This edited collection offers fresh perspectives on sustainable development and social impact using a circular economy framework. Against the backdrop of escalating environmental challenges such as resource depletion and climate change, transitioning from a linear to a circular economy is a key step towards meeting the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.
Circular supply chains are pivotal in this transformation, focusing on resource efficiency, recycling, and waste reduction, with consumer roles also playing a key part. Building on theoretical foundations, the chapters in this book use quantitative and qualitative research to explore practical solutions and transformative potential across industries and urban settings, addressing global economic, environmental and social challenges. This book fosters a deeper understanding of circular economy principles and inspires actionable changes, with consumers becoming active participants in the circular economy. By focusing on consumer knowledge, eco‑innovation, and urban readiness, it provides a systemic, holistic approach to circular economy studies.
This book will be of interest to researchers, academics, and students interested in enhancing their understanding of circular economy principles and practices, including those in environmental science, sustainable development, economics, and business.
Table of Contents:
Contents
vi Contents
3 Circular Supply Chain Management: The Holistic Approach to Circular Economy Values Implementation 28
KATARZYNA NOWICKA
3.1 Introduction 28
3.2 Managing Global Supply Chains towards Sustainable Development Goals 29
3.3 Circular Supply Chain Business Models 32
3.4 From Consumer to Producer: The New Role of the Prosumer in Supply Chain Management 37
3.5 Collaboration to Create a Resource Circle: Fostering Partnerships among International Supply Chain Stakeholders 40
3.6 Conclusions 42
4 Bounded Rationality and Behavioural Economics Concepts in Consumers’ Pro‑Environmental Choices 47
KATARZYNA BENTKOWSKA
4.1 Introduction 47
4.2 Why Are Consumers Reluctant to Act Pro‑Environmentally? 49
4.2.1 Bounded Rationality 49
4.2.2 Behavioural Economics Concepts 51
4.3 Consumers’ Choices in the Light of Enterprises’ and Consumers’ Surveys – How Do Behavioural Economics Concepts Explain Them 55
4.4 Conclusions 61
5 Companies’ Strategies for Transformation toward a Circular Economy 69
MAREK BŁASZCZYK
5.1 Introduction 69
5.2 Key Issues and Research Methodology with Respect to Identifying Company Strategy 69
5.3 The Circular R‑Strategies of Transformation toward Circular Economy in the Context of Strategy Classification Systems 72
5.4 Strategies of Polish Industrial Enterprises in Transformation toward Circular Economy – Results of Empirical Research 76
5.5 R‑Strategies of Leading Companies in the Outdoor Wear Industry in the World – Toward Finding Best Practices: A Case Study 87
5.6 Conclusions 94
6 Eco‑Innovations and a Circular Economy 98
KRYSTYNA POZNAŃSKA AND PAULINA PNIEWSKA
6.1 Introduction 98
6.2 The Background of Circular Economy and Eco‑Innovations 99
6.2.1 Sustainable Development as a Challenge for Contemporary Socioeconomic Development 99
6.2.2 Circular Economy – Theoretical Approach 102
6.2.3 The Conception and Types of Eco‑Innovation 104
6.3 The Level of Eco-Innovation in the Polish Economy in Comparison to Other European Union Countries 111
6.4 The Role of Eco‑Innovations in the Circular Economy – Examples of Selected Eco‑Innovation Implemented by a Food Company Operating in Poland 114
6.4.1 Company Overview 114
6.4.2 R‑Strategies Used 115
6.4.3 Innovations Implemented as Part of R‑Strategies and the Technologies Used for R‑Strategies Implementation 118
6.4.4 Partnerships for the Implementation of R‑Strategies 119
6.4.5 Drivers and Barriers to Change 119
6.4.6 Development Trajectory for the Company as Part of the Implementation of R-Strategies 119
6.5 Conclusions 120
7 Circular Solutions’ Implementation: Comparison of Different Countries 129
PAWEŁ BARTOSZCZUK AND ZYTA M. ZIORA
7.1 Introduction – Two Distinct Circular Economy Approaches in Poland and Australia 129
7.2 Policy and Regulatory Framework in Poland in the Overview of Other European Union Countries 132
7.3 Characteristics of the Polish Circular Solutions 138
7.4 Innovation Technologies Used to Implement R‑Strategy in Poland 139
7.5 Benefits from Implementing Circular Economy in Poland – Results of Own Research 140
7.6 The Circular Economy in Australia 143
7.7 Conclusions 149
8 A Circular Economy in Cities: Exploring Implementation, Incentives, and Challenges in the Public Sector 155
DOMINIKA P. BRODOWICZ, KATARZYNA SADOWY
AND JUSTYNA BIERNACKA
8.1 Introduction 155
8.2 Principles of Circular Economy in Contemporary Cities in the Context of Sustainable Development 156
8.3 Circular Policies and Practices of the Public Sector in EU Cities 159
8.3.1 The Role of Energy in Ensuring Security and Proper Functioning of Urban Areas 159
8.3.2 Management and Provision of Water Resources 161
8.3.3 Closed‑Loop Approach and Conscious Consumption of Goods and Resources 164
8.4 Circular Policies and Practices of the Public Sector in Polish Cities 166
8.4.1 Energy – Management, Efficiency, Buildings, and Education 166
8.4.2 Water Supply and Management 169
8.4.3 Conscious and Planned Use, Reuse, and Reduced Consumption of Goods in Cities 172
8.5 Lessons Learnt – Towards Circular Cities 174
8.6 Conclusions 178
9 Summary and Conclusions 184
KATARZYNA NOWICKA
Index 195
About the Author :
Katarzyna Nowicka, PhD, is an Associate Professor at the SGH Warsaw School of Economics and Head of the Department of Logistics. She holds a PhD and habilitation in Management from the SGH Warsaw School of Economics. She specialises in sustainable and circular supply chain management, as well as green logistics management. Her scientific achievements include monographs, scientific articles, and presentations. She has also participated in numerous research projects devoted to sustainable and digital supply chains, both national and international.
