The construction sector is one of the most resource-intensive industries globally, yet the transition toward a circular economy (CE) remains slow and fragmented, particularly among small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). This study addresses a research gap by focusing on Sweden's SME-dominated construction sector, an underexplored context in CE research. Using Porter's Five Forces as a novel strategic lens, we identify how external market barriers and enabling technologies shape the pace and scale of circular adoption. A qualitative research design was employed, comprising semi-structured interviews during 2024-2025, with 40 industry professionals selected through purposive and snowball sampling. Thematic analysis, validated through triangulation and member checking, revealed seven critical challenges, including fragmented regulation, high certification costs, low market demand for circular solutions, and insufficient technological infrastructure. These barriers were mapped onto Porter's Five Forces framework, illustrating how competitive and institutional pressures constrain CE progress, especially for SMEs. However, the study also identifies high-potential enablers, such as digital solutions. Grounded in real-world stakeholder perspectives, our findings introduce new insights into how competitive and institutional pressures constrain CE progress and how digital innovations (e.g., material passports, AI-based procurement) can help close the implementation gap. By integrating these insights into a strategic framework, we offer targeted policy and innovation pathways to accelerate CE adoption in the built environment. It underscores the need for aligned regulatory, financial, and technological interventions to support scalable, SME-driven circular transitions in construction, with broader implications for resource sustainability and environmental policy.

The transition to fossil-free operations in the forestry industry is crucial for achieving the EU's climate goals for 2030 and 2050. Logging contractors (LCs), key players in the softwood lumber supply chain, face financial challenges due to their capital-intensive, small-scale, family-owned operations. This study examines the financial health of Swedish LCs through two objectives: (a) assessing industry structure using the Herfindahl-Hirschman Index and (b) analyzing financial stability using the financial triangle framework (liquidity, profitability, solvency) and Altman's Z-Score model. Data from a Swedish database reveal a highly competitive industry with an HHI of 47.69, indicating low concentration. Financial analysis shows 19.7% of LCs are in the distress zone, 34.3% in a gray zone, and 45.9% in a healthy zone, highlighting variability in financial health. The study evaluates the impact of liquidity, working capital, profitability, and equity ratios on financial stability, emphasizing their role in sustainable practices. Findings indicate that financial stability influences LCs' ability to invest in sustainable practices and absorb higher operational costs associated with for instance fossil-free transitions. This study provides insights into the financial dynamics of the harvesting industry, offering valuable information for policymakers and stakeholders to support the transition to fossil-free operations.

Multi-story wood construction offers sustainability potential, but regulatory, material traceability, and economic challenges limit circular economy (CE) adoption. At the same time, Artificial Intelligence (AI) is emerging as a transformative tool that can optimize construction processes and possibly act as an enabler for change. However, the extent to which AI can leverage CE in wood construction is still underexplored. This study conducts a descriptive analysis to examine trends in the wood construction industry and stakeholder perspectives on AI’s role in facilitating CE adoption within wood construction. By engaging key market actors, the research explores how AI-driven technologies such as digital twins, machine learning, and material tracking can address regulatory barriers, improve resource efficiency, and thereby enhance CE goals. The survey results indicate that tools for material traceability and design optimization are already in use by a majority of stakeholders and are perceived as impactful for CE, whereas advanced AI applications (e.g. AIdriven structural health monitoring) remain underutilized. Notably, researchers and technology providers express higher confidence in AI’s CE potential than construction firms, pointing to awareness and implementation gaps. These insights highlight AI’s critical enabling role, particularly through digital transparency and data-driven decision-making, in advancing circular practices in wood construction.

The transition to fossil-free operations in the forestry sector is essential for meeting the EU’s climate goals. Logging contractors (LCs), vital to the softwood lumber supply chain, face financial constraints due to their small scale and capital-intensive operations. This study assesses the financial stability of Swedish LCs using Altman’s Z′-score and evaluates market structure through concentration ratio analysis from 2014 to 2023. Results from 871 LC show that over 60% consistently fell into the Distress or Gray zones, indicating widespread financial vulnerability. Meanwhile, industry concentration increased significantly, with the top 20% of LCs accounting for 74% of total turnover by 2023. These trends suggest a shift toward dominance by larger, financially stronger LCs, raising concerns about the long-term inclusiveness of the sustainability transition. By combining financial distress modelling with industry concentration metrics, this study provides a quantitative assessment of LCs economic resilience during the fossil-free transition, revealing potential barriers for smaller LCs to invest in sustainable technologies. Without policy support, the shift to fossil-free forestry may be driven primarily by larger LCs, risking exclusion of smaller contractors.

