The objective of this paper is to examine the existing academic literature on the intersection between the circular economy (CE) and artificial intelligence (AI), with the dual aim of identifying the main themes shaping the current scholarly debate and highlighting emerging topics that may guide future research directions. To this end, a comprehensive bibliometric literature review was conducted using the Web of Science database as the primary source of academic publications. The study employs advanced analytical techniques, including co-word analysis, co-occurrence network analysis, co-citation analysis, and thematic mapping, to systematically explore the intellectual and conceptual structure of this research field. These methods allow for the identification of dominant themes, key research clusters, and knowledge gaps that define the evolving relationship between AI and CE. The findings offer a data-driven overview of how AI technologies are being conceptualized as enablers of circular economy principles and practices. This study contributes to the literature by providing a structured understanding of current research trends and by outlining future directions for scholars, policymakers, and practitioners committed to advancing sustainable, AI-enabled circular economy strategies.

PurposeThis paper aims to investigate the relationship between circular economy (CE) investments and corporate controversies, focusing on how these investments affect a firm’s reputation and stakeholder relationships. By integrating CE practices such as energy efficiency, waste reduction and water reuse, companies can minimise their environmental impact and mitigate controversies that may harm their reputation. Design/methodology/approachThe study uses a cross-sectional research design and ordinary least squares (OLS) regression to analyse data from 2,762 firms listed in the Morgan Stanley Capital International All-Country World Index index. It evaluates the influence of various CE practices on companies’ ESG-related controversy levels, using data on environmental investments and stakeholder perceptions. FindingsThe results indicate a significant negative relationship between investments in CE practices – particularly in CO2 management, waste reduction and water stress management – and corporate controversies. Firms that prioritise environmental sustainability through these investments will likely experience lower controversy, thereby enhancing their reputation and stakeholder trust. Originality/valueThis paper contributes to the expanding literature on CE practices by examining the under-researched area of how such investments affect stakeholder perceptions and corporate controversies. The findings offer practical implications for companies aiming to enhance their sustainability efforts and improve their corporate image, as well as for policymakers seeking to promote environmental responsibility within corporate governance.

This study investigates how digital platforms can drive the transition to a circular economy by developing multi-stakeholder collaboration and fostering innovation. Using the Italian Circular Economy Stakeholder Platform (ICESP) as case study, it explores the mechanisms through which digital infrastructures orchestrate knowledge flows, facilitate structured learning, influence policy, and strengthen network governance. Findings reveal that ICESP's combination of technical tools and inclusive governance enables diverse actors-public institutions, businesses, academia, civil society-to co-create and disseminate best practices, overcome systemic barriers, and align regulatory frameworks with practical needs. The study extends social capital theory by showing how digital platforms simultaneously build structural, relational, and cognitive capital to sustain circular innovation ecosystems. It also contributes to platform ecosystem research by illustrating how digital infrastructures act as socio-technical systems that integrate bottom-up collaboration with top-down coordination. Managerially, the paper provides guidance for designing participatory, trust-based platforms that enhance collaboration, learning, and policy coherence in circular transitions.

This study explores the transformative role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in enabling dynamic capabilities—sensing, seizing, and reconfiguring—to foster Circular Business Model Innovation (CBMI). As sustainability imperatives demand a shift from linear to circular models, incumbent firms often encounter rigid path dependencies rooted in routines, industry norms, and institutional lock-ins. AI emerges not only as a tool for operational efficiency but also as a strategic enabler that facilitates the transition toward circularity. Adopting an interpretivist, narrative-based multi-case study approach, this article analyzes three cases from the agri-food, textile/polymer, and waste management sectors. The findings reveal that AI-driven platforms significantly enhance firms’ ability to sense emerging sustainability signals, identify hidden circular opportunities, and model alternative futures. Seizing capabilities are augmented by AI’s capacity to support agile experimentation, while reconfiguring capabilities are triggered through systemic transformation in processes, partnerships, and value creation logics. Crucially, AI acts as a boundary-spanning infrastructure, fostering ecosystem collaboration, data transparency, and cross-sectoral knowledge recombination. The cross-case analysis illustrates how AI enables double-loop learning and institutional entrepreneurship, allowing firms to challenge entrenched assumptions and reorient their business models toward circularity. Theoretically, the paper extends dynamic capabilities theory by integrating AI as an enabler of ecosystem co-evolution and organizational transformation. From a managerial perspective, it offers insights into leveraging AI to unlock sustainable innovation, orchestrate partnerships, and shape institutional fields. The study concludes with a discussion of its limitations and outlines future research directions further to explore the socio-technical dynamics of AI in circular economy transitions.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is increasingly regarded as a strategic enabler of sustainability, particularly in the circular economy (CE). However, limited empirical evidence exists on the determinants of AI adoption and its impact on CE in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). This study explores these dynamics by focusing on innovative Italian SMEs and employing the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) as the theoretical framework. Four constructs Performance Expectancy, Effort Expectancy, Social Influence, and Facilitating Conditions were analyzed as predictors of AI adoption. Data were collected through an online survey sent to 1664 innovative SMEs, with 52 valid responses, and analyzed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM), well-suited for small samples and complex models. Results reveal that Performance Expectancy, Social Influence, and Facilitating Conditions significantly influence adoption, while Effort Expectancy does not, suggesting growing digital maturity. Importantly, AI adoption positively affects CE practices, positioning AI as both a technological resource and a strategic driver of sustainability. The study bridges gaps between technology adoption and CE research, offering insights for managers and policymakers on fostering sustainable digital transitions.

