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Enabling pro-circular behaviours in SMEs: a role-based approach for sustainable metalworking industry

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Increased circular behaviours in Small and Medium-sized (SME) manufacturing companies would strongly contribute to a more circular economy. However, previous research has identified that the development and adoption of a circular economy hindered by behavioural barriers on organisational as well as individual level. With a specific focus on cemented carbide tooling that is frequently used in machining operations, this paper aims to identify actors and interactions between actors that influence circular behaviours related to acquisition, utilisation, and end-of-life activities in manufacturing companies and how circular behaviour can be enabled based on these roles. Findings show that there are several actors with the potential to positively influence the transition to a circular economy if they adopt pro-circular behaviours, e.g. Operators, production planners, production technicians, as well as top management. Also, purchasing professionals are a central actor deeply involved in both recommendations and execution of decisions particularly related to acquisition activities; a framework for intervention is suggested to enable circular behaviours at all organisation levels based on organisational hierarchy and control planned behaviour theory (TPB).

Source: International Journal of Production Research

DOI: 10.1080/00207543.2025.2542961

Authors: Mohamed Elnourani, Anna Karlsson, Lisa Larsson, Kerstin Johansen, Anna Öhrwall Rönnbäck

Institutions: Luleå University of Technology, Sandvik (Sweden), Jönköping University

Language: English

Topic: Sustainable Supply Chain Management

Subfield: Strategy and Management

Field: Business, Management and Accounting

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Responsible consumption and production, Industry, innovation and infrastructure, Decent work and economic growth

Open Access status: hybrid

Funder: VINNOVA