Operationalizing Circular Supply Chain Management: Scale Development and Empirical Validation

ABSTRACT

This study addresses the conceptual fragmentation and the lack of a measurement tool in circular supply chain management (CSCM), a field in which confusion with traditional sustainability strategies limits operational progress. The objective is to develop and validate a measurement instrument capable of capturing the transition toward the implementation of circular economy principles across the supply chain. A three‐phase methodology was employed: an extensive literature review for item generation, empirical validation through a survey of 40 international experts, and cross‐validation via a managerial focus group. The resulting 13‐item scale encompasses circular product design, supplier involvement, production and logistics processes, stakeholder partnerships, and employee training. The results demonstrate high reliability and strong discriminant validity against green and sustainable supply chain strategies, which are closely related and often conflated. These findings provide managers with a parsimonious diagnostic tool to guide circular transformation pathways and support strategic decision‐making.