The study examines whether circular economy (CE) disclosures lead to tangible environmental improvements reflected in ESG performance or primarily serve reputational objectives linked to greenwashing. It investigates how disclosures on energy efficiency, resource reduction, water efficiency, and emission reduction influence ESG performance and whether external audits enhance disclosure credibility. Using a quantitative design, the analysis covers 1247 European firms (2015-2024) with data from Thomson Reuters, sustainability reports, and Orbis. Multiple regression models assess the relationship between CE disclosures and ESG performance, considering the moderating role of external audits. CE disclosures are positively associated with ESG performance, with energy efficiency and resource reduction showing the strongest effects. Water and emission disclosures also yield positive impacts, though the former is weakened when paired with external audits. Overall, external audits are positively related to ESG performance and strengthen the effect of energy and emission disclosures but may reduce the effectiveness of water-related disclosures, highlighting the need for context-specific assurance strategies. This study contributes to the debate on greenwashing by showing that external verification can strengthen the effectiveness of CE disclosures in improving ESG performance. It underscores the importance of transparent and verifiable reporting for corporate governance, investment decisions, and policy frameworks promoting genuine environmental progress.

The transition towards a circular economy (CE) requires not only technological and organisational innovation but also consumer engagement in adopting circular products. A key driver of this process is consumers' stated willingness to pay (WTP) a premium, which remains constrained by psychological, perceptual and contextual barriers. Extending recent meta-analytic frameworks, this study investigates the determinants of WTP for circular products by developing and empirically testing an extended theory of planned behaviour (TPB) model that incorporates environmental concern, perceived value (utilitarian, hedonic and social) and green trust. Based on survey data from 257 Italian consumers, the model was analysed using partial least squares structural equation modelling. The results indicate that environmental concern significantly enhances positive attitudes towards circular products, while green trust emerges as the strongest driver of attitudes. Utilitarian and hedonic values significantly enhance trust, whereas social value does not. At the outcome level, perceived behavioural control is the strongest predictor of stated WTP, surpassing attitudes, while subjective norms show no significant effect. These findings advance theoretical understanding by highlighting the mediating role of trust and the primacy of PBC in bridging the intention-behaviour gap in circular consumption. From a managerial perspective, the study suggests that firms should emphasise functional performance, hedonic attributes and credible certifications to build trust. At the same time, policymakers should design enabling conditions that promote consumer control and accessibility. Ethical and social implications further underscore the need for transparency, inclusivity and intergenerational responsibility in supporting the diffusion of circular products. By linking multidimensional value to trust in a heterogeneous sample of Italian consumers, this research offers practical insights into the intention-behaviour gap to accelerate the circular transition. Given the survey-based operationalisation adopted here, WTP should be interpreted as self-reported premium acceptance rather than observed purchasing behaviour or monetary valuation.

This study investigates the role of sustainability initiatives positioning for the success of crowdfunding campaigns. The study examines the context of food waste crowdfunding campaigns, comparing cases where the initiative is placed in the early stages of the supply chain with cases where the initiative is placed at the end of the supply chain. Specifically, 135 Kickstarter campaigns on food waste management (2009-2023) were analysed. Drawing on signaling theory and consumer behavior perspectives, the results show that downstream initiatives, closer to household consumption, achieve higher performance than upstream projects focused on the production stage. These findings suggest that proximity to consumption domains enhances perceived feasibility and attractiveness, contributing to the success of campaigns. The research contributes to the definition of strategies for sustainable development and stakeholder engagement.

