Andrea Urbinati

This paper focuses on the intersection of digital platforms and industrial symbiosis, a collaborative circular economy paradigm that brings together actors who exchange resources in mutually beneficial relationships. While scholars have acknowledged that digital platforms are one of the main enablers of circular economy and industrial symbiosis, literature on the role of digital platforms in enabling industrial symbiosis is scarce, and the factors that affect their use remain unclear. Scholars have called for more empirical evidence on this matter, which has been mainly investigated through theoretical and quantitative approaches. In the present paper, we deploy a two-step methodology. First, we review existing literature to identify three typologies of digital platforms as industrial symbiosis enablers; namely, digital platforms per se, those enhanced by artificial intelligence, and those enhanced by blockchain. Second, we conduct an exploratory empirical analysis to characterise their use. As a result, this paper reveals the outcomes generated by the identified typologies of digital platforms, together with the barriers and drivers that need to be overcome or leveraged to promote their use. We note that environmental and economic aspects need to be considered together to promote the use of digital platforms to enable industrial symbiosis. We highlight that managerial commitment is key to support the use of digital platforms. We also provide contrasting evidence on the effectiveness of digital platforms in building trust among the actors implementing industrial symbiosis. Finally, we encourage managers to use digital platforms and consider them as relevant tools to enable industrial symbiosis and improve environmental as well as economic performance.

The circular economy has gained prominence among academics, practitioners, and policymakers, yet existing research largely adopts a firm-centric view, emphasizing business models and strategies, with limited attention to ecosystem-level dynamics. In particular, the role of customers within circular economy ecosystems (CEEs) remains underexplored; while many studies have considered CEEs' structural aspects, few have examined underlying cognitive processes. Our study focuses on the managerial construction of ecosystems, and specifically on how managers of small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) interpret customer engagement signals. While existing literature recommends an ecosystem-level approach, we propose that ecosystem dynamics initially emerge through individual sensemaking. Through interviewing several SME managers in Finland, we suggest a typology comprising four approaches: co-creative sensemaking, opportunity-harvesting, engagement-delegating, and linear legacy firms. By applying the theoretical lens of the supply-side interpretation of demand-side signals, our findings show why firms exhibiting the same ecosystem context tend to diverge in terms of circularity.

Industrial symbiosis is one of the main paradigms for implementing circular economy strategies at the meso level. While scholars recognize digital technologies as enablers of industrial symbiosis, a research gap remains in terms of identifying and characterizing their role to enable the development and implementation of industrial symbiosis. We build on existing literature to identify two dimensions – digital functions and industrial symbiosis life-cycle – with which to characterize the enabling role of digital technologies for industrial symbiosis life-cycle. We conducted a systematic literature review to provide a comprehensive overview of nine digital technologies that have the role of industrial symbiosis enabler. We developed a novel research framework with 47 matches among each digital technology, the related digital function, and the affected stage of the industrial symbiosis life-cycle. We posit that digital technologies must be used in a synergistic way to fully leverage their potential and promote a wider diffusion of industrial symbiosis. In addition, our research framework noted that, in the interplay between industrial symbiosis and digital technologies, academic research exhibits low and disparate maturity levels. The literature focuses on only a few stages of the industrial symbiosis life-cycle, namely input–output matching and implementation of symbiotic exchanges. Conversely, several other stages still lack a deep analysis of the enabling role of digital technologies, such as the interactions with an external entity and awareness. Thus, a research agenda has been developed to stimulate and guide further research concerning the role of digital technologies as industrial symbiosis enablers.

In recent years, organizations are adapting their control systems to meet institutional demands for sustainability disclosure. However, the process of integrating sustainability within management control systems (MCSs) remains underexplored, despite extensive literature on sustainability controls. Through the review of 85 articles, we investigate how the integration process unfolds, how and why it is addressed by different actors and identify avenues for future research. We developed an analytical framework that highlights key actors shaping the process, their purposes, the main dimensions of integration and its potential barriers. We contribute to theory by proposing an extended framing of the process, which comprises a conceptual dimension (embedding of sustainability values and interconnection of MCSs and sustainability control systems) and a technical dimension (architecture design). We also offer practical and policy insights, clarifying the influential actors' roles, suggesting different ways to configure integrated systems and illustrating how organizations respond differently to institutional pressures.

Regulations and the collective influence of the value chain compel business-to-business (B2B) actors within the nonwoven (NW) manufacturing industry to drive sustainable development. However, the literature rarely addresses how B2B actors aim to align with sustainable development to co-create value and what challenges they face. Therefore, this study brings clarity to this question within the context of an international NW value chain that constitutes a significant part of technical textiles. The qualitative data were collected through two workshops (n = 31) and 18 interviews comprehensively representing the NW value chain actors from a global perspective. Using abductive reasoning, we analyzed the data through the service-dominant logic (SDL) lens. Our findings show that value creation comprises internal and external systemic-level value co-creation practices and challenges. This study contributes to the value creation literature by linking sustainable development to SDL, taking a systemic perspective on value creation and delineating the practices of value co-creation.

