Interviews with 23 informants across 18 supply-chain activities found upstream circular performance emerging from interaction between internal capabilities, trust and informal governance such as Sanya Jai.
Key findings
- A three-tier framework culminated in “Collaborative Upstream Resource Recirculation for Systemic Resilience.” Trust and Sanya Jai partly substituted for formal rules and enabled grassroots adaptations such as modifying boilers to use 100% biomass fuel.
Why this matters globally
The study shows how informal mechanisms in emerging markets may enable or constrain circular supply chains in ways formal-institution theories can miss.
Thai researcher contribution
Mahidol University College of Management researchers developed the framework directly from Thai beverage-supply practitioners.
Limitations to consider
The purposive 23-person sample and thematic interpretation cannot represent the whole sector. Accounts may carry social-desirability bias; no material-flow, life-cycle emissions or labor impacts were verified, and 100% biomass is not zero carbon.
Verify the original sources
SustainabilityRead the original article↗DOI: 10.3390/su18136845