Atuação e desafios das cooperativas de crédito para apoiar os negócios circulares

Abstract

The present scenario highlights the transition from the linear economy to the circular economy as an urgent need to guarantee the continuity of sustainable production and consumption processes. Research into credit unions at this time of transition to the circular economy is important for re-evaluating current production models and their impacts, thus aligning organizational management with “Environmental, social, and governance (ESG)” indicators. The circular economy aims to regenerate and restore natural capital, promoting the stimulation of renewable resource flows and the responsible management of finite resources, with the aim of prolonging the usefulness and economic value of goods and inputs for as long as possible. Instead of following the linear pattern of “extract-produce-discard,” the circular economy promotes the idea of a closed cycle, where resources are used more efficiently and sustainably. Circular business refers to an economic and industrial model that seeks to eliminate the concept of waste by reusing, recycling, and reintegrating materials into the production cycle. Credit Unions are financial institutions that aim to provide financial services to their members through mutuality, guaranteeing them access to financial market instruments. The main objectives of this research are to understand the perceptions, challenges, and actions of credit unions in identifying circular business opportunities, as well as to investigate strategies for credit unions to encourage and support the creation and expansion of businesses focused on circularity. This research is justified by establishing this relevant connection for regional development with a focus on sustainability. To achieve these objectives, this study adopted a mixed research approach, combining qualitative and quantitative methods of an exploratory and descriptive nature. The principal aim of this qualitative research was to deepen our understanding of the phenomenon in question, through a scientific-entrepreneurial foundation: the circular economy, circular business models (CBMs), financing the circular economy, credit unions and the transition to the circular economy. The quantitative exploratory-descriptive research aimed to collect data from a survey of people working in credit unions, carried out via the questionnaire link stored on the Survey King platform. The results were analyzed using descriptive statistics and graphs. The first three graphs analysed the degree to which respondents agreed with: the granting of credit to circular ventures; the risks of supporting circular ventures; and the challenges of adopting the circular economy. The fourth graph measured the importance of promoting circular businesses. The aim of the qualitative research was to deepen our understanding of the phenomenon in question through a scientific-entrepreneurial foundation: the circular economy, Circular Business Models (CBMs), financing the circular economy, credit unions and the transition to the circular economy. The quantitative exploratorydescriptive research aimed to collect data from a survey of people working in credit unions, carried out via the questionnaire link stored on the Survey King platform. The results were analysed using descriptive statistics and graphs. The first three graphs analysed the degree to which respondents agreed with: the granting of credit to circular ventures; the risks of supporting circular ventures; and the challenges of adopting the Circular Economy. The fourth graph measured the importance of promoting circular businesses. The results of this work will contribute to the development of instruments that enable the issue of sustainable bonds and the granting of credit to companies with circular business models, thus promoting a business environment that is more in line with the principles of sustainability and the circular economy.