Digital Technologies, Circular Economy Practices and Environmental Policies in the Era of COVID-19

Syed Abdul Rehman Khan, Pablo Ponce, George Thomas, Zhang Yu, Mohammad Saad Al-Ahmadi and Muhammad Tanveer
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Syed Abdul Rehman Khan: School of Management and Engineering, Xuzhou University of Technology, Xuzhou 221018, China
Pablo Ponce: Carrera de Economía and Centro de Investigaciones Sociales y Económicas, Loja 110150, Ecuador
George Thomas: Department of Marketing, College of Business Administration, Prince Sultan University, Rafah Street, Riyadh 11586, Saudi Arabia
Zhang Yu: School of Economics and Management, Chang’an University, Xi’an 710054, China
Mohammad Saad Al-Ahmadi: Information Systems & Operations Management Department, KFUPM Business School, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Dhahran 31261, Saudi Arabia
Muhammad Tanveer: Prince Sultan University, Rafah Street, Riyadh 11586, Saudi Arabia

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 22, 1-14

Abstract: The degradation of the environment is associated with economic activity, particularly with the linear way in which the economy does not make efficient use of resources. However, the circular economy is opposed to this linear paradigm, since it makes the most of the resources in trying to achieve zero waste. In this context, this study investigates the relationship between industry 4.0 technologies, COVID-19 outbreak, environmental regulation policies and circular economy practices. A questionnaire is designed to collect information from 214 big and private manufacturing firms in Ecuador, and subsequently, through CB-SEM, the information is processed, and the study paths are validated. The results suggest that industry 4.0 technologies and environmental regulation policies are driving circular economy practices during the pandemic. The study finds no evidence favoring COVID-19 being a determining factor in the adoption of the circular economy. The results provide a policy framework for the adoption of a circular economy.

Keywords: industry 4.0; circular economy; environmental regulations; manufacturing supply chains; COVID-19 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (18)

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