Blockchain for the circular economy: Theorizing blockchain's role in the transition to a circular economy through an empirical investigation | Zendy

BöhmeckeSchwafert Moritz | Zendy; Wehinger Marie | Zendy; Teigland Robin | Zendy

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Blockchain for the circular economy: Theorizing blockchain's role in the transition to a circular economy through an empirical investigation

Author(s) -

BöhmeckeSchwafert Moritz,

Wehinger Marie,

Teigland Robin

Publication year - 2022

Publication title -

business strategy and the environment

Language(s) - English

Resource type - Journals

SCImago Journal Rank - 2.123

H-Index - 105

eISSN - 1099-0836

pISSN - 0964-4733

DOI - 10.1002/bse.3032

Subject(s) - circular economy , blockchain , panacea (medicine) , transition (genetics) , thematic analysis , sustainability , grounded theory , economy , empirical research , economic system , business , economics , sociology , computer science , qualitative research , social science , computer security , medicine , ecology , biochemistry , chemistry , philosophy , alternative medicine , epistemology , pathology , gene , biology

Blockchain is increasingly lauded as an enabler of the transition to a circular economy. While there is considerable conceptual research and some empirical studies on this phenomenon, scholars have yet to develop a theoretical model of blockchain's role in this transition. Grounded in the sustainability transition literature, this paper addresses this gap through the following research question: What role does blockchain play in the transition to a circular economy? Following an abductive approach, we conducted interviews with ground‐level experts implementing blockchain innovations for the circular economy across Europe and the United States. Through a thematic analysis, we derived a theoretical model of the relationships among (1) drivers and barriers of the transition to a circular economy, (2) blockchain innovation for the circular economy, (3) technical challenges of blockchain, and (4) the circular economy. While blockchain plays a moderating role, interviewees considered it only an infrastructural resource rather than a panacea.

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