Circular economy at the company level: An empirical study based on sustainability reports

Circular economy (CE) has attracted both media and academic interest. However, there is a lack of empirical work that clarifies the specific activities involved in CE at the firm level. To fill this gap, this article offers an analysis of how firms disclose information about their activities associated with CE, based on an extensive worldwide dataset of sustainability reports from 1367 companies. The findings point to a rather limited, superficial and reductionist use of the concept of CE by firms. The concept of CE is only mentioned in around 16% of cases, and, when it is mentioned, it is mostly associated with conventional practices such as waste management and recycling. Conversely, core practices associated with CE, such as reduction, reuse, and remanufacture, are rarely considered. Further avenues for research and implications for managers, public policy makers and other stakeholders are discussed.