Organizational enablers for circular economy in the context of sustainable supply chain management

Abstract

Abstract The paradigms of sustainability and circular economy have represented separate streams of academic literature but there is a growing realization that these two paradigms may have a mutually-constitutive relationship. Particularly, the relationship among the two notions in the context of supply chains remains unexplored and this is the focus of this research. We draw on the organizational sense making literature to identify the organizational enablers of circular supply chains and their relationships with the environmental performance of supply chains. Data was collected from various supply chains within the United Arab Emirates (UAE). A structural equation modelling (SEM) approach was adopted to test the hypothesis derived from a systematic review of the literature. Originality of this work stems from the conceptualisation and validation of a framework for circular supply chains and sustainable performance as a combination of process facilitators and a persuasive organizational narrative that enables organizations to embrace the circular economy practices. The validated framework has implications for both academia and the industry because of its emphasis on the joint effects of a) the discursive ability of organizational actors to articulate a paradigm shift towards circular supply chains b) the process facilitators comprising of actions and practices that enable circular supply chains.