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(Re)interpreting Circularity? Understanding the Contested Directionalities of the Swedish Heavy-Duty Vehicle Sector Towards the Circular Economy

Sustainability Transitions and Industrial Transformation: Multi-Sector Dynamics and Policy Perspectives | 2026

Paper Details

Authors: Ertelt S.-M.

DOI: 10.1007/978-981-95-4893-4_8

Journal: Sustainability Transitions and Industrial Transformation: Multi-Sector Dynamics and Policy Perspectives

Year: 2026

Publisher: Springer Nature

Document Type: Book chapter

Open Access: All Open Access; Gold Open Access

Cited by: 0

Abstract

This chapter examines the contestations, conflicts, and divergent interpretations of the emerging Circular Economy (CE) meta-rules such as reduce, reuse, recycle, and recover within the value chain of the Swedish heavy-duty vehicle sector. Building on insights from institutional theory, an analytical framework is proposed to enable an in-depth analysis of the diffusions and (re)interpretation processes of meta-rules across different interconnected systems part of a value chain. In doing so, the chapter contributes with an expanded theoretical understanding of how the prevailing logics within and across systems shape negotiation as well as implementation processes of meta-rules. Additionally, the analysis of the nascent circular value chain of the Swedish heavy-duty vehicle sector allows to theorize the broader implications of interpretative flexibility and clashing prioritizations of potential meta-rules for the speed and scope of multi-sector industrial transformations towards more circular practices. © The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s) 2026.

Keywords

Chains; Large scale systems; Vehicles; Circular economy; Divergents; Heavy duty vehicles; In-depth analysis; Institutional theory; Meta rules; Negotiation process; Reuse; Swedishs; Value chains; Circular economy