CE Ecosystems

CICAT2025 explores the emergence and structural dynamics of circular economy ecosystems as well as agency in circular economy ecosystems. In particular, we are keen to explore ecosystems dynamics and agency as catalysts toward in transitions toward circular economy. In terms of outcomes, we create a structural map of circular economy business ecosystems and a typology of circular economy actors and change agents.

What do we mean by ecosystems?

The circular economy ecosystem is a multi-actor networked entity in which interacting actors play complementary roles. The actors in the circular economy ecosystem can be companies, cities, ministries, universities, non-profit organizations and citizen-consumers. A single actor can belong to multiple ecosystems, intentionally or unintentionally. The ecosystem emerges or is created around a common goal. In a circular economy, the goal can be to enable resource recycling or reuse, develop circular economy knowledge, or execute a circular economy business. Circular economy ecosystems are characterized by features of many ecosystem types, such as innovation, business or platform ecosystems.

Domination of Managerial and Technical Frames—How the Circular Economy Is Reported in Finnish Business

 We studied circular economy reporting in the Finnish companies. We used the sustainability reports of the large companies (32 companies) as data source. We noticed three points. First, the CE......

Industrial ecosystem renewal towards circularity to achieve the benefits of reuse - Learning from circular construction

 We conducted a qualitative case study of two concrete-element reuse pilot projects. Renewal towards circularity requires changes in the construction industry ecosystem. Industrial renewal......

Images of the future of a circular economy: The case of Finland

 The article focused on anticipating alternative futures of the circular economy in 2050 in Finland. The research is based on expert interviews, on the basis of which four different alternative......