Resources,organizational network,institutional drivers and human capital in the transition to a circular economy in Montreal (Canada): A stakeholder perspective

Abstract

This article examines the mobilization of intellectual capital in the transition to a circular economy (CE) in Montreal (Canada). Drawing on a computerized text analysis of 91 public consultation briefs submitted during the development of Montreal’s Circular Economy Roadmap (CER), the study underlines a strategic mobilization of structural capital (e.g. local infrastructures, organizational norms, information systems), human capital (e.g. technical skills, learning capacities, ecological values) and relational capital (organizational cooperation, trust, collaborative governance, institutional support mechanisms) in the circular transition in Montreal. Moreover, the analysis reveals that these three forms of capital are interdependent and mutually reinforcing in the implementation of circular initiatives. The findings emphasize the social and cognitive dimensions of the CE, anchored in the capacities and interrelations of local actors.