Diagnostic Study to Evaluate the Degree of Development of the Circular Economy in Chilean Companies through the Application of a 5D Model

Abstract

Recently, concepts such as sustainable development, corporate social responsibility, and the circular economy have gained considerable prominence, transforming production models and business practices. However, there remains a degree of uncertainty regarding the actual level of adoption of these initiatives by companies. The objective of this study is to assess the level of implementation of the circular economy in Chilean companies using a 5D model, applied through an assessment tool called “5D Circular”. This model analyzes five key business dimensions: finance, customers, internal processes, learning and growth, and conscious integration. The study was carried out on a sample of 90 companies, using a scale of 1 to 5, where 1 represents a very low level of development and 5 a very high level. The results show that the companies in the sample have achieved a high level of implementation of the circular economy. However, the dimensions of internal processes and conscious integration show a comparatively lower level of development compared to the dimensions of learning and growth and finance, which show a high level of development. It is worth noting that all companies show advanced knowledge and significant application of the circular economy.