Blockchain entrepreneurship roles for circular supply chain transition

Abstract

Abstract The transition to a circular supply chain (CSC) is a prerequisite to establish sustainability in the supply chain. Blockchain‐based CSC enables stakeholders to effectively manage their decision‐making processes, increase revenue, reduce time and costs and ensure information synchronisation. Blockchain start‐ups play an essential role in facilitating the transition from a linear to a circular economy while supporting the development of CSCs. This research aims to explore the role of blockchain entrepreneurship in the transition to CSC by evaluating circular blockchain start‐ups. This research contributes to the literature by providing verified roles of blockchain entrepreneurship in the transition to CSC by evaluating the literature and blockchain start‐ups. Another contribution is that the causal relationships between these roles are analysed. In this study, an integrated three‐step methodology including Systematic Literature Review (SLR), Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA), and Fuzzy Decision‐Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (Fuzzy‐DEMATEL) methods on the base of the theory of change is proposed. An SLR is performed to determine the roles of blockchain entrepreneurship. Then, a QCA is conducted after identifying the roles for verification by evaluations of use cases of blockchain start‐ups. Finally, the causal relationships between these roles are interpreted by using Fuzzy‐DEMATEL. Findings indicate that blockchain entrepreneurship has 12 fundamental roles in facilitating the transition from a linear to a circular economy while supporting the development of CSCs.