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Analyzing Technical and Organizational Changes in Circular Economy (CE) Implementation with a TOE Framework: Insights from a CE Project of Kamouraska (Quebec)

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Abstract

Circular economy (CE) enhances the integration of environmental issues into business practices. It appears as an opportunity to improve the environmental performance of stakeholders involved in its implementation. But CE requires technical and organizational changes in the practices of stakeholders to address some issues. The adoption of these changes involves a complex process with depends on multiple factors. Mobilizing Technology–Organization–Environment (TOE) framework, this paper aims to underline changes in CE implementation and their determining factors. Our analysis of data from 36 stakeholders of a CE project of Kamouraska (Quebec) underscores a weak influence of technological factors. Changes refer more to organizational resources, internal stakeholders, government regulation, geographical and social proximity, etc. In addition, the results show a causal relationship between different factors, which requires a systemic perspective on CE.

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Data availability

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Abbreviations

CE:

Circular economy

ESR:

Environmental and social responsibility

IE:

Industrial ecology

R&D:

Research & Development

SADC:

Société d’aide au développement des collectivités

SME:

Small and medium enterprise

TOE:

Technology–organization–environment

VSE:

Very small enterprise

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  1. GEOLAB UMR 6042 CNRS Laboratoire de Géographie Physique et Environnementale, Université de Limoges, 39E Rue Camille Guérin, 87036, Limoges, France

    Chedrak Chembessi & Christophe Beaurain

  2. Centre de Recherche en Aménagement du Territoire et Développement Régional, Université Laval, 1648-2325 Allée des Bibliothèques, Québec, G1V 0A6, Canada

    Chedrak Chembessi & Geneviève Cloutier

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Chembessi, C., Beaurain, C. & Cloutier, G. Analyzing Technical and Organizational Changes in Circular Economy (CE) Implementation with a TOE Framework: Insights from a CE Project of Kamouraska (Quebec). Circ.Econ.Sust. 2, 915–936 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s43615-021-00140-y

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