Objective: This study aimed to analyze the impacts, challenges, and benefits arising from the implementation of the Circular Economy (CE) in agricultural cooperatives, considering its environmental, social, and economic dimensions in different geographical contexts.
Design/Methodology/Approach: A systematic literature review was conducted, based on 274 publications from the Scopus and Web of Science databases. Of these, 23 studies were selected for qualitative analysis. The data processing was operationalized following the systematic review framework proposed by Tranfield et al. (2003), combined with qualitative content analysis techniques, structured to identify CE practices, challenges faced, benefits perceived, the role of cooperatives, and existing gaps in the literature.
Results: The results indicate that agricultural cooperatives have the potential to promote CE. However, these organizations face limitations such as insufficient infrastructure, financial constraints, lack of training, and the absence of adequate public policies. CE enables the adoption of practices such as industrial symbiosis, the development of biorefineries, and the valorization of waste, contributing to local development and the achievement of the goals of the 2030 Agenda.
Limitations/Implications of the Research: The study is limited to the theoretical-conceptual scope of articles indexed in two specific databases (Scopus and Web of Science), which restricts the inclusion of non-indexed gray or regional literature. Furthermore, the external validity of the discussions is constrained by the historical scarcity of robust empirical data regarding circularity within the context of rural cooperatives in developing nations.
Theoretical/Practical Implications: This study contributes to CE by expanding its analysis in agricultural cooperatives, offering a comprehensive review of challenges and opportunities in this sector. Theoretically, it encourages exploring the interaction between circular models, cooperatives, and sustainable development. Practically, it supports policies and strategies for CE in cooperatives, highlighting their potential for practices such as industrial symbiosis and waste valorization, strengthening rural sustainability.
Originality: The study presents originality by focusing on the Circular Economy in agricultural cooperatives, filling a theoretical and practical gap. The research encourages future investigations on sustainability in the rural sector, circular business models, and the strategic role of cooperatives in this specific context.
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