Close the loop: Evidence on the implementation of the circular economy from the Italian fashion industry
研究了四家意大利时尚公司的循环经济实践，从产品生命周期视角揭示实施挑战及其如何转化为竞争优势，对关注可持续时尚的管理者和学者有参考价值。
Abstract Fashion is widely considered as one of the most polluting and destructive industries to the environment and is a resource‐intensive industry in which opportunities to reduce environmental impacts abound. By relying on an exploratory approach, this paper features an investigation into the circular economy (CE) practices of four purposefully selected Italian fashion companies. The study endorses the overlooked perspective of the product lifecycle (vis‐à‐vis the business model perspective), consistent with the key principles of the CE, to provide a comprehensive picture of CE practices implemented. This study engages with the current debate on the relationship between the concepts of sustainability and CE, supporting the idea that there is a beneficial relation between the two. The analysis shows the emergence of categories of CE‐related practices as well as CE implementation challenges. The study also provides granular insights into the nature of these challenges that hinder the implementation of CE and demonstrates how they can be turned into sources of competitive advantage. Drawing on this emblematic evidence, we develop a set of theoretical and managerial implications.