Circular economy is a model of production and consumption that could allow to reduce environmental impact and, consequently, could contribute to achieving the objective of sustainability. This chapter is an initial study concerning the role of women in firms in supporting circular economy practices. Particularly, the study investigates: (1) whether the presence of women in the firms stimulate the adoption of circular economy practices; (2) what characteristics make women more effective than men in promoting circular economy (or circular bioeconomy or bioeconomy) and sustainable practices; (3) the positions (entrepreneurs, managers, members of board of directors, employees) occupied by women capable to stimulate circular economy practices. To achieve the proposed objectives, a bibliometric analysis and a systematic literature review have been conducted. The results indicate that women in firms (female entrepreneurs as well as female directors or female employees) play a crucial role in adopting circular economy actions and achieving sustainable development in social and environmental dimensions. Moreover, the growth of the service sector, stimulated by the transition to a circular economy, could provide more opportunities for female employment. The implications of the study are both theoretical and practical. At theoretical level, some gaps in literature have been identified. It is worth verifying the link between digitalization and circular economy and whether women stimulate the digital innovation to adopt circular economy actions. Another topic that deserves further study, also through empirical analysis, concerns the potential of the circular economy in promoting gender equality. At practical level, the findings suggest that entrepreneurs, managers and policy makers should encourage the presence of women in the company because this stimulates the adoption of circular economy practices, helping to achieve the sustainability objectives set at individual country level, at European level and at international level.
Women in Firms and Circular Economy Actions: A Systematic Literature Review with a Bibliometric Analysis
Pastore P.;Tommaso S.
2024-01-01
Abstract
Circular economy is a model of production and consumption that could allow to reduce environmental impact and, consequently, could contribute to achieving the objective of sustainability. This chapter is an initial study concerning the role of women in firms in supporting circular economy practices. Particularly, the study investigates: (1) whether the presence of women in the firms stimulate the adoption of circular economy practices; (2) what characteristics make women more effective than men in promoting circular economy (or circular bioeconomy or bioeconomy) and sustainable practices; (3) the positions (entrepreneurs, managers, members of board of directors, employees) occupied by women capable to stimulate circular economy practices. To achieve the proposed objectives, a bibliometric analysis and a systematic literature review have been conducted. The results indicate that women in firms (female entrepreneurs as well as female directors or female employees) play a crucial role in adopting circular economy actions and achieving sustainable development in social and environmental dimensions. Moreover, the growth of the service sector, stimulated by the transition to a circular economy, could provide more opportunities for female employment. The implications of the study are both theoretical and practical. At theoretical level, some gaps in literature have been identified. It is worth verifying the link between digitalization and circular economy and whether women stimulate the digital innovation to adopt circular economy actions. Another topic that deserves further study, also through empirical analysis, concerns the potential of the circular economy in promoting gender equality. At practical level, the findings suggest that entrepreneurs, managers and policy makers should encourage the presence of women in the company because this stimulates the adoption of circular economy practices, helping to achieve the sustainability objectives set at individual country level, at European level and at international level.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
