Social impacts of a circular business model: An approach from a sustainability accounting and reporting perspective

Abstract

Although several studies have approached the environmental or economic impacts derived from the adoption of the circular economy's principles by businesses, the social dimension of the circular model at the micro-level is underexplored in the literature. To fill this gap, this study defines and analyses different categories of social impacts related to a circular business model to assess and report the holistic dimension of the circular economy at the micro-level. This paper is eminently reflective, and the methodology is mainly based on a desk research method. In addition, the results of 137 brief surveys collected in Spain are summarised to reflect the social metrics of a circular business model proposed in the literature. This study contributes to the existing knowledge on circular economy from a sustainability accounting perspective and invites scholars towards new research topics from the triple bottom line approach of the circular business model.