The social benefits of digital innovation in circular economy practices in the context of business

The main purpose of this research is to examine the social benefits of digital innovation in circular economy practices in the context of business. While circular economy practices are known for their environmental and economic benefits, through the literature review, the social benefits are found to be often overlooked. The current studies on the subject matter tend to focus more on how it affects the business such as operational efficiencies and cost savings subsequently leading to lack of consideration on how digital innovation through the integration of digital technologies within circular practices can drive social values to benefit individuals and the society as a whole. Having to address this gap is key because the social dimension is an important part of sustainable development that cannot be ignored if we want to create a genuinely inclusive environment. Therefore, this research was necessary to provide a balanced understanding of sustainability through circular economy that includes economic, environmental, and social perspectives. To do this, the study uses the Triple Bottom Line (TBL) framework to ensure equal emphasis on all the three dimensions. The study takes an exploratory qualitative methodology to get a deeper understanding of the social benefits of digital innovation in circular economy, without making any assumptions from the outset. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with experts in the field, to give a new perspective on how the two megatrends work together and drive a meaningful change. Thematic analysis, based on Braun & Clarke’s framework, was also used to uncover the recurring themes and insights that are related to the subject under investigation. The findings showed that there are many social benefits that are linked to digital innovation in enhancing circular economy practices, along with challenges and key metrics that can guide the implementation of circular economy practices to improve the social benefits driven using digital technologies. These findings also open new directions for further research to focus on the social impacts in accessing ways to better integrate digital solutions in circular economy practices. The study also suggests the need for future research to build on these insights to address both the challenges identified and the potential for greater social inclusion and sustainability to ensure that digital technologies can lead to better inclusive change.