De flesta av världens länder har genom Parisavtalet och FN:s Agenda 2030 kommit överens om att bekämpa klimatförändringarna och säkerställa hållbara och innovativa industrier, inklusive hållbar produktion och hållbar infrastruktur. Som ett led i denna globala trend finns det företag inom skogsindustrin som strävar efter att bli fossilfria. Att bli fossilfri förväntas öka förmågan att hantera utmaningar i den industriella omvandlingen samt där med på sikt stärka varje företags konkurrenskraft. Detta gäller för alla aktörer i skogsnäringens försörjningskedja, inklusive skogsentreprenörer, sågverk, massaverk, komponenttillverkare och olika användare av trämaterial.

Syftet med denna studie är att identifiera och beskriva de utmaningar vid omställningen till fossilbränslefria drivmedel som skogsentreprenörer i skogsbrukets försörjningskedja ställs inför. Empiriska data har samlats in genom intervjuer med skogsentreprenörer inom avverkning och skotning.

Studiens resultat visar att det finns flera praktiska utmaningar som behöver lösas innan användningen av fossilfria drivmedel blir mer vanligt förekommande. Enligt studiens resultat är utmaningarna av såväl teknisk som ekonomisk natur. En teknisk utmaning är att det fossilfria bränslet behöver ha samma verkningsgrad (m³ timmer, sågat och levererat vid väg) som nuvarande drivmedel och samtidigt fungera i den miljö där skogsentreprenörerna är verksamma. Ur ett ekonomiskt perspektiv visar studien på vikten av att utveckla ett mer konkurrenskraftigt fossilfritt bränsle som kan produceras i stora kvantiteter till låg kostnad, för att skogsentreprenörer ska kunna uppfylla Parisavtalet och FN:s Agenda 2030.

Sales & Operations Planning-processen (vidare S&OP-processen) har visat sig vara avgörande för företag i deras strävan att möta kundkrav. S&OP-processen är ett planeringsverktyg som syftar till att synkronisera funktionella taktiska organisationsplaner såsom försäljningsplaner och produktionsplaner för produkter och tjänster till en integrerad uppsättning taktiska planer. S&OP-processen utvecklas kontinuerligt mot en högre mognadsnivå då informationsteknologier som stödjer processen har blivit allt viktigare och mer etablerade. 

Idag finns flera olika informationsteknologier tillgängliga, både ”traditionella teknologier” (t.ex. ERP) och ”icke-traditionella” teknologier (t.ex. Internet of Things, Machine Learning, Blockchain). Dessa teknologier fokuserar på att möjliggöra en mer effektiv S&OP-process genom simuleringar av olika planeringsscenarier (dvs. konsekvensanalyser), tvärfunktionell integration, beräkningar av tillförlitliga nyckeltal, datasäkerhet, och en dynamisk efterfrågeprognostisering baserad på försäljnings- och marknadsföringsdata med mera. Det finns emellertid ett flertal utmaningar gällande dessa ”icke-traditionella” teknologier, ibland benämnda med samlingsnamnet Industri 4.0-teknologier, både ur ett teoretiskt - och praktiskt perspektiv för att uppnå en effektiv S&OP-process. Gällande de teoretiska utmaningarna råder det brist på studier gällande bland annat vilka teknologier som är relevanta för att möjliggöra en S&OP-process inkluderande Industri 4.0-teknologier. 

