Unlocking Barriers to Circular Economy: An ISM-Based Approach to Contextualizing Dependencies

Despite it being imperative to a sustainable development, circular economy remains scarcely adopted by companies. Barriers towards this are extensively explored yet with little focus on their mutual dependencies. Neglecting dependencies is argued cause suboptimization and lead unsuccessful projects. To counter strengthen companies in assessing among context-dependent barriers transition, study proposes practice-oriented approach based an interpretive structural modelling methodology. This validated through case Danish mechatronics manufacturer which fourteen semi-structured interviews, survey, workshop were conducted. Findings reveal interwoven network of numerous chain mechanisms across managerial, market-related, financial, technical, regulative aspects, underpins the need transition systemically. Furthermore, demonstrates ability methodology facilitate discussions assist industrial practitioners, both strategic operational level, systematically untangling complex interrelations identify root causes for inertia prioritize mitigation measures.