Circular Business Models

An Efficient Tool for the Cooperative Ecosystem

Abstract

Cooperatives constitute an important force for economic growth and social cohesion. They penetrate all economic and tertiary sectors, they are recognized as successful businesses in which community concerns come first, and they can respond promptly to societal challenges. Although cooperatives and other social economy enterprises were among the first to engage in circularity, the current challenges call for the transformation of production and consumption models applied in this sector to ensure sustainable development. This article contains a study on the importance and opportunity of the transition to the circular economy, international policies in supporting cooperatives in this transition path, the implications of consumer cooperatives in the Republic of Moldova in circularity (made based on a survey of cooperative entities), as well as the argumentation of some proposals which would facilitate the development of national and sectoral policies in support of the circular economy (fiscal, investment, educational, etc.), the implementation of sustainable production and consumption strategies and models in the cooperative sector, the reconsideration of activities promoted through the prism of economic, social and environmental sustainability.