From Circular Public Procurement to Circular Private Procurement: Preconditions for successful Implementation

Abstract

Circular procurement can help accelerate the transition from a linear to a circular economy. The current body of scientific literature consists of theories regarding circular public procurement that might also apply to circular private procurement. Four preconditions (strategy formulation, top-management support, skills and knowledge, and organisational support) are crucial to implementing circular public procurement successfully. This study aimed to expand the body of knowledge on circular procurement by studying how the preconditions apply to circular private procurement. This study assesses the preconditions and the successfulness of twelve private organisations in the Dutch financial sector and compares the results in a multiple case study. The findings imply that the preconditions do apply to circular private procurement: (1) when all preconditions are (structurally) established, the implementation of circular private procurement is successful, (2) when all the preconditions are unestablished, the implementation of circular private procurement is unsuccessful, and (3) when the precondition strategy formulation is unestablished, circular private procurement with lower impact is achieved. Therefore this study advises working towards establishing all four preconditions in private organisations in the financial sector of which strategy formulation certainly.