20.500.12556/DiRROS-24017 What is a circular economy champion? Defining a home-grown concept in an emerging field Circular economy, which aims to keep resources in production cycles and minimize waste, has emerged as a viable alternative to the traditional linear model. However, it is often criticized for being under-theorized and lacking indigenous, home-grown concepts, particularly regarding fundamental elements such as actors and actor types. This paper focuses on a specific actor: the circular economy champion. Circular economy champions can drive the transition toward a more circular economy, yet the concept remains under-conceptualized despite a growing body of literature. The aims of this study are twofold: first, to highlight the importance of home-grown concepts in emerging fields; and second, to address the ambiguity surrounding the terminology of “circular economy champion” by providing a novel conceptualization. The paper develops this concept using a family resemblance approach, employing differentiation criteria through a piecemeal method and underpinned by a theoretical review of the literature. By extending both the scope of actor types and, based on their traits, the range of their attributes, activities, and contributions to the circular economy, the concept of the circular economy champion is further delineated from related constructs and firmly defined. This contributes to circular economy discourse by proposing a novel definition of a key actor within the circular economy system, thus strengthening its theoretical foundations. Moreover, the proposed definition reduces ambiguity in understanding actors’ roles within the circular economy, further clarifying its microfoundations. circular economy actor circular economy champion concept development krožno gospodarstvo akter zagovornik krožnega gospodarstva razvoj koncepta true false true Elsevier Angleški jezik Slovenski jezik © 2025 The Authors Neznano 2025-11-07 03:40:26 2025-11-13 13:16:06 2025-11-14 03:41:04 0000-00-00 00:00:00 2025 0 0 Nasl. z nasl. zaslona; Opis vira z dne 6. 11. 2025; Soavtorji: Sahana Swaroop Chetan, Shajara Ul-Durar, Noman Arshed, Marco De Sisto, Nadja Damij; str. 1- 11 [article no.] 146408 Vol. 523 10 Sep. 2025 0000-00-00 Zaloznikova Objavljeno NiDoloceno 0000-00-00 0000-00-00 2025-08-17 338:502 1879-1786 10.1016/j.jclepro.2025.146408 256069635 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0959652625017585 1 1ee66f85-bb83-11f0-94a7-001a4af901a5 https://dirros.openscience.si/Dokument.php?lang=slv&id=35690 RAZ_Modic_Dolores_2025.pdf RAZ_Modic_Dolores_2025.pdf 1 106025F8FD6D9FD8CC5ABD6B7765C645 90102f36d182ce0d8531d9a2f6d8007c6e4e6efa7f454b4001be9684f12f38d2 42c43499-c08a-11f0-94a7-001a4af901a5 https://dirros.openscience.si/Dokument.php?lang=slv&id=35879 Rudolfovo – Znanstveno in tehnološko središče Novo mesto 0 0 0