Social responsibility and the circular economy: a bibliometric exploration of strategic convergence in corporate sustainability
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.22267/rtend.262701.292Keywords:
bibliometrics, sustainable development, companies, social responsibility, sustainabilityAbstract
Introduction: Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Circular Economy (CE) have established themselves as key approaches to organizational sustainability; however, the literature still presents fragmentation regarding their interrelationship. Objective: To analyze scientific output linking CSR and CE, identifying trends, actors, and gaps through bibliometric analysis. Methodology: A quantitative approach was applied to 221 articles indexed in Web of Science, using the VOSviewer and Bibliometrix tools to map co-authorship, co-citation, and keyword networks. Results: There has been sustained increase in publications since 2017, with Italy, China, and Spain leading the way. The Journal of Cleaner Production and Sustainability account for the highest productivity. The dominant themes are environmental management, innovation, and circular models. Discussion: The literature reflects progress toward CSR-CE convergence, although conceptual, methodological, and geographical gaps remain. Organizational barriers and the need to integrate financial and non-financial indicators are identified. Conclusions: It is essential to promote comparative end empirical studies, especially in Latin America, that incorporate common metrics and interdisciplinary approaches to strengthen the transition to sustainable business models.
Downloads
References
(1) Aerts, W. & Cormier, D. (2009). Media legitimacy and corporate environmental communication. Accounting, Organizations and Society, 34(1), 1–27. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aos.2008.02.005
(2) Amorim, Í. (2021). Environmental justice and circular economy: analyzing justice for waste pickers in upcoming circular economy in Fortaleza, Brazil. Circular Economy and Sustainability, 1(3), 815-834. https://doi.org/10.1007/s43615-021-00045-w
(3) Barradas, G. (2022). Economía circular como acercamiento hacia la responsabilidad social de la empresa: una revisión semi-sistemática. Gestión y Gerencia, 16(1), 7-26. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6970081
(4) Berthelot, S., Cormier, D. & Magnan, M. (2003). Environmental disclosure research: review and synthesis. Journal of Accounting Literature, 22, 1–44. https://www.proquest.com/openview/7349d6a29ce0b0c7268bccf21d363378/1?pq-origsite=gscholar&cbl=31366
(5) Bîrgovan, A. L., Vatca, S. D., Bacali, L., Szilagyi, A., Lakatos, E. S., Cioca, L. I. & Ciobanu, G. (2022). Enabling the circular economy transition in organizations: A moderated mediation model. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(677). https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19020677
(6) Blomsma, F. & Brennan, G. (2017). The emergence of circular economy: a new framing around prolonging resource productivity. Journal of Industrial Ecology, 21(3), 603–614. https://doi.org/10.1111/jiec.12603
(7) Bocken, N. & Short, S. (2016). Towards a sufficiency-driven business model: experiences and opportunities. Environmental Innovation and Societal Transitions, 18, 41–61. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eist.2015.07.010
(8) Bocken, N., Bakker, C. & Pauw, I. (2016). Product design and business model strategies for a circular economy. Journal of Industrial and Production Engineering, 33(5), 308–320. https://doi.org/10.1080/21681015.2016.1172124
(9) Caputo, F., Pizzi, S., Ligorio, L. & Leopizzi, R. (2021). Enhancing environmental information transparency through corporate social responsibility reporting regulation. Business Strategy and the Environment, 30(8), 3470-3484. https://doi.org/10.1002/bse.2814
(10) Chen, H., Yang, Y., Yang, Y., Jiang, W. & Zhou, J. (2014). A bibliometric investigation of life cycle as-sessment research in the web of science databases. International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment, 19(8), 1674-1685. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11367-014-0777-3
(11) Clarkson, M. E. (1995). A stakeholder framework for analyzing and evaluating corporate social performance. Academy of Management Review, 20(1), 92–117. https://doi.org/10.2307/258888
(12) Daú, G., Scavarda, A., Scavarda, L. & Portugal, V. (2019). The healthcare sustainable supply chain 4.0: The circular economy transition conceptual framework with the corporate social responsibility mirror. Sustainability, 11(12), 3259. https://doi.org/10.3390/su11123259
(13) Del Baldo, M. & D’Anghela, M. (2020). Circular economy and corporate social responsibility: Towards an integrated perspective. Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, 27(6), 2409–2420. https://doi.org/10.1002/csr.1976
(14) El Wali, M., Rahimpour, S. & Kraslawski, A. (2021). Circular economy for phosphorus supply chain and its impact on social sustainable development goals. Science of The Total Environment, 777, 146060. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S004896972101127X
(15) Ellen MacArthur Foundation. (2013). Towards the circular economy: economic and business rationale for an accelerated transition. www.ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/towards-the-circular-economy-vol-1-an-economic-and-business-rationale-for-an?
