Circular Business Models in the Manufacturing Industry: Insights from Small Open Economies

The book takes a multi-level perspective, focusing on circular business models by manufacturing industries in European small open economies. The book conceptualises circular business models and combines theoretical foundations with best practices when such models appeared in the textile, furniture, and plastics industries. It also explores barriers, drivers, challenges, and opportunities for leading manufacturing companies to implement circular activities across the value chain. This book offers a qualitative and transformative approach, spread across three different manufacturing industries, towards a circular transition. The findings will be of interest to practitioners and managers, policymakers, and general readers who are interested in the circular economy and environmental sustainability.

Dr. Lina Dagiliene is a Professor and Principal Investigator of the Digitalization Research Group at the School of Economics and Business, Kaunas University of Technology, Lithuania. She has participated in and led various research projects (Horizon 2020, Lithuanian Research Council, Erasmus+). Her research interests include corporate sustainability, circular transformation, circular business models, sustainability reporting, ethical issues of digital audit.

Dr. Jurgita Bruneckiene is a Professor of the Sustainable Economy Research Group at the School of Economics and Business, Kaunas University of Technology, Lithuania. She has participated in several research projects (Lithuanian Research Council, Erasmus+). Her research interests include smart economic development, circular economy impacts, regional economy and industrial economy.

Dr. Viktorija Varaniūte is an Associate Professor and Researcher of the Digitalization Research Group at the School of Economics and Business, Kaunas University of Technology, Lithuania. She has participated in several research projects (Lithuanian Research Council, Erasmus+) and conducts research in areas such as circular business models, sustainability management and reporting, performance management in relation to value and digital transformation.

Justina Banioniene is a PhD student in the Digitalization Research Group at the School of Economics and Business, Kaunas University of Technology, Lithuania. Her research interests include circular economy modelling through general equilibrium models, investments in the circular economy, and circular business models. She has participated in research projects funded by the Lithuanian Research Council.