Implementing a circular economy business model canvas in the electrical and electronic manufacturing sector: A case study approach

Abstract

By and large, the electrical and electronic (E&E) sector operates in a predominantly linear economy driven by traditional business model (BM) canvases. Evidence has revealed that E&E manufacturers remain unsure of the potential benefits of circular economy business models (CEBMs). Additionally, cohesive insights into E&E product manufacturers' implementation of CEBM Canvas are absent from the literature. Hence, this research adopted a qualitative approach based on eight concurrent and iterative stakeholders' focus groups to explore the application of CEBM Canvas by E&E product manufacturers to support them in developing circular economy (CE) actions leading to opportunities for value proposition, creation, and capture. Results show that the CEBM Canvas CE actions provide E&E manufacturers prospects for value creation and delivery through: (1) enhancing repair, refurbishment, reuse, remanufacturing, and recycling activities; (2) expanding their circular offerings via Product-Service-System to optimise value capture from the one-off sale of E&E products to regular income streams; and (3) reducing the costs associated with raw material and energy inputs and waste management. This research contributes to novel advancement of product specific CEBM Canvas and associated CE actions within the E&E sector and their transferability potential to other economic sectors, such as construction and textiles.