Research Article

Measuring Circular Economy at Micro Level: A Scale Development Study

Volume: 18 Number: 4 October 27, 2025
EN TR

Measuring Circular Economy at Micro Level: A Scale Development Study

Abstract

A circular economy (CE) is an economic model that shifts away from the conventional end-of-life approach by incorporating strategies like reducing, reusing, and recycling. This model aims to enhance environmental quality, economic prosperity, and social equity across generations. While CE has gained growing attention as a pathway to sustainable development, its implementation at the firm level remains difficult to assess due to the lack of a validated measurement tool. This study fills this gap by developing a scale to evaluate CE implementation in industrial firms. Through a comprehensive literature review, an initial pool of 113 items was generated and refined through expert evaluations, resulting in a 65-item questionnaire. Data were collected from 295 professionals working in relevant departments of industrial firms in Türkiye. The results of exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses revealed a reliable and valid four-dimensional structure consisting of digital technologies, reverse logistics, consumer-oriented activities, and resource conservation, with a total of 17 items. The scale captures a range of CE-related practices that are often embedded in operations but not explicitly labeled as circular. It offers a conceptual focus for assessing CE efforts at the firm level and supports ongoing theoretical development in the domain.

Keywords

Circular Economy, Sustainability, Industrial Firms, Scale Development

References

  1. Allen, S. D., Zhu, Q., & Sarkis, J. (2021). Expanding conceptual boundaries of the sustainable supply chain management and circular economy nexus. Cleaner Logistics and Supply Chain, 2. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clscn.2021.100011
  2. Al-Naami, M., Hofmann, K. H., & Griese, K.-M. (2023). The Adoption of Circular Business Models in Germany: an Analysis of the DAX40 Companies. Circular Economy and Sustainability, 4(1), 43—61. https://doi.org/10.1007/s43615-023-00270-5
  3. Andersen, M. S. (2006). An introductory note on the environmental economics of the circular economy. Sustainability Science, 2(1), 133—140. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11625-006-0013-6
  4. Azevedo, S., Godina, R., & Matias, J. (2017). Proposal of a Sustainable Circular Index for Manufacturing Companies. Resources, 6(4). https://doi.org/10.3390/resources6040063
  5. Bag, S., Gupta, S., & Kumar, S. (2021). Industry 4.0 adoption and 10R advance manufacturing capabilities for sustainable development. International Journal of Production Economics, 231. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpe.2020.107844
  6. Bruel, A., Kronenberg, J., Troussier, N., & Guillaume, B. (2018). Linking Industrial Ecology and Ecological Economics: A Theoretical and Empirical Foundation for the Circular Economy. Journal of Industrial Ecology, 23(1), 12—21. https://doi.org/10.1111/jiec.12745
  7. Cagno, E., Neri, A., Negri, M., Bassani, C. A., & Lampertico, T. (2021). The Role of Digital Technologies in Operationalizing the Circular Economy Transition: A Systematic Literature Review. Applied Sciences, 11(8). https://doi.org/10.3390/app11083328
  8. Calzolari, T., Genovese, A., & Brint, A. (2021). The adoption of circular economy practices in supply chains – An assessment of European Multi-National Enterprises. Journal of Cleaner Production, 312. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2021.127616
  9. Castro-Lopez, A., Iglesias, V., & Santos-Vijande, M. L. (2023). Organizational capabilities and institutional pressures in the adoption of circular economy. Journal of Business Research, 161. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2023.113823
  10. Coppola, C., Vollero, A., & Siano, A. (2023). Developing dynamic capabilities for the circular economy in the textile and clothing industry in Italy: A natural‐resource‐based view. Business Strategy and the Environment, 32(7), 4798—4820. https://doi.org/10.1002/bse.3394
APA
Armatlı, B., & Kazan, H. (2025). Measuring Circular Economy at Micro Level: A Scale Development Study. Academic Review of Economics and Administrative Sciences, 18(4), 1052-1072. https://doi.org/10.25287/ohuiibf.1811096
AMA
1.Armatlı B, Kazan H. Measuring Circular Economy at Micro Level: A Scale Development Study. Academic Review of Economics and Administrative Sciences. 2025;18(4):1052-1072. doi:10.25287/ohuiibf.1811096
Chicago
Armatlı, Barlas, and Halim Kazan. 2025. “Measuring Circular Economy at Micro Level: A Scale Development Study”. Academic Review of Economics and Administrative Sciences 18 (4): 1052-72. https://doi.org/10.25287/ohuiibf.1811096.
EndNote
Armatlı B, Kazan H (October 1, 2025) Measuring Circular Economy at Micro Level: A Scale Development Study. Academic Review of Economics and Administrative Sciences 18 4 1052–1072.
IEEE
[1]B. Armatlı and H. Kazan, “Measuring Circular Economy at Micro Level: A Scale Development Study”, Academic Review of Economics and Administrative Sciences, vol. 18, no. 4, pp. 1052–1072, Oct. 2025, doi: 10.25287/ohuiibf.1811096.
ISNAD
Armatlı, Barlas - Kazan, Halim. “Measuring Circular Economy at Micro Level: A Scale Development Study”. Academic Review of Economics and Administrative Sciences 18/4 (October 1, 2025): 1052-1072. https://doi.org/10.25287/ohuiibf.1811096.
JAMA
1.Armatlı B, Kazan H. Measuring Circular Economy at Micro Level: A Scale Development Study. Academic Review of Economics and Administrative Sciences. 2025;18:1052–1072.
MLA
Armatlı, Barlas, and Halim Kazan. “Measuring Circular Economy at Micro Level: A Scale Development Study”. Academic Review of Economics and Administrative Sciences, vol. 18, no. 4, Oct. 2025, pp. 1052-7, doi:10.25287/ohuiibf.1811096.
Vancouver
1.Barlas Armatlı, Halim Kazan. Measuring Circular Economy at Micro Level: A Scale Development Study. Academic Review of Economics and Administrative Sciences. 2025 Oct. 1;18(4):1052-7. doi:10.25287/ohuiibf.1811096