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Circular economy and frugal innovation: a conceptual nexus

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Abstract

Frugal innovation (FI) and circular economy (CE) are two concepts that are recently being deliberated among researchers, policymakers, businesses, governments, and international organizations. Being a nascent development, both still lack an extant body of theories and data. Undisputedly they both share commonalities in gathering tractions among scholars. But the conceptual relationship between them has been unclear and hence makes it difficult to understand how one can promote the other. The current work constructs a conceptual framework through literature, explicating nexus, characteristics, and indicators of the two concepts and then exploring this framework through case analysis and focus group discussion (FGD). The results of our findings show that the two concepts are outcome of considerations on resource constraints and/or resource optimization; promote redesigning of product and services to minimize resources while achieving core functionality; involve the participation of stakeholders; and are implemented in stages. Most importantly, they foster the three pillars of sustainable development—social equity, economic prosperity, and environmental quality. However, supportive policies and institutions are largely associated with the development of CE which is not the same for FI in most countries. We conclude that FI being mainly operational in the emerging economies could serve as a veritable enabling tool for promoting the CE concept in the developing regions of the globe but will require the support of formal institutions and policies.

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Acknowledgements

We gratefully acknowledge the support received from the office of the accountant-general of Anambra state, Nigeria.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. SHELL Centre for Environmental Management and Control, University Of Nigeria, Enugu Campus, Enugu, 410001, Nigeria

    Obiora B. Ezeudu, Jonah C. Agunwamba & Uzochukwu C. Ugochukwu

  2. Department of Civil Engineering, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, 410001, Nigeria

    Jonah C. Agunwamba

  3. Department of Mechanical Engineering, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria

    Tochukwu C. Oraelosi

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  1. Obiora B. Ezeudu
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  4. Tochukwu C. Oraelosi
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OBE conceptualized, investigated, curated the research data, formally analyzed the research data, and wrote the original draft of the manuscript. TCO participated in data curation. UCU and JCA supervised the project. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Obiora B. Ezeudu.

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Ezeudu, O.B., Agunwamba, J.C., Ugochukwu, U.C. et al. Circular economy and frugal innovation: a conceptual nexus. Environ Sci Pollut Res 29, 29719–29734 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-022-18522-6

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