Author

  • Azyyati Anuar

    • Faculty of Business and Management, Digital Innovation and Social Entrepreneurship, University Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Cawangan Kedah, Kampus Sungai Petani, Malaysia
    • Malaysia

  • Mohd Rizaimy Shahrudin

    • Faculty of Business and Management, University Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Cawangan Kedah, Kampus Sungai Petani, Malaysia
    • Malaysia

  • Daing Maruak Sadek

    • Academic of Contemporary Islamic Studies, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Cawangan Kedah, Kampus Sungai Petani, Malaysia
    • Malaysia

  • Hafizah Hammad Ahmad Khan

    • Faculty of Business and Management, University Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Cawangan Kedah, Kampus Sungai Petani, Malaysia
    • Malaysia

  • Azlyn Ahmad Zawawi

    • Faculty of Administrative Science and Policy Studies, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Cawangan Kedah, Kampus Sungai Petani, Malaysia
    • Malaysia

  • Noorlailahusna Mohd Yusof

    • Faculty of Administrative Science and Policy Studies, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Cawangan Kedah, Kampus Sungai Petani, Malaysia
    • Malaysia

  • Abdul Rashid Mohd Ghazalli

    • First Solar Malaysia Sdn Bhd, Lot PT 2486, First Solar Boulevard, Kulim Hitech Park, Malaysia
    • Malaysia

Abstract

This study addresses persistent challenges in municipal solid waste systems, namely low diversion and uneven resource recovery, by examining how stakeholder engagement (with communities, suppliers, and regulators) supports the adoption of circular economy (CE) practices and how operational change, often termed green process innovation, drives measurable waste outcomes. The central hypothesis is that CE adoption mediates the relationship between stakeholder engagement and waste reduction. Using a narrative review oriented to concept development, records were retrieved from the Scopus database (articles and reviews, 2000–2025, English) with a reproducible query targeting stakeholder engagement, CE, policy/strategy, and organizational settings. After de-duplication, titles/abstracts and full texts were screened for relevance to engagement, CE adoption, and waste outcomes or proxies; data were extracted into a conceptcentric matrix and synthesized via integrative thematic analysis. Primary outcomes were diversion rate, secondary material yield, and contamination reduction. The synthesis reveals two pathways: (1) a direct association whereby engagement mobilizes source separation, social acceptance of reuse/repair, and takeback participation; and (2) a stronger, mediated pathway in which engagement enables CE adoption, such as design for disassembly, industrial symbiosis, organics valorization, and optimized recycling–recovery portfolios that directly improves diversion and recovery. Governance capacity, policy coherence, and digital readiness strengthen these effects. Overall, stakeholder engagement improves waste outcomes primarily by deepening and routinizing CE adoption, with supportive governance and policy environments amplifying gains. The resulting framework offers testable propositions and practical guidance for municipalities and firms seeking scalable circular outcomes.

Keywords

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How to Cite

Anuar, A., Shahrudin, M. R., Sadek, D. M., Ahmad Khan, H. H., Ahmad Zawawi, A., Mohd Yusof, N., & Mohd Ghazalli, A. R. (2025). Engaging the Loop: A Conceptual Framework Linking Stakeholder Engagement to Circular Economy Adoption for Waste Reduction. Information Management and Business Review, 17(4(I), 164-173. https://doi.org/10.22610/imbr.v17i4(I).4768

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Copyright (c) 2025 Azyyati Anuar, Mohd Rizaimy Shahrudin, Daing Maruak Sadek, Hafizah Hammad Ahmad Khan, Azlyn Ahmad Zawawi, Noorlailahusna Mohd Yusof, Abdul Rashid Mohd Ghazalli (Author)

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Research Paper

Published in

Vol. 17 No. 4(I) (2025) Circular Economy, Civic Technology & Social Innovation View issue contents

Published

2025-11-23

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