A design tool for co-creation in operations and supply chain management: Sustainable Circular Transformation framework

This paper proposes a framework that addresses the urgent need for regenerative co-design approaches to tackle climate change by focusing on a systems transition (Meadows, 2008) driven by changes in the human-nature relationship (Akama et al., 2020), which are vital for combating climate change and promoting futures of sustainability (Ceschin et al., 2016). The circular economy (CE) concept is one approach to addressing this issue (Velenturf et al., 2021), although it has been primarily utilized as a technocratic tool thus far (Stijn et al. 2020). Its broader social and economic aspects, which are critical for regenerative transition towards sustainability, remain insufficiently explored (Evans, 2025a). By applying the Sustainable Circular Transformation Theory (SCT) (Evans, 2023), this paper proposes a framework (Dorst, 2015) to engage operations and supply chain (O&SC) management academics in fostering collaborative pathways spurred by CE principles for inclusive socio-economic impact and change, as well as reshaping emerging research priorities. Participants collaborate on co-designing interconnected systems involving social, economic, ecological, and political factors (United-Nations, 2023) exploring the implications of a more-than-human life. The research question: How can the SCT framework contribute to designing O&SCs for alternative, just, and equitable futures of sustainability? guides a collective exploration of the opportunities and challenges presented by the SCT framework and its relevance and usefulness for the business academic community.