Granados, M.L. and Adelekan, A. 2026. Towards a Socially Inclusive Circular Economy: evidence from social enterprises in Low-Middle Income Countries. Business Strategy and The Environment. Advanced online publication. https://doi.org/10.1002/bse.70940
| Title | Towards a Socially Inclusive Circular Economy: evidence from social enterprises in Low-Middle Income Countries |
|---|---|
| Type | Journal article |
| Authors | Granados, M.L. and Adelekan, A. |
| Abstract | Circular economy (CE) and social entrepreneurship (SE) are increasingly recognised as critical pathways for sustainable development, yet CE research often underplays social inclusion, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). This paper examines how organisations engaged in circular practices achieve social inclusion in practice. Drawing on a qualitative multiple case study of waste management organisations in Lagos (Nigeria) and Bogota and Cali (Colombia), we analyse how empowerment is embedded within circular activities. Our findings showthat organisations integrate agency-building processes and opportunity structures into recycling, reducing, and rethinking strategies, enabling marginalised actors to access services, gain recognition, and participate in economic and civic life. We propose a Socially Inclusive Circular Economy (SICE) framework, which conceptualises social inclusion as an outcome of circular practices mediated by empowerment. The study contributes an empirically grounded understanding of how CE can support more inclusive and socially just sustainability transitions in LMIC contexts. |
| Keywords | Circular economy, social entrepreneurship, business models, social inclusion, Low and middle income countries |
| Journal | Business Strategy and The Environment |
| ISSN | 0964-4733 |
| 1099-0836 | |
| Year | 2026 |
| Publisher | Wiley |
| Publisher's version | License CC BY 4.0 File Access Level Open (open metadata and files) |
| Digital Object Identifier (DOI) | https://doi.org/10.1002/bse.70940 |
| Publication dates | |
| Published online | 03 May 2026 |
| Funder | BA (British Academy) |