Enablers of a Circular Economy: A Strength-Based Stakeholder Engagement Approach

Abstract

Recent circular economy research has emphasised that stakeholder engagement and mutual support of stakeholders are needed to implement the idea of a circular economy. While stakeholder engagement is often considered as something positive, a deeper understanding of what constitutes the positive in stakeholder relationships is needed. The purpose of this chapter is to increase our understanding of strength-based stakeholder engagement as an enabler of the sustainability transition to a circular economy. We explore what constitutes positive and constructive stakeholder relationships at the individual, organisational and societal levels of stakeholder engagement. We present an empirical study of specialists representing different stakeholders involved in advancing the circular economy in Finland. Drawing on a strength-based approach, our study contributes to the stakeholder literature by elucidating the positive foundation of stakeholder engagement. Our study shows that identifying and enhancing the strengths in stakeholder engagement reveals opportunities that exist for a circular economy.