

The Adoption of Circular Business Models in Germany: an Analysis of the DAX40 Companies

Author

Listed:
  • Mounir Al-Naami

    (University of Applied Sciences Osnabrück)

  • Kay H. Hofmann

    (University of Applied Sciences Osnabrück)

  • Kai-Michael Griese

    (University of Applied Sciences Osnabrück)

Abstract

In view of the rapid depletion of natural resources and the associated overloading of the biological ecosystem, the concept of circular business models (CBMs) is increasingly discussed in the literature as well as in business practice. CBMs have the potential to significantly reduce the demand for natural resources. Despite their increasing relevance, the diffusion of CBMs in business practice is largely unexplored. Consequently, this article investigates the extent to which CBMs have already been adopted by large German companies. To answer this question, the annual and sustainability reports of the members of the DAX40 are analyzed for the presence of five specific types of CBMs. Data was gathered for the years 2015 and 2020 in order to describe the development over time. The results show an increasing prevalence of CBMs in the DAX companies. In addition, it is noticeable that CBM types that serve to close material cycles are implemented more frequently than those that decelerate material cycles. In particular Sharing Platforms and Product as a Service stand out due to comparatively low adoption. Potential reasons for these findings are discussed and managerial as well as policy implications suggested.

Suggested Citation

  • Mounir Al-Naami & Kay H. Hofmann & Kai-Michael Griese, 2024. "The Adoption of Circular Business Models in Germany: an Analysis of the DAX40 Companies," Circular Economy and Sustainability, Springer, vol. 4(1), pages 43-61, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:circec:v:4:y:2024:i:1:d:10.1007_s43615-023-00270-5
    DOI: 10.1007/s43615-023-00270-5
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s43615-023-00270-5
    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/s43615-023-00270-5?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.

    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:circec:v:4:y:2024:i:1:d:10.1007_s43615-023-00270-5. 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.

    We have no bibliographic references for this item. You can help adding them by using 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.