Circular Economy and Supply Chain Sustainability-Drivers, Challenges and Progress of implementation in Irish SMEs.

Abstract

Sustainability and Circular Economy is one of the most favoured and among the most researched topic in academic circles and in non-academic context by governmental as well as non-governmental organisations, private corporation and by independent non-affiliated associations. This researched is intended to explore the challenges faced by the Irish SMEs in implementing sustainability and circular economy principles, evaluate the various drivers or enablers of sustainability and circular economy, and analyse its progress in their companies and supply chain. The theoretical background of the study is developed through and extensive literature review of the basic principles of these concepts as well as related concepts in terms of procurement and supply chain. To gain valuable insights and subjective knowledge about the implication of these concepts with respect to the Irish SMEs and their supply chain, data was collected by means of semi-structured interviews from a sample population seven participants from diverse background in relation to Irish SMEs. These interviews consisted of a combination of open ended, closed, and specific questions. The finding of this research illuminates how the drivers of sustainability and circular economy manifest itself in Irish SMEs and challenges faced by these enterprises in progressing towards a circular economy model or implementing sustainability. While drivers of sustainability have limited positive impact on the SMEs and their efforts to be sustainable, the challenges are at plenty and multidimensional, increasing the exposure risk of the SMEs. Being the single largest type of enterprise dominating the Irish business economy, employing the largest work force composition and accounting for half of the total Irish business turnover, the results of the study has far reaching ramifications and opens multiple avenues for further research