This investigation probes Generation Z's proclivity towards acquiring sustainable merchandise, incorporating the Normative Activation Model (NAM) and the Model of Goal-Directed Behaviour (MGB) with a specific lens on circular goods. A purposive sampling method was employed to ensure that the selected participants possessed the specific characteristics required for this study. The total sample consisted of 711 surveys, of which only 457 fully completed responses were considered for analysis. The analysis utilized in this investigation is conducted through the partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) approach. The findings indicate that individuals' norms and aspirations substantially sway their procurement decisions, highlighting the importance of ecological consciousness and moral adjudication in sustainable consumption. The outcomes imply that the predilections of Generation Z are driven by altruistic intentions and the intrinsic valuation of sustainability, suggesting that corporations should conform to their sustainability ethos and anticipations, particularly within the sphere of circular commodities.

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the relationship between corporate circular economy (CE) practices and financial performance, and the moderating effect of corporate social responsibility (CSR) committee among European listed companies.Based on a sample of 567 firms over the period 2019-2023, the study found that financial performance is positively associated with CE scores, suggesting that it is an important driver of CE practices.Furthermore, the study found that CSR committee positively moderate the association between financial performance and CE scores, facilitating the integration sustainability into companies.

PurposeThis study aims to explore initiatives to transform organizational and management processes to improve the Church of Naples' response to various forms of poverty within the community.Design/methodology/approachThe research investigates the change management process chosen and implemented in faith-based organizations (FBOs) through a qualitative approach based on action research. The strategic organizational dynamics are observed as they develop, and the information is documented in a research diary. Data is collected from various sources, including church documents and semistructured interviews.FindingsResults emphasize the need to balance pastoral vocation and managerialism, requiring governance leaders to be both visionaries and skilled managers of organizational systems. It shows how concrete change can be achieved. The research further shows how environmental pressure can be a push for process innovation, through effective strategic rethinking.Practical implicationsThese are related to how organizational change can be successfully introduced in organizations such as churches, merging the concepts of managerialism and professionalization in a sector where the spirit of charity has always been the primary managerial driver.Social implicationsThe manuscript suggests a rethinking of the role of FBOs as social actors and agents of change in achieving sustainable development.Originality/valueThis research contributes to theoretical and empirical knowledge in a relatively explored area (poverty alleviation) in an equally under-investigated context (FBOs). The action research approach is original as it allows for the observation of change as it occurs, rather than analyzing it ex post.

Purpose This study aims to explore the differences between large companies and family SMEs in the development of sustainable and innovative products, focusing on critical success factors specific to each type of company. Design/methodology/approach The analysis is based on a multiple case study, examining two Italian companies in the textile sector. Semistructured interviews were conducted with managers and members of product development teams, supplemented by secondary data. The analysis was carried out through thematic coding and cross-case comparison, with the aim of identifying recurring patterns and size-related differences. A benchmarking approach was used to highlight similarities and divergences in sustainable product development processes. Findings The findings reveal that ownership plays a crucial role in family-owned SMEs, significantly impacting ideation, strategic partnerships and sustainable product development processes. Ownership not only facilitates constant idea exchange but also drives strategic connections and collaborations essential for innovation. The study, using Brown and Eisenhardt’s framework, highlights how ownership influences team dynamics, work organization and supplier integration, which are pivotal for NPD. Unlike large firms, family-owned SMEs lack formalized cross-functional teams, relying on senior management for external communication and maintaining agility through an iterative approach. This structure enhances adaptability, supporting rapid product innovation aligned with the company’s sustainable mission. Originality/value This study offers an exploratory and context-specific contribution by examining how family ownership influences sustainable product development (SPD) and how firm size shapes the expression of critical success factors (CSFs). Rather than claiming statistical generalizability, the study generates in-depth insights into the mechanisms – such as ownership-driven ideation, informal coordination and supplier integration, that explain how and why size and ownership matter. By focusing on Italian family firms, the research also highlights the role of culturally embedded traits such as practical problem-solving, resourcefulness and artisanal creativity, extending international NPD frameworks to a specific national setting.

