Perceptions of risk for UK SME manufacturing businesses in transitioning to a circular economy Ann Stevenson

Stevenson, Ann 2022. Perceptions of risk for UK SME manufacturing businesses in transitioning to a circular economy Ann Stevenson. PhD Thesis, Cardiff University. Item availability restricted.

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Abstract

The concept of a circular economy is embedded in policy as the solution to addressing global environmental and sustainable development issues. Manufacturing businesses are expected to make a major contribution by developing and implementing circular business models. In the UK, most manufacturing businesses are small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) working within existing linear economy-based supply chains. This thesis identifies and explains perceptions of risk for established UK SMEs and the conditions necessary to encourage better engagement of SMEs in transitioning to a circular economy. A relational theory of risk perspective has been adopted and the discourse of risk investigated through the development and application of a critical realist critical discursive psychology methodological strategy and framework. The findings are based on data collected from 13 in-depth semi-structured interviews, two short focused-question interviews, two researcher orchestrated peer-to-peer workshops, attendance at 12 open forum events and 70 published documents. Seven shared discursive repertoires were identified, of which three that incorporated conflicting interpretations that can co-exist were analysed in detail. The analysed repertoires demonstrated the existence and influence of power and relationship dynamics, values and ideology and trust and truth causal mechanisms on perceptions of risk. The analysis demonstrates how gaining and maintaining preferred supplier or strategic partnership status is what is of value and at stake for established SMEs in evaluations of risk. Understandings of how political ideology and moral responsibility are enacted in society are shown to have a major influence on perceptions of uncertainty of the value of adopting circular business models for SMEs and their customers. Furthermore, differing perceptions of consequences are shown to exist between expert and lay knowledge exacerbated by a lack of coherence on the circular economy concept. These differences are associated with conflicting interpretations of trust in and truth of customers’ discourse and practices and the cost-benefits of utilisation of waste or sustainable materials in circular business model products. Overall, this thesis contributes methodologically, theoretically, and empirically to understandings of the conditions necessary for established manufacturing SMEs in the UK to engage more actively with transitioning to a circular economy.

Item Type:	Thesis (PhD)
Date Type:	Completion
Status:	Unpublished
Schools:	Psychology
Funders:	EPSRC
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	9 June 2022
Last Modified:	06 Jul 2023 01:55
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/150314

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