CIRCULAR ECONOMY OF PACKAGING IN BRAZIL: STAKEHOLDERS' PERSPECTIVES ON ITS INSTITUTIONALIZATION
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.18226/23190639.v11n3.01Keywords:
Circular Economy, Reverse Logistics, Waste Management, Institutional Theory, PackagingAbstract
Objective: the study aims to analyze the stages of institutionalization of the Circular Economy (CE) of packaging in Brazil, based on the assumptions of Institutional Theory, which allows the internalization of values and the legitimation of practices in society.
Design/Method/Approach: this is an applied, qualitative, and descriptive study. Data collection involved document analysis and in-depth interviews, triangulated to enable cross-analysis of perceptions. Fifty-three (53) stakeholders from the Brazilian packaging chain participated in the study.
Originality/Relevance: by applying Institutional Theory, the study sheds light on the early institutionalization phase of packaging circularity in Brazil and identifies how innovations and social conflicts hinder this process. It also presents a three-phase framework for institutionalization.
Main Results/Findings: the results indicate Brazil is in the habitualization stage of institutionalization. Despite the Brazilian Policy of Solid Waste (BPSW) being sanctioned over ten years ago, implementation remains limited due to problems like informal dumping, low recycling rates, exclusion of waste pickers, and lack of integrated management. Stakeholders reported conflicts and weak social control, impeding progress to the sedimentation stage.
Theoretical/Methodological Contributions/Implications: the study contributes to advancing knowledge on the institutionalization of the Circular Economy, proposing a structured framework to classify institutionalization phases. It deepens the understanding of how social innovation can support CE implementation in emerging economies.
Social/Managerial Contributions: the study identifies practical barriers to implementing packaging circularity in Brazil. It provides relevant insights for public policy, sectoral governance, and stakeholder engagement, especially highlighting the role of inclusion and social control mechanisms.
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