The literature on the circular economy at the micro-level has mainly focused on the analysis of the circular business model and implementation of different circular-related practices, but the process of adoption by businesses of the circular economy is still under investigation. Therefore, through a study in the region of Aragón, Spain, the main circular economy-related activities implemented by a sample of 52 businesses are classified into four levels as an approach to the change process that firms can undergo to adopt the circular economy. In summary, it can be stated that circular economy-related activities are being introduced by businesses progressively, from a minor activity to a greater number of activities, but that these activities do not respond to the incremental closure of material loops within the circular economy framework. The applied indicators enhance the knowledge on the environmental management accounting applied to the CE for the reporting and the relations with stakeholders. In addition, the measurement of the introduction of the circular economy in different businesses is relevant for practitioners and for policy makers, in response to the institutional initiatives for the promotion of the circular economy at the territorial level.

It has been argued that the circular economy (CE) represents an opportunity to achieve a paradigm shift in territory from the current linear model to a low-carbon, zero-waste economy. In this context, the implementation of the CE is holistically analysed to measure its impact and contribute to the debate about regional environmental management from the different perspectives of society, public administrations, and the private sector. Through a qualitative case study of a Spanish region, the main barriers of CE, such as the lack of funding for undertaking investments and the supply of recycled products, are identified, and the organisation of a waste-exchange system between companies or awareness campaigns concerning the CE are considered relevant incentives to be included in regional planning and management. This study confirms the economic and social win for CE that will be more effective as more CE activities are implemented at regional level.

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Despite the growing number of studies on eco-innovation, the specific human capital applied to the eco-innovative processes by firms has not been thoroughly analyzed to date. Due to this gap, this study carries out an empirical research about the definition and measurement of the human capital applied to business eco-innovation in terms of knowledge. For this purpose, we define a human capital specific index (HCSI) to analyze the influence of firms’ human capital in their eco-innovative activities. The results have been obtained through the analysis of a sample of eco-innovative Spanish firms and they show some relevant implications for practitioners regarding the decision-making process in promoting eco-innovation and for the management control of eco-innovative processes. One of the study contributions for academics is to increase the knowledge about the measurement and the impact of the specific human capital applied to eco-innovation by firms in the theoretical framework of the resource-based view theory (RBV).

Currently, numerous governments and international organisations are promoting the implementation of the circular economy -both within the EU and in other regions -as an alternative to lineal models, and in search of a compromise between competitiveness and the sustainable exploitation of resources.The implementation of a circular business model is closely tied to the territory within which firms operate. As a result, firms are highly sensitive to the existence of favourable conditions at the regional level, which can greatly accelerate the transition towards circular models and regions play a relevant role in the adoption of the circular economy principles by the private sector.Similarly, the adoption of models based on circular economy principles at the micro level has an effect on macro indicators at the regional level, especially concerning the flow of raw materials and other resources, and this contributes to ensuring that quality standards and resource availability are maintained throughout the value chain. The effects of the adoption of these models on a territory can be measured in terms of volume of transactions, generation of jobs and consumption of raw materials. In this context, this study aims to contribute to the measurement of the activities related to the circular economy that have been implemented at regional level by business. This allows us to improve the knowledge of the socioeconomic impact of the circular economy, and offer an empirical approach for the development of specific regional policies to improve the circular economy in businesses.