Drivers and barriers in the institutionalisation of circular economy practices in food supply chains: A review

• Published in: Business strategy & development 2023-12, Vol.6 (4), p.764-784
• Main Authors: Ouro‐Salim, Omar, Guarnieri, Patricia
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: circular economy; food loss; food supply chains; food waste; institutional theory; policy‐decision making; sustainability; waste management
• ISSN: 2572-3170; 2572-3170
• DOI: 10.1002/bsd2.276

The circular economy (CE) has gained global attention for its potential to promote sustainable production and consumption through continuous growth and the efficient use of resources. Despite several reports highlighting its benefits, there is still a lack of concrete and proven studies examining the importance of institutional pressures for the transition towards CE in food supply chains. This study aims to address this gap by conducting a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) to identify the drivers and barriers to the institutionalisation of CE in food supply chains, and to propose practical and managerial implications for achieving this transition through institutional pressure. We reviewed 25 studies and conducted a descriptive analysis of papers per year and journal, followed by a categorical thematic analysis. The results indicate that normative pressures were the most frequently identified among the different institutional pressures, followed by mimetic and coercive pressures. Therefore, promoting CE in food supply chains may require the implementation of laws, policies, and strict governance to reduce risks. This paper contributes to the existing literature and provides valuable insights for researchers and practitioners interested in the transition towards a CE in food supply chains.