(16) Fakoya, M. B. (2020). Investment in hazardous solid waste reduction and financial performance of selected companies listed in the Johannesburg Ssock exchange socially responsible investment index. Sustainable Production and Consumption, 23, 21-29. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.spc.2020.03.007
(17) Fiandrino, S., Gromis, M., Tonelli, A. & Lucchese, A. (2022). The multi-faceted dimensions for the disclosure quality of non-financial information in revising directive 2014/95/EU. Journal of Applied Accounting Research, 23(1), 274-300. https://doi.org/10.1108/JAAR-04-2021-0118
(18) Fortunati, S., Martiniello, L. & Morea, D. (2020). The strategic role of the corporate social responsibility and circular economy in the cosmetic industry. Sustainability, 12(12), 5120. https://doi.org/10.3390/su12125120
(19) Freeman, R. E. (1984). Strategic management: A stakeholder approach. Pitman.
(20) Gallego, A., Mendoza, J. M. & Azapagic, A. (2019). Environmental impacts of takeaway food containers. Journal of Cleaner Production, 211, 417-427. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2018.11.220
(21) Geissdoerfer, M., Pieroni, M. P., Pigosso, D. C. & Soufani, K. (2020). Circular business models: A review. Journal of Cleaner Production, 277, 123741. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2020.123741
(22) Geng, Y., Fu, J., Sarkis, J. & Xue, B. (2012). Towards a national circular economy indicator system in China: an evaluation and critical analysis. Journal of Cleaner Production, 23(1), 216–224. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2011.07.005
(23) Ghisellini, P., Ripa, M. & Ulgiati, S. (2018). Exploring environmental and economic costs and benefits of a circular economy approach to the construction and demolition sector. Journal of Cleaner Production, 178, 618–643. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2017.11.207
(24) Gray, R., Owen, D. & Adams, C. (1995). Accounting and accountability: Changes and challenges in corporate social and environmental reporting. Prentice Hall.
(25) Halonen, N., Majuri, M. & Lanz, M. (2019). Characteristics of a circular economy framework to support strategic renewal in manufacturing firms. Procedia CIRP, 81, 653–658. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.procir.2019.03.171
(26) Hartley, K., Van, R. & Kirchherr, J. (2019). Policies for transitioning towards a circular economy: expectations from the European Union (EU). Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 155, 104634. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2019.104634
(27) Hategan, C., Pitorac, R. & Milu, N. D. (2021). Assessment of the mandatory non-financial reporting of Romanian companies in the circular economy context. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(24), 12899. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph182412899
(28) Hong, I., Chen, X., Lin, C. & Chen, C. (2024). Circular economy practices and corporate social responsibility performance: The role of sense-giving. Journal of Cleaner Production, 421, 139776. https://doi.org/10.1080/13675567.2023.2237914
(29) Hong, T., Ou, J., Jia, F., Chen, L. & Yang, Y. (2023). Circular economy practices and corporate social responsibility performance: the role of sense-giving. International Journal of Logistics Research and Applications, 27(11), 2208–2237. https://doi.org/10.1080/13675567.2023.2237914
(30) Isensee, C., Teuteberg, F., Griese, K. M. & Topi, C. (2020). The relationship between organizational culture, sustainability, and digitalization in SMEs: a systematic review. Journal of cleaner production, 275, 122944. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0959652620329899
(31) Kębłowski, W., Lambert, D. & Bassens, D. (2020). Circular economy and the city: an urban political economy agenda. Culture and Organization, 26(2), 142–158. https://doi.org/10.1080/14759551.2020.1718148
