Success Drivers for Implementing Circular Economy: A Case Study from the Building Sector in Colombia

Luz Elba Torres-Guevara, Vanessa Prieto-Sandoval and Andres Mejia-Villa
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Luz Elba Torres-Guevara: International School of Economic and Administrative Sciences, Universidad de La Sabana, Chía 140013, Colombia
Vanessa Prieto-Sandoval: Business Department, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá 110231, Colombia
Andres Mejia-Villa: International School of Economic and Administrative Sciences, Universidad de La Sabana, Chía 140013, Colombia

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 3, 1-17

Abstract: This paper contributes to the circular economy (CE) literature by investigating the drivers of success of the CE implementation in the construction sector and how those drivers can complement any implementation process in small and medium enterprises (SMEs). To do so, we analyzed the case of TECMO Estructuras Metálicas, using the methodology proposed by Jaca and colleagues to implement the CE in SMEs. It is a Colombian company with more than five decades of experience in the manufacture and installation of steel and aluminum structures for small and large building and infrastructure projects. The data were collected between August 2019 and November 2020 through direct communication with the company via workshops, meetings, and company reports. This research found that five drivers are relevant for implementing CE in the construction sector: fertile ecosystem, management commitment, identification of valuable materials, green teams, and CE intermediaries. Moreover, this study also contributes to teaching the implementation of the CE in companies, since it shows that through the methodology presented, implementation projects can be developed in postgraduate classes.

Keywords: circular economy implementation; SMEs; construction sector; Colombia; case study; success factors and research (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 (10)

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