Exploring the Interface Between Public Demand and Private Supply for Implementation of Circular Economy Principles

The Ph.D. dissertation consists of three connected, yet independent research articles, which focus on the implementation of circular economy principles in public procurement. Motivated by a curiosity for dynamics in processes of implementation I chose to investigate how actors related to processes of public procurement can implement the circular economy principles as a default. The aim of the dissertation is to provide an in-depth overview that clarifies the requirements, which can and must be made to comply with implementation of the circular economy principles in the market for public procurement.
To understand the complexity of the area the first article provides a comprehensive literature review of peer-reviewed research articles in the field, categorising extant knowledge in three overall areas; organisational aspects, individual behaviour and operational tools. Divided into nine sub-categories; three organisational, two individual behaviour and four on operational tools. The second article investigates empirically how professional procurers in a larger Danish Municipality make sense of implementing the principles. Providing insights on both the economic and organisational rationales behind dispositions and choice on the demand side. The third article contribute with a theoretical conceptual perspective outlining how the supply side can engage with the market for public procurement based on circular economy principles. An international furniture company with relatively high input of recycled material act as an empirical example of challenges the supply side must comply with to support implementation of circular economy principles. The article argues for the necessity to establish a regenerative service eco-system, for transformation of existing norms, rules and practices. Lastly, that the supply side will have to create a narrative infrastructure by means of continuous market dialogue as a support for institutionalisation in applying circular economy principles to processes of public procurement.