(32) Kiefer, C. P., Carrillo, J. & del Río, P. (2024). How does corporate environmental culture enable the ecoinnovation transition of firms towards the circular economy? Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, 31(6), 5911-5937. https://doi.org/10.1002/csr.2888
(33) Kuo, L., Yeh, C. C. & Yu, H. C. (2012). Disclosure of corporate social responsibility and environmental management: evidence from China. Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, 19(5), 273–287. https://doi.org/10.1002/csr.274
(34) La Torre, M., Sabelfeld, S., Blomkvist, M. & Dumay, J. (2020). Rebuilding trust: sustainability and non-financial reporting and the European Union regulation. Meditari Accountancy Research, 28(5), 701-725. https://doi.org/10.1108/MEDAR-06-2020-0914
(35) Lewandowski, M. (2016). Designing the business models for circular economy–Towards the conceptual framework. Sustainability, 8(1), 43. https://doi.org/10.3390/su8010043
(36) Lüdeke, F., Gold, S. & Bocken, N. M. (2019). A review and typology of circular economy business model patterns. Journal of Industrial Ecology, 23(1), 36–61. https://doi.org/10.1111/jiec.12763
(37) Manninen, K., Koskela, S., Antikainen, R., Bocken, N., Dahlbo, H. & Aminoff, A. (2018). Do circular economy business models capture intended environmental value propositions? Journal of Cleaner Production, 171, 413–422. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2017.10.003
(38) Mapokotera, C., Mataruka, L. T., Muzurura, J. & Mkumbuzi, W. P. (2023). The Nexus between corporate social responsibility and corporate social performance in the Service-Based Enterprises Sector: insights from Zimbabwe. Qeios, 15(2), 1-10. https://doi.org/10.32388/UT5RBU.2
(39) Mion, G. & Loza, C. (2019). Mandatory Nonfinancial Disclosure and Its Consequences on the Sustainability Reporting Quality of Italian and German Companies. Sustainability, 11(17), 4612. https://doi.org/10.3390/su11174612
(40) Morea, D., Fortunati, S. & Martiniello, L. (2021). Circular economy and corporate social responsibility: Towards an integrated strategic approach in the multinational cosmetics industry. Journal of Cleaner Production, 315, 128232. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2021.128232
(41) Morea, D., Fortunati, S. & Martiniello, L. (2021). Circular economy and corporate social responsibility in the cosmetic industry: A bibliometric analysis. Journal of Cleaner Production, 315, 128215. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2021.128215
(42) Nadeem, S. P., Garza, J. A. & Anosike, A. I. (2023). A C-Lean framework for deploying circular economy in manufacturing SMEs. Production Planning & Control, 36(5), 650–670. https://doi.org/10.1080/09537287.2023.2294307
(43) Nasir, M., Genovese, A., Acquaye, A., Koh, S. & Yamoah, F. (2017). Comparing linear and circular supply chains: a case study from the construction industry. International Journal of Production Economics, 183, 443–457. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpe.2016.06.008
(44) Nosková, M., Taušl, P. & Zemanová, V. (2024). The relationship between the circular economy and business performance: a systematic literature review. Journal of Business Economics and Management, 25(3), 474–493. https://doi.org/10.3846/jbem.2024.21413
(45) Nußholz, J. L. (2017). Circular business models: Defining a concept and framing an emerging research field. Sustainability, 9(10), 1810. https://doi.org/10.3390/su9101810
(46) Patyal, V., Sarma, P., Modgil, S., Nag, T. & Dennehy, D. (2022). Mapping the links between Industry 4.0, circular economy and sustainability: a systematic literature review. Journal of Enterprise Information Management, 35(1), 1-35. https://doi.org/10.1108/JEIM-05-2021-0197
(47) Prieto, V., Ormazabal, M., Jaca, C. & Viles, E. (2018). Key elements in assessing circular economy implementation in small and médium-sized enterprises. Business Strategy and the Environment, 27(8), 1525-1534. https://doi.org/10.1002/bse.2210
