Abstract
This research enters the field of the transition to the circular economy and aims to advance our theoretical understanding of the firms’ business model innovation oriented to the circular economy and its drivers, with a particular focus to digitization and managerial practices. The research also has significant implications for firms and policymakers, as it will help highlight which drivers affect the capacity of business models innovation, combining the needs of competitiveness and performance with the growing expectations of sustainability and environmental protection expressed by the civil society. The research will be conducted by adopting a mixed method which includes a quantitative and then a qualitative study. After having developed the theoretical framework, a rich and articulated database will be built that will allow to connect the economic, financial and environmental performance of firms subject to environmental regulation. The project focuses on Italian companies with the greatest environmental impact. A survey will be employed to investigate relationships between economic and environmental performance, and other parameters related to business model innovation. Subsequent qualitative research, conducted through a multiple case study, will allow to investigate how and why some previously identified drivers affect the innovation capacity of business models oriented towards the circular economy. The results of the quantitative and qualitative research will support the development of a model that will advance our theoretical understanding of the topic and can contribute to the challenges of businesses and civil society in the transition to the circular economy.
Results achieved
Despite the central role of the EU ETS in promoting environmental sustainability, this current debate also tends to overlook the social and economic dimensions of the Circular Economy, which are equally crucial for balanced and sustainable development. To overcome this limitation, we propose a model that integrates the principles of the Circular Economy with those of the Civil Economy, broadening the perspective of corporate sustainability. The study focused on 499 Italian companies with stationary plants subject to the EU ETS, analyzing the role of corporate purpose in the challenge of transitioning to a circular business model in a regulated context. Analyzing the link between innovation and the introduction of circularity practices, on the one hand, or delocalization, on the other, further enriches our study. Through a theoretical and empirical analysis, we explored the adaptation dynamics of these companies, seeking to identify the purpose-driven models that allow them to achieve a sustainable balance between economic and financial performance and environmental impacts. Ultimately, the results confirm the heuristic value of the configurational approach for studying hybrid and sustainable enterprises: it does not reduce complexity to a linear relationship, but rather demonstrates how organizational vitality emerges from the interaction of multiple, sometimes conflicting, dimensions. It is precisely in managing these tensions—between statements and practices, between control and innovation, between economic performance and environmental sustainability—that the capacity for regeneration, innovation, and comprehensive development of enterprises oriented toward a Civic Purpose is revealed. In theoretical terms, the analysis confirms the paradoxical nature of the circular transition: on the one hand, it requires stability and coherence in governance structures, while on the other, it stimulates innovation and change in corporate practices. From this perspective, circularity emerges as the privileged terrain in which the Civil Purpose translates into organizational innovation, making it possible to transform regulatory constraints and environmental pressures into levers for regenerating the business model.Dettagli del progetto
Responsabile scientifico: Maria-Gabriella Baldarelli
Strutture Unibo coinvolte:
Dipartimento di Scienze Aziendali
Coordinatore:
Università degli studi di Modena e Reggio Emilia - UNIMORE(Italy)
Contributo totale Unibo: Euro (EUR) 39.705,00
Durata del progetto in mesi: 24
Data di inizio
28/09/2023
Data di fine:
28/02/2026
