• Understand the need for changing the linear production
• Reflect on the differences between linear and circular supply chains
• Discuss theories and practices for circular supply chains
• Identify challenges and opportunities for circular supply chains
• Critically reflect on circular economy in its current implementations

Course Content and structure

Present supply chain and sustainable supply chain operations have proven to be unable to sufficiently deal with the resulting environmental and social challenges. The adoption of circular supply chains, however, has the potential to offer a paradigm shift by changing our understanding of value creation, business models, and production processes. The course will introduce the basic concepts of sustainable supply chain management and critically reflect on the areas of improvement with this generally linear approach. Taking this criticism as a point of departure, the course will introduce students to the theories and concepts underlying circular economy and circular supply chains. By discussing and working with current and past developments in the topic, students will gain an understanding of where circular economy can offer solutions to the shortcomings of a mainly linear economic value chain model. This will enable students to assess and discuss the transition from linear to circular supply chain configurations.

The course objective is to provide students with an overview of current developments in the area of sustainability. Opportunities will be discussed that arise in connection with “closing the loop” of supply chains. Among other things, students will gain in-depth knowledge on relevant stakeholders, different logistics and procurement approaches, and tools that facilitate the implementation of circularity. Students will be able to assess their own work environment and identify possible opportunities that arise when adopting a circular business approach.

Key topics include the following related to the course “Circular Economy – Transitioning to circular supply chains”:

• Introduction to supply chain management and linear production systems
• Critical assessment of linear production systems
• Introduction to circular supply chains and related concepts (e.g., biological and technical nutrients, Industrial Ecology)
• Strategic design and implementation of circular supply chains
• Stakeholder in a circular economy
• Transformation of society and production systems
• Performance analysis in circular supply chains

Additional literature will be announced before the sessions.

Batista, L., Bourlakis, M., Smart, P., & Maull, R. (2018). In search of a circular supply chain archetype – a content-analysis-based literature review. Production Planning & Control, 29(6), 438-451.

Carter, C.R., Rogers, D.S., & Choi, T.Y. (2015). Toward the theory of the supply chain. Journal of Supply Chain Management, 51, 89-97.

Geisendorfer, M., Morioka, S.N., de Carvalho, M.M., & Evans, S. (2018). Business modes and supply chains for the circular economy. Journal of Cleaner Production, 190, 712-721.

Genovese, A., Acquaye, A.A., Figueroa, A., & Koh, S.C.L. (2017). Sustainable supply chain management and the transition towards a circular economy: Evidence and some applications. Omega, 66(B), 344-357.

Pagell, M., Wu, Z., & Wassermann, M.E. (2010). Thinking differently about purchasing portfolios: An assessment of sustainable sourcing. Journal of Supply Chain Management, 46, 57-73.

Seuring, S., & Müller, M. (2008). From a literature review to a conceptual framework for sustainable supply chain management. Journal of Cleaner Production, 16(15), 1699-1710.