Publication
Sustainable Scaling in Forest-Based Circular Models
| datacite.subject.fos | Ciências Sociais | |
| datacite.subject.sdg | 08:Trabalho Digno e Crescimento Económico | |
| datacite.subject.sdg | 10:Reduzir as Desigualdades | |
| datacite.subject.sdg | 12:Produção e Consumo Sustentáveis | |
| dc.contributor.author | Santos, Eleonora | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2025-08-01T15:34:04Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2025-08-01T15:34:04Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2025-06-28 | |
| dc.description | Article number - 5967 | |
| dc.description.abstract | The transition to a circular economy is essential for enhancing sustainability and resource efficiency, particularly in forestry-dependent regions. This study examines circular economy business models (CEBMs) in Kouvola, Finland, focusing on the utilization of forestry by-products. It compares two case studies: Keltakangas Waste Station, which processes wood waste into biogas, and Koumet, a forestry company producing biochar. Using a comparative case study approach, this research integrates financial analysis (2020–2023), interviews with managers, and policy reviews to assess economic performance, scalability, and environmental impact. Additionally, this study introduces a generalizable framework—Scalability Path Dependency (SPD)—which theorizes how early strategic decisions shape the long-term growth trajectories of circular business models. The findings reveal that Keltakangas follows a capital-intensive model with declining profit margins, while Koumet operates a resource-efficient model with stable but low profitability. Their scaling strategies diverge: Keltakangas relies on external financing for expansion, whereas Koumet emphasizes cost efficiency and market diversification. Despite ongoing challenges related to infrastructure, regulation, and financial viability, both models contribute meaningfully to circularity. This study offers actionable insights for policymakers and businesses aiming to support sustainable forestry practices. | eng |
| dc.description.sponsorship | This paper is financed by National Funds of the FCT—Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology within the project «UIDB/04928/2020» | |
| dc.description.sponsorship | The author gratefully acknowledges the support provided by the EU CAP Network to attend the workshop “Circular Bio economy—Valorization of Forest By-products.” Without this support, this investigation would not have been possible. | |
| dc.identifier.citation | Santos, E. Sustainable Scaling in Forest-Based Circular Models. Sustainability 2025, 17, 5967. https://doi.org/10.3390/ su17135967 | |
| dc.identifier.doi | 10.3390/su17135967 | |
| dc.identifier.issn | 2071-1050 | |
| dc.identifier.uri | http://hdl.handle.net/10400.8/13842 | |
| dc.language.iso | eng | |
| dc.peerreviewed | yes | |
| dc.publisher | MDPI | |
| dc.relation | Centre of Applied Research in Management and Economics | |
| dc.relation.hasversion | https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/13/5967 | |
| dc.relation.ispartof | Sustainability | |
| dc.rights.uri | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ | |
| dc.subject | Circular economy business models | |
| dc.subject | Sustainability | |
| dc.subject | Scalability | |
| dc.subject | Forestry by-products | |
| dc.title | Sustainable Scaling in Forest-Based Circular Models | eng |
| dc.type | journal article | |
| dspace.entity.type | Publication | |
| oaire.awardTitle | Centre of Applied Research in Management and Economics | |
| oaire.awardURI | info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/FCT/6817 - DCRRNI ID/UIDB%2F04928%2F2020/PT | |
| oaire.citation.issue | 13 | |
| oaire.citation.title | Sustainability | |
| oaire.citation.volume | 17 | |
| oaire.fundingStream | 6817 - DCRRNI ID | |
| oaire.version | http://purl.org/coar/version/c_e19f295774971610 | |
| person.familyName | Santos | |
| person.givenName | Eleonora | |
| person.identifier.ciencia-id | 321B-D068-1CB4 | |
| person.identifier.orcid | 0000-0003-4693-0804 | |
| person.identifier.scopus-author-id | 56903606100 | |
| project.funder.identifier | http://doi.org/10.13039/501100001871 | |
| project.funder.name | Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia | |
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