Circular value chain blind spot – A scoping review of the 9R framework in consumption
Open accessAbstract
This paper identifies the Circular Value Chain Blind Spot in consumer behavior research on Waste of Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE). A scoping review was conducted to ascertain the current state of research regarding consumer behavior in handling WEEE concerning circular or transformational and linear behaviors. By evaluating 122 articles from databases including Scopus, Web of Science (WoS), and ProQuest the findings reveal a notable focus on three key strategies among the 9 R framework: recycle, repair, and reuse. Recycling emerges as the predominant area of research, while circular transformation strategies and linear concepts are also explored. Unexpectedly, concrete consumer action strategies are underrepresented, with a primary emphasis on companies and governments. As consumers are recognized as crucial actors within the circular economy (CE), this paper terms this contradictory state as the Circular Value Chain Blind Spot. Addressing future research, the paper concludes with a comprehensive research agenda encompassing six key areas: nudging, differentiation, systemic perspective, waste hierarchy, value chain strategies, and cultural factors. By adopting this research agenda, we anticipate overcoming the Circular Value Chain Blind Spot and fostering equal consideration of all stakeholders involved in the WEEE problematic.
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The shift to a recurring revenue model introduces new complexities for value capture, necessitating different adjusted risk management strategies compared to traditional sales.
“Finally, the shift to a recurring revenue model introduces new complexities for value capture, necessitating different adjusted risk management strategies compared to traditional sales (Rizos and Bryhn 2022;Hunger et al. 2024).”
From Integrating Life Cycle Assessment, Monetised Externalities and Value Alignment for Strategic Reconfiguration of Circular Business Models: The Case of Smartphones (2026) · cites this paper as Hunger et al. 2024
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- Authors
- Hunger, T., Arnold, M., & Ulber, M.
- Affiliations
- Chemnitz University of Technology (DE)
- Corresponding author
- Hunger, Tom
- Venue
- Journal of Cleaner Production
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2024-02
- Volume
- 440
- Pages
- 140853
- ISSN
- 0959-6526 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W4391294508
- Cited by
- 42
- References
- 27
- Citations by year
- 2026: 7 · 2025: 21 · 2024: 14
- FWCI
- 14.20
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- hybrid
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Journal of Cleaner Production (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Business, Management and Accounting › Strategy and Management › Sustainable Supply Chain Management
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Waste Management and Disposal › Recycling and Waste Management Techniques
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Waste Management and Disposal › Waste Management and Recycling
- Keywords
- circular economy, consumer behavior, circular value chains, recycling, repair, reuse, linear behavior, waste hierarchy, nudging, consumer differentiation, cultural factors, research agenda
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