Although Blockchain technology has shown its usefulness, there exist limited studies and industrial applications. Presented research investigates factors influencing blockchain adoption. It reflects on how the perceived benefit of blockchain may influence the adoption and how organisational size may affect this process. This study integrates the framework of the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) with the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) and extends it with the perceived benefits of blockchain adoption while including firm size as moderator. Data collected were analysed with a PLS-SEM. Our results showed that a significant predictor of intention to use blockchain is perceived behavioural control. Moreover, it was found that perceived benefit significantly influenced perceived usefulness. Finally, the study demonstrated that SMEs are more efficient in adopting blockchain compared to Large firms.

Purpose - The study explores the drivers of the intention to continue using sustainable food delivery services, considering the influence of value, satisfaction and the combined effects of utilitarian and hedonic motives. We employ a comprehensive framework that integrates the norm activation model (NAM) and the theory of planned behavior (TPB), with satisfaction, utilitarian motives and hedonic motives. This approach facilitates a deeper understanding of the factors motivating users to remain loyal to the service. Design/methodology/approach -The study examines the data using a quantitative approach based on the partial least squares approach to structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). Findings - The findings suggest that the intention to continue using sustainable food delivery services, such as the Giusta app, is significantly influenced by user satisfaction and attitudes. Attitudes not only influence the intention but also user satisfaction and are shaped by utilitarian motivations associated with sustainable food delivery. Beyond personal expectations and perceived benefits, the study reveals that behavior is also driven by altruistic values and moral convictions. Specifically, attitudes and satisfaction are positively affected by personal norms, which are influenced by ascribed responsibility. This ascribed responsibility is, in turn, shaped by awareness of both environmental and social issues. Originality/value - This research contributes to the current debate on consumers' ethical behavior in food delivery. Only a few studies have integrated the NAM and TPB models in this context. This article highlights the factors useful in predicting people's choice of food delivery services, showing the key role of personal norms, attitude, satisfaction and utilitarian motives

Purpose This study aims to explore the impact of controversial firms’ corporate sustainability assessments on their risk exposure according to the environmental, social and governance (ESG) paradigm. Design/methodology/approach This study conducts a cross-sectional study using the ordinary least squares approach to test how corporate social responsibility practices affect firms’ risk exposure, testing the three single impacts of ESG components and the impact of an overall ESG assessment. This study considers the largest Standard & Poor’s (S&P) 500 stock market index companies and focus on a double-risk measurement – systematic and idiosyncratic – developing an empirical study on 132 controversial companies listed on the S&P index. Findings Empirical findings indicate that the overall ESG assessment and the environmental and social sub-dimensions decrease idiosyncratic firm risk. At the same time, no significant results are found according to the systematic risk component. Originality/value This study fits into the domain of risk management research, investigating whether additional and non-financial disclosures regarding sustainability issues decrease information asymmetries, improving investors’ decision-making and stakeholders’ relations. Prior literature has shown limited evidence on the relationship between corporate social performance (CSP) and firm risk based on controversial companies. The main contribution is to consider the controversy as an independent factor from the industry sector, given that the implications of CSP actions and practices are mainly firm-specific.

Companies are becoming increasingly involved with sustainability as various stakeholders require them to orient their activities in line with sustainability and its principles. In some industries, such as the food industry and the fashion industry, these requests are particularly relevant because they are considered to be keenly related to environmental and social issues. In this study, by integrating Ajzen's theory of planned behavior with Schwartz's norm activation model, we seek to understand the main drivers behind a consumer's decision to engage in second-hand clothes buying processes. Our results not only highlight the advantages of integrating various models to obtain a more rounded perspective on ethical consumer motivations but also enable the identification of relevant drivers of this specific behavior. Accordingly, the results might help managers in this industry be more effective in their sustainability activities, as those activities result in positive perceptions among consumers and, thus, might trigger second-hand clothes purchases. Companies may answer consumers' demand-pull toward sustainability taking these issues as sources of competitive advantage. In particular, our study shows that consumers engaging in sustainable buying behavior not only follow their attitude, as prescribed by Ajzen's theory of planned behavior, but they behave according to their own personal norms as well, as determined by Schwart's norm activation model. This is relevant in some industries, such as food and fashion, where companies operate on the verge of several environmental and social issues. Accordingly, some companies, such as the new players in second-hand fashion, have defined their strategies to leverage, as a source competitive advantage, such consumer beliefs.