| dc.description.abstract | Over the course of the previous decade, blockchain technology (BCT) has undergone remarkable exponential growth, with procurement gradually emerging as a prospective application within the realm of supply chain management (SCM). BCT holds the potential to enhance procurement processes and contribute to the advancement of circular economy (CE) principles. However, the understanding of blockchain applications and how it can enhance the CE within procurement processes remains insufficient, diffuse, and fragmented, despite the immense promise it holds. Only a minority of business professionals possess a comprehensive understanding of how BCT functions and the potential benefits it offers to procurement. This study addresses these gaps by providing a comprehensive analysis of the applications and advantages of BCT in circular procurement (CP). We have therefore conducted a qualitative study interviewing twelve individuals representing five distinct consultancy companies. The function of consulting firms necessitates that they collaborate with a wide variety of organisations across multiple industries. This diversity in experience enables consultants to offer a more extensive, cross-sectoral perspective on BCT implementation in different contexts. Their position also requires them to remain current on the most recent developments and trends, including emerging technologies such as blockchain. Based on this, our research question is; How can blockchain technology enable circular procurement? To answer this research question, we first examined today's landscape with regards to CE practices, procurement and BCT. Following this, we studied blockchain´s impact on the CE, before finally addressing the challenges of blockchain implementation within procurement.
The potential of BCT to enable CP is indeed intriguing. While the study concludes that BCT is still in its early stages of development, it is worth noting that a majority of experts hold a positive perspective on its potential to enhance CP. However, further investigation is warranted to explore its potential applications and enhance CP practices. It would be beneficial to conduct an in-depth case-study to demonstrate the relevance of BCT for companies and supply chains. Such research endeavours would help shed light on the viability and practicality of adopting BCT in advancing CP initiatives. | en_US |