Denna studie är en litteraturstudie och ett första steg mot att stödja företag i utvecklingen av en teknologibaserad S&OP-process. Studien syftar därmed till att föreslå en agenda som identifierar kunskapsbehov för utvecklingen av ett teknologiskt ramverk för en S&OP-process inkluderande Industri 4.0-teknologier och grundar sig på en litteraturgenomgång av tidigare forskning. Resultaten identifierar ett antal preliminära projekt såsom att empiriskt utvärdera ramverket och att utvidga det med prestationsmått som tar hänsyn till funktionaliteter hos traditionella informationsteknologier och de nya förmågorna hos Industri 4.0-teknologier. Det är också viktigt att studera de nya värdeskapande funktionaliteterna av Industri 4.0-teknologier och dess effekter på S&OP-processen. Dessutom kan framtida studier formulera beslutverktyg för implementeringen av I4.0 ramverket för S&OP-processen för att företag ska kunna utnyttja Industri 4.0-teknologier i sin fulla potential. 

Purpose

The purpose is to propose a conceptual Sales and Operations Planning Process Technology Framework combining traditional supply chain information technologies with Industry 4.0 technologies aiming for an efficient S&OP process.

Design/methodology/approach

A systematic literature review (SLR) is conducted, mapping traditional information systems and advanced technologies in Sales and Operations Planning. A total of 1585 research articles, in seven databases, are identified using keywords such as ‘Industry 4.0’ and ‘smart technologies’. A final sample of 25 articles is identified for in-depth analysis.

Findings

The proposed Sales and Operations Planning Process Technology Framework considers SC information technologies (e.g., ERP) and advanced information technologies (e.g., big data analytics, digital twins, machine learning). The framework aims to support capabilities such as sensing and visualizing demand and supply volatilities, scenario-based planning, and assessing response to disruptions. 

Research limitations/implications 

Future research can be twofold: i) empirical evaluation of the framework using e.g., action research methodology, and ii) extending the framework with performance measures considering the capabilities of traditional SCIS and the new capabilities of advanced technologies.

Practical implications

The framework represents an initial step to guide organizations in designing technological solutions for the S&OP process.

Original/value

This research contributes to filling the lack of conceptual studies on information technologies for the Sales and Operations Planning process to support the tactical planning level by including Industry 4.0 technologies. 

Purpose

The improvement of production processes has in many cases shortened the product life cycle, changing consumer behavior and leading to increased use of natural resources. The study describes the reverse logistics flow of garments in a closed loop supply chain (CLSC) as well as proposes improvements to the reverse logistics flow. The purpose is to increase the knowledge of how a logistics service can enable a high level of circularity within the retail supply chain. By identifying challenges within the CLSC propose improvements from a logistics perspective.

 Design/methodology/approach

The retail CLSC has not been extensively studied from a theoretical perspective; therefore, this project complements the general CLSC theories with grey literature. A case study method has been used and is appropriate for conducting exploratory research, to empirically illustrate a reverse logistics flow of garments. Empirical information was collected through semi-structured interviews, intending to identify possible improvements.

Findings

Uncertainties in the CLSC is hindering development and planning, restricting possibilities to reach economies of scale as a driver for change and development. However, increased transparency from Governmental organizations related to their view towards a sustainable society greatly increases the success of the CLSC.

Research limitations/implications (if applicable)

The practical model derived from the case study is a contribution to the development of CLSC models in research.

Practical implications (if applicable)

Practitioners can be inspired by the gap analysis, which can assist in developing new CLSC within the retail industry.

 Original/value

Only limited research related to this scope of the CLSC for the retail industry is identified, why the study demonstrates originality.

Forest operations involve several different actors. Each actor imposes their own requirements on the harvester in relation to their differing roles in the industry, whether they are concerned with the harvester itself, information, environmental concerns, etc. The manufacturers of harvesters need to meet the requirements imposed by multiple actors, among them logging contractors, whose survival depends on their harvesters. This paper aims to identify the present drivers of product development and describe the roles of the actors who have been identified as those currently affecting the development of harvesters. A multiple-case study of harvester manufacturers was conducted. In total, 4 cases were studied. Each case was comprised of five interviewees: two from each harvesting manufacturer, two logging contractors, and one dealer. Following 20 interviews and 3 validation interviews (with experts from both the industry and academia), the paper concludes that the present drivers of product development of harvesters are legislators, logging contractors, and expert and research organizations. Harvester manufacturers appear to develop harvesters aligned with requirements coming from both logging contractors and legislators. Logging contractors are the primary customers, and they prioritize requirements that reduce cost and improve work environments. Legislators, and expert and research organizations are supporting development in relation to current regulations.