(48) Quin, Y., Harrison, J. & Chen, L. (2019). A framework for the practice of corporate environmental responsibility in China. Journal of Cleaner Production, 235(1), 245. https://hdl.handle.net/1885/733754933
(49) Ranta, V., Aarikka, L., Ritala, P. & Mäkinen, S. (2018). Exploring institutional drivers and barriers of the circular economy: a cross-regional comparison of China, the US, and Europe. Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 135, 70-82. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2017.08.017
(50) Scarpellini, S. (2022). Social impacts of a circular business model: an approach from a sustainability accounting and reporting perspective. Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, 29(3), 646-656. https://doi.org/10.1002/csr.2226
(51) Smolak, E. & Almansa, A. (2021). Estudio de la producción científica sobre social media. El caso de las revistas españolas de comunicación en JCR y SJR. Revista de Ciencias de la Comunicación e Información, 26, 15–38. https://doi.org/10.35742/rcci.2021.26.e124
(52) Taušová, M., Mihaliková, E., Čulková, K., Stehlíková, B., Tauš, P., Kudelas, D. & Štrba, Ľ. (2019). Recycling of communal waste: current state and future potential for sustai-nable development in the EU. Sustainability, 11(10), 2904. https://doi.org/10.3390/su11102904
(53) Tukker, A. (2015). Product services for a resource-efficient and circular economy – a review. Journal of Cleaner Production, 97, 76–91. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2013.11.049
(54) Upadhyay, A., Mukhuty, S., Kumar, V. & Kazancoglu, Y. (2021). Blockchain Technology and the Circular Economy: Implications for Sustainability and Social Responsibility. Journal of Cleaner Production, 293, 126130. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2021.126130
(55) Van Nunen, K., Li, J., Reniers, G. & Ponnet, K. (2018). Bibliometric analysis of safety culture research. Safety Science, 108, 248–258. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssci.2017.08.011
(56) Venturelli, A., Pizzi, S., Caputo, F. & Principale, S. (2020). The revision of nonfinancial reporting directive: a critical lens on the comparability principle. Business Strategy and the Environment, 29(8), 3584-3597. https://doi.org/10.1002/bse.2598
(57) Vitolla, F., L’Abate, V., Petruzzella, F., Raimo, N. & Salvi, A. (2023). Circular economy disclosure in sustainability reporting: the effect of firm characteristics. Sustainability, 15(3), 2200. https://doi.org/10.3390/su15032200
(58) Wang, X., Fang, Z. & Sun, X. (2016). Usage patterns of scholarly articles on Web of Science: a study on web of science usage count. Scientometrics, 109, 917–926. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11192-016-2093-0
(59) Winans, K., Kendall, A. & Deng, H. (2017). The history and current applications of the circular economy concept. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 68, 825–833. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2016.09.123
(60) Yang, Y., Chen, L., Jia, F. & Xu, Z. (2019). Complementarity of circular economy practi-ces: an empirical analysis of Chinese manufacturers. International Journal of Production Research, 57(20), 6369–6384. https://doi.org/10.1080/00207543.2019.1566664
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
Those authors who have publications with this journal, accept the following terms:
This journal is licensed under a Creative Commons Reconocimiento-NoComercial 4.0 Internacional License. The articles can be copied, distributed, adapted and communicated publicly, as long as the credits of the work are recognized and the respective source is quoted. This work can not be used for commercial purposes.
To increase their visibility, documents are sent to databases and indexing systems.
The content of the items is the responsibility of each author, and does not compromise in any way, journal or institution.
