A Proposed Circular Economy Readiness Framework for the Rail Sector, A Literature Review and Conceptual Framework

IF 13.3 1区管理学 Q1 BUSINESS

Business Strategy and The Environment Pub Date : 2025-09-20 DOI:10.1002/bse.70207

Carl Waring, Kapila Liyanage

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

The circular economy (CE) offers a transformative approach to addressing global sustainability challenges, yet few frameworks integrate it with business strategy, systems thinking (ST) and asset management (AM), especially within critical infrastructure sectors like rail. This paper conducts a comprehensive literature review to assess existing CE frameworks and their application in the rail sector, exploring how these frameworks intersect with ST and AM practices. The analysis reveals significant gaps, particularly in the application of ST at a complex level necessary to drive meaningful shifts in business models and stakeholder behaviour. To address this, the paper proposes a novel Circular Economy Readiness Framework tailored to the rail industry, offering a systematic approach to transitioning from traditional, linear business models to sustainable, networked or circular practices. The framework underscores the role of AM in driving circular outcomes, aligning business strategy with long‐term economic, environmental and societal goals. This research contributes to the broader discourse on CE readiness by offering actionable insights for industries aiming to enhance resilience and sustainable growth.

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建议的铁路部门循环经济准备框架，文献综述和概念框架

循环经济（CE）为应对全球可持续性挑战提供了一种变革性的方法，但很少有框架将其与商业战略、系统思维（ST）和资产管理（AM）相结合，特别是在铁路等关键基础设施领域。本文进行了全面的文献综述，以评估现有的CE框架及其在铁路部门的应用，探索这些框架如何与ST和AM实践交叉。分析揭示了重大差距，特别是在推动商业模式和利益相关者行为的有意义转变所必需的复杂层面上的技术应用。为了解决这一问题，本文提出了一个针对铁路行业量身定制的新型循环经济准备框架，为从传统的线性商业模式向可持续的网络化或循环实践过渡提供了一种系统的方法。该框架强调了AM在推动循环成果方面的作用，使商业战略与长期经济、环境和社会目标保持一致。本研究通过为旨在增强弹性和可持续增长的行业提供可操作的见解，有助于更广泛地讨论CE准备情况。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Business Strategy and The Environment Multiple-

CiteScore

22.50

自引率

19.40%

发文量

336

期刊介绍： Business Strategy and the Environment (BSE) is a leading academic journal focused on business strategies for improving the natural environment. It publishes peer-reviewed research on various topics such as systems and standards, environmental performance, disclosure, eco-innovation, corporate environmental management tools, organizations and management, supply chains, circular economy, governance, green finance, industry sectors, and responses to climate change and other contemporary environmental issues. The journal aims to provide original contributions that enhance the understanding of sustainability in business. Its target audience includes academics, practitioners, business managers, and consultants. However, BSE does not accept papers on corporate social responsibility (CSR), as this topic is covered by its sibling journal Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management. The journal is indexed in several databases and collections such as ABI/INFORM Collection, Agricultural & Environmental Science Database, BIOBASE, Emerald Management Reviews, GeoArchive, Environment Index, GEOBASE, INSPEC, Technology Collection, and Web of Science.