Circularity is one of the most promising innovative business models for tackling the challenges posed by climate protection, resource conservation and biodiversity conservation. Circularity requires changed business structures; therefore, it is necessary to adapt existing approaches and reconcile economic and ecological interests. By focusing on the importance of horizontal integration and cross-company cooperation, this book offers valuable insights to help companies generate cross-industry synergy and symbiosis effects and secure competitive advantages along sustainable supply chains. The emphasis is on an expanded understanding of the various R principles, and on theoretical and practical application examples that help to prepare corporate business models for the ecological and social challenges of global supply chains.

Given its scope, the book represents an indispensable guide for companies worldwide that want to contribute to sustainable development by adopting circular business models. It analyses the drivers and challenges of implementing these models and presents concepts and insights from pioneering companies in the circular economy, providing a global perspective for managers and researchers alike.

Autorentext

Prof. Dr. habil. Elisabeth Fröhlich is the founder of ispira Think Tank for Sustainable Supply Chains. She was president of the CBS International Business School in Germany until 2022. Elisabeth holds a full professorship in Sustainable Procurement and Supply Chains and is an internationally recognised expert in sustainable supply chain management. She is also highly engaged in the field of responsible management education and serves as a board member of PRME where she is the PRME DACH Chapter Chair. Additionally, she leads the AOM Management Education Division Ambassador Program as vice-chair and leads the Board of JARO Institute (Berlin, Germany). Her research focuses on sustainable supply chain management and green procurement, qualification in purchasing, Procurement 4.0 and strategic supplier relationship management. Innovative teaching formats of responsible management education are further main areas of her research.

Prof. Dr. Kristina Steinbiß holds a professorship in Management with a focus on Marketing at the ESB Business School of the Reutlingen University in Germany. Kristina's current research focuses on implementing new business models to accomplish a company's sustainability goals, as well as on influencing and nudging consumers towards sustainable behaviour. Next to her research activities, she is also enthusiastic about the Theory of Inventive Problem Solving, the TIPS innovation methodology.

Prof. Dr. Maud Helene Schmiedeknecht is a Professor of Corporate Governance and Corporate Social Responsibility at the ESB Business School of the Reutlingen University in Germany and a Business Design Coach. She previously worked as a consultant at the global management consulting firm Kearney in Germany and abroad. She was an associate of the Stiftung Neue Verantwortung, a think tank for digital technologies, politics and society, on the topic of global economic ethic. Maud's current teaching, research and consulting focus is on corporate sustainability management, (social) entrepreneurship and sustainable business model innovation, business transformation and circular economy.

Prof. Dr. Cristian R. Loza Adaui is a professor of Management and Corporate Social Responsibility at the THI Business School of the Technische Hochschule Ingolstadt in Germany. He previously worked for the CBS International Business School in Cologne, Germany, where he also served as Deputy Director of the Centre for Advanced Sustainability Management (CASM). He has held teaching and research positions at the Institute of Economics of the Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg in Germany and the Universidad Católica San Pablo in Peru. His research and consulting activities focus on how businesses become more sustainable, responsible, human-centred and purpose-driven through strategic management, corporate social responsibility, sustainability management, non-financial reporting, circular economy and corporate purpose.