Asia Guerreschi (p), Christoph Kiefer

Ginevra Coletti

The transition to a circular economy (CE) and the integration of eco-innovation (EI) principles are pivotal in addressing global sustainability challenges. Cooperatives, given their unique socio-economic structures, are well-positioned to spearhead this transition. This study builds upon prior bibliometric analysis on cooperatives in CE and EI to assess the underlying dynamics and research gaps within the field approached by the project Climate Circular Coop (Coletti et al, 2024) and a bibliometric analysis (Guerreschi & Díaz López, 2023). A fuzzy-set Qualitative Comparative Analysis (fsQCA) methodology, is applied to examine the impact of scholarly research in fostering environmental sustainability, focusing on how these organizations integrate CE and EI in their operational frameworks.

The bibliometric analysis (Guerreschi & Díaz López, 2023) revealed three intellectual clusters centred around industrial ecology, recycling, and waste management while highlighting a growing but underexplored intersection between CE and EI in cooperative studies. However, little is known about the factors that lead to the successful adoption of eco-innovation within these clusters. Using the fsQCA approach (Castelló-Sirvent, 2022), this study explores multiple pathways that cooperatives can follow to implement CE and EI initiatives and the impact of these studies using truth tables that value conditions such as journal impact, standardized citations per year, age of the articles, and link to sustainability.

By integrating fuzzy-set theory into the bibliometric findings, this research addresses key gaps in the impact of the scholarly research and how these can be approached by various stakeholders. The anticipated results are expected to clarify the impact of specific conditions, expressed in the scholarly research, under which cooperatives thrive in adopting CE and EI strategies, potentially guiding future policymaking and cooperative governance structures. Additionally, the study could provide novel insights to fostering more effective collaborations between cooperatives, businesses, and policymakers.

Ginevra Coletti (p), Asia Guerreschi, Emy Zecca

Maryline Filippi

The twin transition (TT) has become a crucial challenge for businesses. While cooperatives are often assumed to be more committed to sustainability due to their democratic governance and long-term orientation, empirical evidence on their actual performance compared to small and medium enterprises (SMEs) remains limited. This paper aims to explore whether a cooperative business model provides an advantage in fostering both the green and the digital transition, compared to SMEs.
To address the research question, we use cross-sectional data collected from two independently conducted surveys, one focusing on cooperatives (350 observations) and one on SMEs (4000 observations). Although the surveys were conducted in different years, they provide comparable information on firms’ environmental strategies, in particular circular economy strategies (CES), technology adoption, and organizational characteristics. The first methodological challenge is to assure that differences in survey timing do not bias our results. We address this by introducing a dummy for the survey year that can capture time effects and an interaction term between firm type and survey year, to test whether the gap between SMEs and cooperatives varies across the two distinct periods.
The empirical strategy of this study relies on a regression framework to examine the determinants of the interconnections between the introduction of CES and technology adoption in these firms. We aim to pursue two analytical approaches: (i) Running separate regressions for cooperatives and SMEs to identify differences in the factors influencing adoption. (ii) Estimating a unified model with an interaction term to capture the influence of the cooperative business model on these decisions. (iii) Conducting a spatial analysis to explore potential geographical heterogeneity in firms’ approaches to the TT, distinguishing between Northern, Central, and Southern Italy. This allows us to assess whether regional disparities affect the adoption of CES and digital technologies differently for cooperatives and SMEs.
Existing literature suggests that cooperative enterprises may not necessarily outperform SMEs in sustainability efforts, as their motivations and constraints often mirror those of private businesses. By analyzing whether cooperatives differ in their approach to the TT and what factors drive their choices, this study provides new insights into the role of that this kind of businesses can have in achieving sustainability goals. Our findings will contribute to the ongoing debate on sustainable business models and offer policy implications for supporting firms in their transition toward greener and more digitally integrated operations.

Maryline Filippi (p)

Asia Guerreschi

This proposal contributes to characterising the capacity and originality of non-profit organisations, such as cooperatives, in order to address the issue of transitions that are more environmentally friendly, economically viable and socially equitable. The proposal combines the circular economy with the analysis of proximity in order to better understand and promote the creation of new solutions in the territories (Torre and Gallaud, 2022).
This research is part of a conceptual approach to the potential of local approaches to reshape supply chains, taking into account both sustainability and social aspects. We want to explore how cooperatives can develop innovative practices rooted in their local context using the principles of the circular economy. In what way is the cooperative model likely to contribute to these transitions and, in return, in what way do the needs associated with the requirement for transitions renew the cooperative models of action and the rules on which they are based in their territorial anchoring?
We propose to address the question of new solutions through transitions by hypothesising that a localised circular economy can improve the way organisations rethink their economic model and their responsibility in the local area.

The conceptual framework combines the analysis of proximities and the principles of the circular economy with a subject of study, cooperatives rooted in their territory. The cooperative model is characterised by ownership and decision-making power in the hands of its members, as opposed to investors or shareholder companies (Hansmann, 1996).
The methodology mobilises a literature review using various examples from an ongoing research programme.
The notion of corporate territorial responsibility reinforces the common good in the sense of collective action and value creation. The territorialisation of cooperatives is specific in that it places people at the heart of the action through a process of collective territorialisation and anchoring of enterprises in their territories.
The circular economy contributes to considering all stakeholders in its activities as relevant interlocutors with whom it is necessary to agree in order to achieve a joint, integrated and harmonious approach.
New activities (recycling, remanufacturing, etc.) are needed to integrate well-being and co-construction processes, not only between SSE enterprises and the conventional economy, but also with all stakeholders (local authorities, associations, consumers, etc.).

This contribution thus helps to shed light on how companies combining territorial responsibility and circular economy, as an original and specific high-performance model, strengthen their territorial roots while acting for the common good.