Entrepreneurship in a circular economy: a systematic review of material cycles and business models

Abstract

The challenge of entrepreneurship under the Circular Economy (CE) model is at an early stage of debate, in which there is little evidence of how such opportunities are developed. Considering that this process involves changes from the micro-enterprise to the macro-governmental levels, this article uses a Systematic Literature Review to analyze how the current scenario is characterized, from the correlation of quantitative aspects of the publications, the economic activities involved, and the solutions found by the enterprises through the Material Cycles and Business Models. As evidence, it is clear that entrepreneurs are faced with a complex scenario since, despite the majority of business models corresponding to closing loops demonstrating efforts to change the structural logic, there is also a need for awareness of belonging, on the part of the stakeholders, since the impact takes place in a network, and pressure for new financing formats. There is also dependence on a macro dynamic, in which government policies are shown to be a possible influence on the concentration of articles on European soil. The majority presence of the Manufacturing Industry in the results may be related to the projective scope of CE. However, the higher frequency of the Technical Cycle may be an indication of the popularization of its techniques and tools in relation to the Biological Cycle. As a contribution, the literature on CE was expanded, presenting a perspective in which the notion of the broad scenario and the micro-initiatives are integrated for the knowledge of entrepreneurship.