The Stakeholders’ Perspective within the B Corp Certification for a Circular Approach

Stefano Poponi, Andrea Colantoni, Sirio R.S. Cividino and Enrico Maria Mosconi
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Stefano Poponi: Faculty of Economics, Niccolò Cusano University, Via Don Carlo Gnocchi 3, I-00166 Rome, Italy
Andrea Colantoni: Department of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences (DAFNE), Tuscia University, Via S. Camillo De Lellis, 01100 Viterbo, Italy
Sirio R.S. Cividino: Department of Agriculture, University of Udine, Via delle Scienze 206, I-33100 Udine, Italy
Enrico Maria Mosconi: Department of Economics Engineering, Society and Business Organization, Tuscia University, Via del Paradiso 47, I-01100 Viterbo, Italy

Sustainability, 2019, vol. 11, issue 6, 1-15

Abstract: A circular economy has been gaining momentum as the most innovative approach in business. Its proposed model, based on sustainability and new product-driven differentiated strategies of production and organizational exchange, has brought to light the need to better understand the relevance of stakeholders as a critical factor in the creation of new added value in business management. The primary purpose of this paper is to investigate how the B-Corp Certification System could contribute to a process of awareness raising in business organizations. It also focuses on the stakeholders’ commitment, within the framework of circular economy principles, and demonstrates that those companies who are adopting the certification concerning “recycling service and waste management” strongly contribute to the development in the direction of the circular economy. The analysis of the case studies shows two possible scenarios describing the circular approach in business and the different roles of stakeholders in the activation of such a virtuous path. “Social recycling” considers the key role of social participation and contribution in circular-economy related activities of primary and secondary stakeholders, and “highly regenerative recycling” aims to involve qualified stakeholders to start inter-organizational symbioses within the circular process of waste recycling. Key factors, such as industrial symbiosis, tax benefits, financial incentives, legislative harmonization, and the consumers’ behavior, represent the tenets of the circular economy model An awareness-raising perspective and the capacity on the part of companies to understand the relevance of stakeholders and the way to transform their role into the most effective lever to reinforce competitiveness is therefore necessary. Accordingly, the whole system of Benefit Corporation certification could boost business towards new business models involving stakeholders in several directions.

Keywords: B Corp certification; circular economy; sustainability; multi-stakeholder perspective (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (20)

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