Barriers to transitioning to circular economy within firms in Western Balkans countries

IntroductionThe circular economy has gained considerable attention within academia and industry as a sustainable alternative to linear economic models that minimize waste and maximize resource value in the production cycle. Despite growing interest in adopting circular economy practices within firms...

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Main Authors: Lura Rexhepi Mahmutaj, Nora Jusufi, Besnik Krasniqi, Leonita Mazrekaj, Tringë Krasniqi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-02-01
Series:Frontiers in Sustainability
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frsus.2025.1546110/full
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author Lura Rexhepi Mahmutaj
Nora Jusufi
Besnik Krasniqi
Leonita Mazrekaj
Tringë Krasniqi
author_facet Lura Rexhepi Mahmutaj
Nora Jusufi
Besnik Krasniqi
Leonita Mazrekaj
Tringë Krasniqi
author_sort Lura Rexhepi Mahmutaj
collection DOAJ
description IntroductionThe circular economy has gained considerable attention within academia and industry as a sustainable alternative to linear economic models that minimize waste and maximize resource value in the production cycle. Despite growing interest in adopting circular economy practices within firms, numerous challenges remain. We address this gap by investigating the barriers to transitioning to a circular economy, as the current implementation in practice often needs to be more complete.MethodsUsing a quantitative approach, this research examines the CE barriers influencing Western Balkans firms to become more environmentally responsible business. The analysis is based on data from the Regional Cooperation Council's Business Balkan Barometer 2024 database, compiled through the Business Opinion Survey, for which logistic regression analysis was employed.ResultsThe findings reveal that firms reporting barriers, such as added costs, lack of skills and experience, lack of consumer demand, and lack of government subsidies, are statistically significant in the probability of becoming more environmentally responsible business. By contrast, the lack of legal and regulatory framework was not found to be significant.DiscussionThe study contributes a comprehensive analysis of these barriers that validate and complement previous research, offering stakeholders within Western Balkan countries an additional perspective to overcome the current challenges, thereby fostering the transition to becoming a more environmentally responsible business.
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spelling doaj-art-7565c00e26d743e08f9ee4e1f374eb032025-08-20T02:03:47ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Sustainability2673-45242025-02-01610.3389/frsus.2025.15461101546110Barriers to transitioning to circular economy within firms in Western Balkans countriesLura Rexhepi Mahmutaj0Nora Jusufi1Besnik Krasniqi2Leonita Mazrekaj3Tringë Krasniqi4Department of Management, University of Prishtina “Hasan Prishtina”, Pristina, KosovoDepartment of Management, University of Prishtina “Hasan Prishtina”, Pristina, KosovoDepartment of Management, University of Prishtina “Hasan Prishtina”, Pristina, KosovoDepartment of Business Management, University “Haxhi Zeka”, Peja, KosovoDepartment of Management, University of Prishtina “Hasan Prishtina”, Pristina, KosovoIntroductionThe circular economy has gained considerable attention within academia and industry as a sustainable alternative to linear economic models that minimize waste and maximize resource value in the production cycle. Despite growing interest in adopting circular economy practices within firms, numerous challenges remain. We address this gap by investigating the barriers to transitioning to a circular economy, as the current implementation in practice often needs to be more complete.MethodsUsing a quantitative approach, this research examines the CE barriers influencing Western Balkans firms to become more environmentally responsible business. The analysis is based on data from the Regional Cooperation Council's Business Balkan Barometer 2024 database, compiled through the Business Opinion Survey, for which logistic regression analysis was employed.ResultsThe findings reveal that firms reporting barriers, such as added costs, lack of skills and experience, lack of consumer demand, and lack of government subsidies, are statistically significant in the probability of becoming more environmentally responsible business. By contrast, the lack of legal and regulatory framework was not found to be significant.DiscussionThe study contributes a comprehensive analysis of these barriers that validate and complement previous research, offering stakeholders within Western Balkan countries an additional perspective to overcome the current challenges, thereby fostering the transition to becoming a more environmentally responsible business.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frsus.2025.1546110/fullcircular economybarrierswestern Balkansenvironmentally responsible businessfirms
spellingShingle Lura Rexhepi Mahmutaj
Nora Jusufi
Besnik Krasniqi
Leonita Mazrekaj
Tringë Krasniqi
Barriers to transitioning to circular economy within firms in Western Balkans countries
Frontiers in Sustainability
circular economy
barriers
western Balkans
environmentally responsible business
firms
title Barriers to transitioning to circular economy within firms in Western Balkans countries
title_full Barriers to transitioning to circular economy within firms in Western Balkans countries
title_fullStr Barriers to transitioning to circular economy within firms in Western Balkans countries
title_full_unstemmed Barriers to transitioning to circular economy within firms in Western Balkans countries
title_short Barriers to transitioning to circular economy within firms in Western Balkans countries
title_sort barriers to transitioning to circular economy within firms in western balkans countries
topic circular economy
barriers
western Balkans
environmentally responsible business
firms
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frsus.2025.1546110/full
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AT norajusufi barrierstotransitioningtocirculareconomywithinfirmsinwesternbalkanscountries
AT besnikkrasniqi barrierstotransitioningtocirculareconomywithinfirmsinwesternbalkanscountries
AT leonitamazrekaj barrierstotransitioningtocirculareconomywithinfirmsinwesternbalkanscountries
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