Sustainability‐Oriented Cooperation Networks in the Automotive Industry
Circular Practices in a Portuguese Industrial Ecosystem
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 22418518 |
|---|---|
| Authors | César Ribeiro (0000-0002-5634-7359, NECE‐UBI Research Center, Estrada do Sineiro University of Beira Interior Covilhã Portugal), Mário Franco (0000-0001-7818-0206, Management and Economics Department, CEGAGE‐UBI Research Center, Estrada do Sineiro University of Beira Interior Covilhã Portugal, corresponding author) |
| Year | 2026 |
| Publication date | 2026-05-21 |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Business Strategy and the Environment (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0964-4733 • E-ISSN: 1099-0836 |
| Publisher | Wiley (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1002/bse.71004 |
| OpenAlex | W7161946960 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 55 |
Despite the growing academic interest in environmental sustainability, there is still a scarcity of studies that empirically explore how cooperation networks function in complex industrial contexts. This study addresses how cooperation networks contribute to environmental sustainability in the automotive industry. Based on the theories of Resource Dependence and Transaction Cost, a qualitative case is analyzed based on a cooperation network formed from several firms. Based on six interviews and several documents, the research identifies practices aligned with the circular economy (CE) and highlights the importance of strategic leadership and information sharing. The results show that operational integration and relational proximity sustain effective environmental practices, although challenges persist, such as asymmetries in resources, misalignment of priorities and communication failures. The study proposes a theoretical model that links governance mechanisms and environmental impacts, contributing to an understanding of sustainable environmental cooperation in industrial networks. It concludes that well‐structured networks, based on mutual trust and commitment, can accelerate the ecological transition.
Automotive industry · Corporate governance · Environmental governance · Industrial ecology · Scarcity · Sustainability · Transaction cost · Environmental Sustainability in Business · Sustainable Industrial Ecology · Sustainable Supply Chain Management
Building Theories from Case Study Research
Amostragem em investigações qualitativas
Circular economy framework for automobiles
Beyond the jobs-versus-environment dilemma? Contested social-ecological transformations in the automotive industry
Towards a comprehensive framework to analyse the benefits of openness for sustainability‐oriented innovation
Rural and agri-entrepreneurial networks
Using thematic analysis in psychology
The contribution of cooperation networks to service innovation in micro-enterprises
How Many Interviews Are Enough
| Highly cited | No |
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