Assessing the Influence of Circular Economy Practices in Companies that Orchestrate an Ecosystem of a Brazilian Industrial Cluster

The purpose of this study is to verify the presence of principles, strategies, and practices of the circular economy in a group of companies installed in an industrial cluster in the Brazilian Amazon region. The research is exploratory, using multiple case studies. Using as constructs, the eight Schools of Thought, precursors of the circular economy. Which guided the identification of 37 sustainable circular strategies and practices that guide the transition to the circular economy. The practices identified were transformed into a questionnaire, used in the interview with managers of three large companies (orchestrators of an ecosystem). As a result, it was found that the practices of schools of thought Natural Capitalism and Supply Chain in Closed Loop (CLSC) are the most influential and present in the sample companies; and the practices with less influence refer to the School of Biomimicry. The study found that companies have focused on minimizing the generation of waste, reducing the consumption of water, energy, reducing unnecessary resources, recycling packaging; but there are few efforts and strategies to keep components, materials, and products in the loop for longer. New partners are needed to collaborate in the value chain and reconsider creating value, extending the product’s useful life, or looking for ways to regenerate and recover its waste.