Circular ecosystems refer to complex systems, which involve heterogeneous actors that collaborate to achieve a circular system-level outcome. The concept of circular ecosystems emerged as a hot topic in managerial literature, and its relevance has been recognized. Scholars converge on identifying digital technologies as one of the main enablers of circular ecosystems. Still, there is a lack of research at the nexus between circular ecosystems and digital technologies. Our study aims to bridge this gap and shed light on the role of digital technologies in enabling circular ecosystems. To do so, we leverage the complex adaptive system lens to identify three complexity features of circular ecosystems. An exploratory empirical analysis is conducted to develop a novel research framework. Our findings unveil four typologies of circular ecosystems based on their level of complexity and digitalization. Our study has twofold implications for existing literature. First, we question the role of digital technologies as circular ecosystems enablers. We posit that digital technologies do not represent a panacea to enable circular ecosystems; rather, they are used when they are instrumental to achieve the circular system-level outcome. Second, we posit that a high level of digitalization does not necessarily lead to a high level of complexity.

In the light of current institutional pressures concerning sustainable development, Circular Economy principles emerge as an opportunity to mitigate environmental impacts, ensuring also economic and societal outcomes. The study investigates the adoption of circular principles within the New Product Development processes of the healthcare manufacturing sector, exploring how companies incorporate circular practices when developing healthcare technologies and identifying the required core competencies and resources. Adopting the theoretical lenses of New Product Development and Resource-Based View, the significance of integrating circular practices throughout the technological development process is highlighted, considering the innovation process and the capabilities required to overcome sector-specific barriers. A multiple case study approach is adopted, and research findings provide a detailed framework prioritizing competencies and resources. Moreover, the study identifies the regulatory context as a contextual input, permeating the innovation process and revealing the necessity to adhere to regulatory standards. Contributing to the knowledge at the intersection between circular economy, innovation and healthcare management, the study shows how the adoption of circular thinking shapes the dynamics of conceiving new healthcare technologies, providing also a practical framework aimed at helping managers to allocate capabilities, designing targeted interventions and guiding both strategic and operational choices in sustainable healthcare technology development.

Circular Business Models (CBMs) are central to firms’ transition towards a Circular Economy (CE), however the lack of integrated tools to evaluate both circular and financial performance limits managerial decision-making. This study addresses this gap by developing and empirically testing a Circular Balanced Scorecard (CBSC). Grounded in thirteen identified managerial practices for CBMs, the CBSC translates these practices into measurable objectives. Using a single case study of an Italian manufacturing company transitioning towards circularity, the research validates the CBSC through over 30 h of interviews with nine top managers and extensive document analysis. The findings propose a strategy map that links 16 quantitative and 4 qualitative measures across four perspectives, unveiling two strategic pathways for the transition towards CE: value discount (i.e., cost reduction through eco-efficiency) and value premium (i.e., turnover growth through CE-based differentiation). The value discount pathway emerges as the primary driver of the transition towards CE, as its profitability can be more readily demonstrated compared to other transition routes. Moreover, the results illustrate how managerial practices can be operationalized within a holistic CBSC that balances circular and financial goals. This study contributes to the literature by bridging performance management and CE research, offering a practical, process-oriented tool for managers to design, implement, and monitor CE strategies in industrial manufacturing contexts, while providing a structured, theory-driven approach to managing and evaluating circular transitions. © The Author(s) 2026.

Purpose: This study aims to investigate the impact of Lean Production (LP) and Industry 4.0 (I4.0) on the adoption of Circular Economy (CE) within manufacturing firms, also considering the potential moderating effect of I4.0 on the link between LP and CE. By doing so, it addresses the limited and contrasting empirical evidence on how operational practices facilitate the adoption of CE. Design/methodology/approach. This study adopted the Practice-Based View (PBV) as a theoretical lens and employed a quantitative research design. Data were collected via a survey of 151 manufacturing companies operating in Italy and analyzed using hierarchical multiple regression analysis to test the conceptual model. Findings: The empirical results confirm that both LP and I4.0 are significantly and positively associated with CE adoption. I4.0 technologies have a stronger individual impact on CE adoption than LP. However, the hypothesized moderating effect of I4.0 on the LP–CE relationship is not supported. In other words, the implementation of technologies may not contribute to a positive variation in the level of CE adoption that is already achieved due to the implementation of LP practices. Hence, managers should pursue distinct CE strategies aligned with the unique capabilities of LP and I4.0, respectively. Originality/value: This research contributes to the operations management and CE literature by providing empirical evidence on the role of LP and I4.0 in enabling CE adoption. It offers valuable insights for practitioners and policymakers aiming to foster CE adoption in manufacturing, dealt with the links adopting the PBV, challenging the presumed moderating effect of I4.0, and providing actionable recommendations.