Linking the Loop: A Social Network Theory Perspective on the Role of Circularity Brokers for the Circular Economy

Stella Viscardi and Claudia Colicchia

Business Strategy and the Environment, 2025, vol. 34, issue 7, 9350-9378

Abstract: Circularity brokers are intermediaries fostering the exchange of circular flows and represent a critical yet underexplored aspect of circular economy. Through social network theory, this paper examines how circularity brokers support creating circular supply chains. Using qualitative meta‐analysis, the study examines 68 circular economy projects across sectors involving circularity brokers. The analysis enables investigating the actor playing the role of the circularity broker, its strategic orientation, and performed functions, along with the network structure and scope. Findings are summarized in nine propositions, highlighting how circularity brokers play a crucial role in fostering circularity, driven by their knowledge of circular economy and ability to offer tailor‐made services. Circularity brokers strategically orchestrate circular economy networks to either exploit circular flows and establish a business or develop connections among participating nodes, thereby fostering circular ecosystems. The clear identification of the role of circularity brokers can promote their diffusion, ultimately supporting circularity.

Date: 2025
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://doi.org/10.1002/bse.70063

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:bla:bstrat:v:34:y:2025:i:7:p:9350-9378

Ordering information: This journal article can be ordered from
http://onlinelibrary ... 1002/(ISSN)1099-0836

Access Statistics for this article

Business Strategy and the Environment is currently edited by Richard Welford

More articles in Business Strategy and the Environment from Wiley Blackwell
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Wiley Content Delivery ().